Hosea — Chapter 9
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1Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
2The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
3They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
4They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
5What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
6For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
11As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
13Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
14Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
16Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
17My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
1Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, like the peoples; for thou hast played the harlot, [departing] from thy God; thou hast loved hire upon every grain-floor.
2The threshing-floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her.
3They shall not dwell in Jehovah`s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.
4They shall not pour out wine-offerings to Jehovah, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted; for their bread shall be for their appetite; it shall not come into the house of Jehovah.
5What will ye do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Jehovah?
6For, lo, they are gone away from destruction; [yet] Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them; their pleasant things of silver, nettles shall possess them; thorns shall be in their tents.
7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the abundance of thine iniquity, and because the enmity is great.
8Ephraim [was] a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler`s snare is in all his ways, [and] enmity in the house of his God.
9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first-ripe in the fig-tree at its first season: but they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.
11As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird: there shall be no birth, and none with child, and no conception.
12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, so that not a man shall be left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
13Ephraim, like as I have seen Tyre, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring out his children to the slayer.
14Give them, O Jehovah-what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more; all their princes are revolters.
16Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb.
17My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
1O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations, for you are unfaithful to your God. You love to receive a prostitute’s wages on all the floors where you thresh your grain.
2Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people, and new wine only deceives them.
3They will not remain in the Lord’s land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria.
4They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord; they will not please him with their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will be like bread eaten while in mourning; all those who eat them will make themselves ritually unclean. For their bread will be only to satisfy their appetite; it will not come into the temple of the Lord.
5So what will you do on the festival day, on the festival days of the Lord?
6Look! Even if they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure— thornbushes will occupy their homes.
7The time of judgment is about to arrive! The time of retribution is imminent! Israel will be humbled! The prophet is considered a fool— the inspired man is viewed as a madman— because of the multitude of your sins and your intense animosity.
8The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God, yet traps are laid for him along all his paths; animosity rages against him in the land of his God.
9They have sunk deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their wrongdoing. He will repay them for their sins.
10When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness. I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season. Then they came to Baal Peor, and they dedicated themselves to shame— they became as detestable as what they loved.
11Ephraim will be like a bird; what they value will fly away. They will not bear children— they will not enjoy pregnancy— they will not even conceive!
12Even if they raise their children, I will take away every last one of them. Woe to them! For I will turn away from them.
13Ephraim, as I have seen, has given their children for prey; Ephraim will bear his sons for slaughter.
14Give them, O Lord— what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse!
15Because of all their evil in Gilgal, I hate them there. On account of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of my land. I will no longer love them; all their rulers are rebels.
16Ephraim will be struck down— their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring.
17My God will reject them, for they have not obeyed him; so they will be fugitives among the nations.
1Don’t rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; for you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.
2The threshing floor and the wine press won’t feed them, and the new wine will fail her.
3They won’t dwell in Yahweh’s land; but Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.
4They won’t pour out wine offerings to Yahweh, neither will they be pleasing to him. Their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat of it will be polluted; for their bread will be for their appetite. It will not come into Yahweh’s house.
5What will you do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Yahweh?
6For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.
7The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great.
8A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler’s snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins.
10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.
11As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, no one with child, and no conception.
12Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them!
13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place; but Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer.
14Give them—Yahweh what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15“All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels.
16Ephraim is struck. Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb.”
17My God will cast them away, because they did not listen to him; and they will be wanderers among the nations.
Summary
God announces the end of Israel's celebrations — exile is coming as punishment for their deep corruption, and the prophet himself is mocked as a fool by the people he warns.
Authorship & Background
- No Joy for Israel: The Harvest Will Fail (vv.1-6)
- The Days of Punishment Are Here (vv.7-9)
- God's Memory: Once Beloved, Now Corrupt (v.10)
- Ephraim's Glory Flies Away: Barrenness (vv.11-14)
- Driven Out of God's House (vv.15-17)
Map & Geography
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. You become what you worship (v.10). "They became detestable like the thing they loved." Whatever you give your devotion to SHAPES you. Worship God, become godly. Worship money, become greedy. Worship pleasure, become enslaved. Guard what receives your love — it determines what you become.
- 2. "Woe to them when I depart" (v.12). God's PRESENCE is the only thing that makes life work. When He withdraws, everything collapses — not because of external attack, but internal emptiness. Protect His presence in your life above all else.
- 3. God remembers what you WERE (v.10). "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness." God recalls your early love, your first devotion, the freshness of your faith. He grieves the contrast with what you've become. Return to the delight you once were.
- 4. The prophet as "fool" (v.7). When truth-tellers are mocked as crazy, that itself is a sign of judgment. A culture that calls prophets fools is a culture under divine sentence. Don't join the mockers.
- 5. "Wanderers among the nations" (v.17). To live without God is to live without HOME. You may have an address, but without God you are a wanderer — directionless, restless, displaced. Only IN God are you truly settled.