Logos Bible Study

Hosea 5:9–14

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5:9Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment!26

What I am declaring27 to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place!28

The Oppressors of the Helpless Will Be Oppressed

5:10The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers.

I will pour out my rage on them like a torrential flood!29

5:11Ephraim will be oppressed,30 crushed31 under judgment,32

because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.33

The Curse of the Incurable Wound

5:12I will be like a moth to Ephraim,

like wood rot34 to the house of Judah.

5:13When Ephraim saw35 his sickness

and Judah saw his wound,

then Ephraim turned36 to Assyria,

and begged37 its great king38 for help.

But he will not be able to heal you!

He cannot cure your wound!39

The Lion Will Carry Israel Off Into Exile

5:14I will be like a lion to Ephraim,

like a young lion to the house of Judah.

I myself will tear them to pieces,

then I will carry them off, and no one will be able to rescue them!

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Footnotes

  1. 26 Heb “day of rebuke” (so , ); , , , “day of punishment.”
  2. 27 The verb הוֹדַעְתִּי (hoda’ti, Hiphil perfect 1st person common singular from יָדַע, yada’; Qal “to know,” Hiphil “to make known, declare”) here functions as (1) an instantaneous perfect, representing an action being performed at the same instant that the speaker utters the statement (e.g., Gen 14:22; Deut 8:19; 26:3; 2 Sam 17:11; 19:30; Ps 143:6); or (2) an epistolary perfect, representing a situation in past time from the viewpoint of the recipient of the message but in present time from the viewpoint of the writer (e.g., 1 Kgs 15:19; 2 Chr 2:12). For functions of the perfect tense (suffix-conjugation), see §30.5.1.
  3. 28 The substantival use of the Niphal participle נֶאֱמָנָה (ne’emanah, “that which is sure”) refers to an event that will occur in the future ( 52 אָמַן 2).
  4. 29 Heb “like water” (so , , ); “like a waterfall.” The term מַיִם (mayim, “water”) often refers to literal flood waters (Gen 7:7, 10; 8:3, 7–9; Isa 54:9) and figuratively describes the Lord’s judgment that totally destroys the wicked ( 566 מַי 4.k).
  5. 30 The verb עָשַׁק (’ashaq, “to oppress”) may refer to (1) oppressing the poor and defenseless ( 798 עָשַׁק 1), or more likely to (2) oppression of one nation by another as the judgment of God (Deut 28:29, 33; 1 Chr 16:21; Pss 105:14; 119:121, 122; Isa 52:4; Jer 50:33; Hos 5:11; 798 2). The Qal passive participles עָשׁוּק (’ashuq, “oppressed”) and רְצוּץ (rétsuts, “crushed”) might refer to a present situation (so , , , , ); however, the context suggests that they refer to a future situation (so ). When a participle is used in reference to the future, it often denotes an imminent future situation and may be rendered, “about to” (e.g., Gen 6:17; 15:14; 20:3; 37:30; 41:25; 49:29; Exod 9:17–18; Deut 28:31; 1 Sam 3:11; 1 Kgs 2:2; 20:22; 2 Kgs 7:2). For functions of the participle, see §37.6f.
  6. 31 The term רְצוּץ (rétsuts, “crushed”) is a metaphor for weakness (e.g., 2 Kgs 18:21; Isa 36:6; 42:3) and oppression (e.g., Deut 28:33; 1 Sam 12:3, 4; Amos 4:1; Isa 58:6). Here it is used as a figure to describe the devastating effects of the Lord’s judgment.
  7. 32 Heb “crushed of judgment” (רְצוּץ מִשְׁפָּט, rétsuts mishpat). The second term is a genitive of cause (“crushed because of judgment” or “crushed under judgment”) rather than respect (“crushed in judgment,” as in many English versions).
  8. 33 The meaning of the Hebrew term translated “worthless idols” is uncertain; cf. “the commandment”; “man’s command”; “filth”; “vanity.”
  9. 34 The noun רָקָב (raqav, “rottenness, decay”) refers to wood rot caused by the ravages of worms ( 955 רָקָב); cf. “dry rot.” The related noun רִקָּבוֹן (riqqavon) refers to “rotten wood” (Job 41:27).
  10. 35 Hosea employs three preterites (vayyiqtol forms) in verse 13a–b to describe a past-time situation.
  11. 36 Heb “went to” (so , , ); “asked help from.”
  12. 37 Heb “sent to” (so , , ).
  13. 38 The reads מֶלֶךְ יָרֵב (melekh yarev, “a contentious king”). This is translated as a proper name (“king Jareb”) by , , . However, the stative adjective יָרֵב (“contentious”) is somewhat awkward. The words should be redivided as an archaic genitive-construct מַלְכִּי רָב (malki rav, “great king”; cf. , , , ) which preserves the old genitive hireq yod ending. This is the equivalent of the Assyrian royal epithet sarru rabbu (“the great king”). See also the note on the same phrase in .
  14. 39 Heb “your wound will not depart from you.” Hosea personifies Ephraim’s “wound” as if it could depart from the sickly Ephraim (see the formal equivalent rendering in the preceding ). Ephraim’s sinful action in relying upon an Assyrian treaty for protection will not dispense with its problems.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Ephraim shall become a desolation

