Hosea 11

1 When Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] was a child [a youth, in its early stages], I loved him [with a deep affection, as a father loves his son], and out of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa, a place of bondage] I called [summoned, invoked] My son [a descendant, a child of God, having a special relationship]. word study 2 But the more I called [summoned, invited] Israel, the farther they departed [turned away, went astray] from Me. They sacrificed [offered, slaughtered] to the Baals [false gods, idols] and burned incense [made offerings, perfumed] to carved images [graven, man-made idols]. word study 3 It was I [the Lord, their Redeemer] who taught Ephraim [the tribe, doubly fruitful] to walk [to go, taking steps], taking them in My arms [upon My shoulders, with gentle care], but they never realized [knew not, were not aware] that it was I [the Healer, their Savior] who healed [mended, restored to health] them. word study 4 I led them with cords [of a man, with bands] of kindness [love, affection], with ropes [thick cords] of love; I lifted the yoke [a wooden beam, a burden] from their necks and bent down [to stoop, to incline] to feed [to eat, to nourish] them. word study 5 Will they not [refuse to] return [turn back, come back] to the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and be ruled [governed, dominated] by Assyria [Asshur, a powerful nation] because they [the people of Israel] refused [said no, rejected] to repent [turn back, change their ways]? word study 6 A sword [cutting instrument, weapon of war] will flash [sweep, fall] through their cities [towns, populated areas]; it will destroy [consume, put an end to] the bars [branches, separate parts] of their gates [city walls, defenses] and consume [devour, eat] them in their own plans [counsels, purposes, evil designs]. word study 7 My people [the nation of Israel, a tribe] are bent on turning [to backsliding, faithlessness] from Me. Though they call [cry out, invoke] to the Most High [the supreme God, on high], He will by no means [not at all, under no circumstances] exalt [lift up, honor] them. word study 8 How could I give you up [abandon, surrender], O Ephraim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son and the tribe that descended from him]? How could I surrender you [deliver, rescue], O Israel [symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants]? How could I make you like Admah [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its red earth]? How could I treat you like Zeboiim [a city in Palestine, one of the five cities in the plain that included Sodom and Gomorrah]? My heart [the feelings, the will, the mind] is turned within Me [overturned, changed completely]; My compassion [comfort or solace, providing a sense of consolation] is stirred [kindled, grown warm with strong emotional response]! word study 9 I will not execute the full fury [intense anger, burning wrath] of My anger [deep-seated indignation, righteous displeasure]; I will not turn back [reverse My decision, change My mind] to destroy [completely ruin, bring to nothing] Ephraim [the tribe of Israel, God’s chosen people]. For I am God [the Holy One, having divine nature] and not man [a mortal, finite being]— the Holy One [set apart, sacred] among you— and I will not come [approach, enter] in wrath [fierce anger, intense displeasure]. word study 10 They will walk [follow, obey] after the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; He will roar [let out a mighty cry] like a lion. When He roars [utters a powerful voice], His children [sons, descendants] will come trembling [shaking with fear, anxious] from the west [the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, the seacoast]. word study 11 They will come trembling [with fear and anxiety, like a sparrow] like birds [fowl, little birds] from Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and like doves [pigeons, warm in their mating] from the land [country, territory] of Assyria [Asshur, the ancestor of the Assyrians]. Then I will settle [cause to dwell, place] them in their homes [houses, dwelling places], declares [by utterance, through a prophet] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies [falsehood, deceit], the house of Israel with deceit [treachery, falsehood]; but Judah still walks [strays, continues] with God and is faithful [loyal, steadfast] to the Holy One [the Faithful One]. word study