Hosea 7
16 verses
Ephraim and Israel stand exposed in their hidden sins of violence, theft, and deception, while their rulers delight in wickedness and their plots ensnare even the prophet himself, suggesting the total corruption of governance and truth. The people are compared to an oven heating itself without a baker's oversight—a metaphor for passionate but undirected fervor that consumes itself and produces nothing, burned out by their own lusts and idolatry. Despite divine chastisement through plague and judgment, Ephraim refuses to return and does not recognize that it is the LORD who has brought these afflictions, instead turning to Egypt and Assyria for help with foreign treaties and alliances. The mixing of Israel with foreign powers and false gods is like dough not turned over, half-baked and spoiled, rendering them useless and unable to fulfill their covenant purpose. The chapter deepens the picture of Israel's spiritual blindness and stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's hand in judgment, emphasizing that without genuine repentance and return, all external remedies prove futile.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
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2
And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
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3
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
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4
They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
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5
In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
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6
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
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7
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
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8
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
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9
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
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10
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
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11
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
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12
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
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13
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
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14
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
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15
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
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The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. The contrast between human weakness...
16
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
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