in the day of punishment;

among the tribes of Israel

I make known what is sure.

The princes of Judah have become

like those who move the landmark;

upon them I will pour out

my wrath like water.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,

because he was determined to go after filth.

But I am like a moth to Ephraim,

and like dry rot to the house of Judah.

When Ephraim saw his sickness,

and Judah his wound,

then Ephraim went to Assyria,

and sent to the great king.

But he is not able to cure you

or heal your wound.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,

and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

I, even I, will tear and go away;

I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Ephraim will be laid waste

on the day of reckoning.

Among the tribes of Israel

I proclaim what is certain.

Judah’s leaders are like those

who move boundary stones.

I will pour out my wrath on them

like a flood of water.

Ephraim is oppressed,

trampled in judgment,

intent on pursuing idols.

I am like a moth to Ephraim,

like rot to the people of Judah.

“When Ephraim saw his sickness,

and Judah his sores,

then Ephraim turned to Assyria,

and sent to the great king for help.

But he is not able to cure you,

not able to heal your sores.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,

like a great lion to Judah.

I will tear them to pieces and go away;

I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Ephraim will become a desolation

on the day of punishment;

I announce what is certain

among the tribes of Israel.

The princes of Judah are like those

who move boundary markers;

I will pour out my fury on them like water.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,

for he is determined to follow what is worthless.

So I am like rot to Ephraim

and like decay to the house of Judah.

When Ephraim saw his sickness

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyria

and sent a delegation to the great king.

But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

For I am like a lion to Ephraim

and like a young lion to the house of Judah.

Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart.

I will carry them off,

and no one can rescue them.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

One thing is certain, Israel:

On your day of punishment,

you will become a heap of rubble.

“The leaders of Judah have become like thieves.

So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.

The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment

because they are determined to worship idols.

I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool.

I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.

“When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,

Israel turned to Assyria—

to the great king there—

but he could neither help nor cure them.

I will be like a lion to Israel,

like a strong young lion to Judah.

I will tear them to pieces!

I will carry them off,

and no one will be left to rescue them.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Ephraim will be a desolation

in the day of punishment;

among the tribes of Israel

I will reveal what is true.

The princes of Judah have become

like those who remove a landmark;

on them I will pour out

my wrath like water.

Ephraim is oppressed,

crushed in judgment,

because he was determined

to go after filth.

But I am like a maggot to Ephraim

and like rottenness to the house of Judah.

And when Ephraim saw his illness,

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyria,

he sent to the great king.

But he was unable to cure you

and heal your wound.

Because I will be like a lion to Ephraim

and like a fierce strong lion to the house of Judah.

I myself will tear and I will go;

I will carry off, and there is no one who delivers.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke:

Among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound:

Therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment,

Because he willingly walked after the commandment.

Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth,

And to the house of Judah as rottenness.

When Ephraim saw his sickness,

And Judah saw his wound,

Then went Ephraim to the Assyrian,

And sent to king Jareb:

Yet could he not heal you,

Nor cure you of your wound.

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion,

And as a young lion to the house of Judah:

I, even I, will tear and go away;

I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

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