Hosea — Chapter 5

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1Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

2And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

4They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.

5And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

6They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

7They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

8Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.

9Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

10The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

12Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

13When 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.

14For 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.

15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

1Hear this, O ye priests, and hearken, O house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king; for unto you pertaineth the judgment; for ye have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

2And the revolters are gone deep in making slaughter; but I am a rebuker of them all.

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me; for now, O Ephraim, thou hast played the harlot, Israel is defiled.

4Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God; for the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not Jehovah.

5And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in their iniquity; Judah also shall stumble with them.

6They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Jehovah; but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them.

7They have dealt treacherously against Jehovah; for they have borne strange children: now shall the new moon devour them with their fields.

8Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: sound an alarm at Beth-aven; behind thee, O Benjamin.

9Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

10The princes of Judah are like them that remove the landmark: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; because he was content to walk after [man`s] command.

12Therefore am I unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

14For 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 carry off, and there shall be none to deliver.

15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly.

1Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen closely, O king! For judgment is about to overtake you. For you were like a trap to Mizpah, like a net spread out to catch Tabor.

2Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all.

3I know Ephraim all too well; the evil of Israel is not hidden from me. For you have engaged in prostitution, O Ephraim; Israel has defiled itself.

4Their wicked deeds do not allow them to return to their God; for a spirit of idolatry is in them, and they do not acknowledge the Lord.

5The arrogance of Israel testifies against it; Israel and Ephraim will be overthrown because of their iniquity. Even Judah will be brought down with them.

6Although they bring their flocks and herds to seek the favor of the Lord, they will not find him— he has withdrawn himself from them!

7They have committed treason against the Lord because they bore illegitimate children. Soon the new moon festival will devour them and their fields.

8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah! Sound the trumpet in Ramah! Sound the alarm in Beth Aven; tremble in fear, O Benjamin!

9Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment. What I am declaring to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place!

10The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers. I will pour out my rage on them like a torrential flood.

11Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.

12I will be like a moth to Ephraim, like wood rot to the house of Judah.

13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and begged its great king for help. But he will not be able to heal you. He cannot cure your wound!

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!

15Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.

1“Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.

2The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I discipline all of them.

3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.

4Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God; for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know Yahweh.

5The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.

6They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh; but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.

7They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.

8“Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!

9Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.

10The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.

12Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.

13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.

15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

God pronounces judgment on the priests, people, and royal house of Israel for their pride and spiritual prostitution, declaring He will withdraw until they acknowledge their guilt and seek His face.

Authorship & Background

Author: Hosea son of Beeri. Prophesied to the northern kingdom (Israel) approximately 755-715 BC. Contemporary with Isaiah and Micah. Key theme: God's unfailing love for unfaithful Israel, illustrated through Hosea's marriage to Gomer (a prostitute). Despite Israel's spiritual adultery, God says: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely" (14:4).
Classification: Prophetic Oracle — Judgment on Both Israel and Judah Key Themes: God as a lion and a moth, failed alliances with Assyria, pride as the root of destruction, God withdrawing until repentance, seeking God in distress
Historical Context: Chapter 5 expands the indictment to include both Israel (Ephraim) and Judah. The priests, the royal house, and the people are all guilty. God has become like a "moth" to Ephraim (slow, invisible decay) and will become like a "lion" (sudden, devastating judgment). The chapter references the Syro-Ephraimite crisis (approximately 735 BC), when Ephraim sought help from Assyria rather than God (v.13) — a political alliance that would ultimately destroy them. The chapter ends with God "returning to His place" — withdrawing divine presence until Israel genuinely repents.
Structure:
  • Triple Indictment: Priests, Israel, Royal House (vv.1-7)
  • The Alarm: War is Coming (vv.8-9)
  • Judah Also Condemned (v.10)
  • God as Moth and Lion (vv.11-14)
  • God Withdraws Until Repentance (v.15)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Hosea Overview (Video)

Animated overview of the book of Hosea showing the literary structure, key themes, and how this book fits into the larger biblical narrative. Excellent visual introduction.

Reflection

  • 1. Pride "testifies to his face" (v.5). Pride is always visible to everyone except the one who has it. If pride is testifying against you, ask God and trusted friends: where am I blind to my own arrogance? Humility is the gateway to repentance.
  • 2. Religious activity without genuine heart finds God absent (v.6). You can bring your "flocks and herds" — attend church, give money, serve — and still find God has withdrawn. He is not impressed by ritual. He responds to authenticity. Check whether your spiritual activity is reaching God or just performing for people.
  • 3. God sometimes works like a moth before He works like a lion (vv.12, 14). Slow decay precedes sudden collapse. If you sense quiet deterioration in your spiritual life — passion fading, conviction weakening, prayer growing cold — address it NOW. The moth stage is your warning. Don't wait for the lion.
  • 4. Human solutions cannot fix God-problems (v.13). Ephraim's wound was FROM God (spiritual sickness), but they sought healing FROM Assyria (political alliance). When your problem is with God, no therapist, no friend, no career change can heal it. Only returning to God addresses the actual issue.
  • 5. "In their affliction they will seek me early" (v.15). God allows affliction because He knows it produces genuine seeking. If you are in affliction now — SEEK. This may be exactly why God permitted it. Don't waste your pain.