Hosea 13:7
Hosea 13:7 in Multiple Translations
So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;
So I will be like a lion to them; as a cruel beast I will keep watch by the road;
So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.
And I wil be vnto them as a very lyon, and as a leopard in the way of Asshur.
And I am to them as a lion, As a leopard by the way I look out.
Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.
Therefore I will be to them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them .
And I will be to them as a lioness, as a leopard in the way of the Assyrians.
So I will attack you like [SIM] a lion attacks other animals; I will be like [SIM] a leopard that waits beside the road to attack another animal.
Berean Amplified Bible — Hosea 13:7
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Hosea 13:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וָ/אֱהִ֥י
לָ/הֶ֖ם
כְּמוֹ
שָׁ֑חַל
כְּ/נָמֵ֖ר
עַל
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
אָשֽׁוּר
וָ/אֱהִ֥י
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
לָ/הֶ֖ם
Prep | Suff
כְּמוֹ
kᵉmôw
H3644
like
Prep
שָׁ֑חַל
shachal
H7826
lion
N-ms
כְּ/נָמֵ֖ר
nâmêr
H5246
leopard
Prep | N-ms
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
derek
H1870
way
N-cs
אָשֽׁוּר
shûwr
H7789
to see
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Hosea 13:7
וָ/אֱהִ֥י
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לָ/הֶ֖ם
""
Prep | Suff
כְּמוֹ
kᵉmôw
H3644
"like"
Prep
This word means like or as, used to compare things. It appears in the Bible to describe similarities or to make comparisons, such as in the book of Psalms.
Definition: adv 1) like, as, the like of which conj 2) when, according as, as it were
Usage: Occurs in 126 OT verses. KJV: according to, (such) as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto), thus, when, worth. See also: Genesis 19:15; Job 40:17; Psalms 29:6.
שָׁ֑חַל
shachal
H7826
"lion"
N-ms
This word refers to a lion, known for its powerful roar. In Proverbs 30:30, it is used to describe the strength and courage of a lion, while in 1 Peter 5:8, it symbolizes Satan as a fierce lion.
Definition: 1) lion 1a) of Jehovah, wicked men (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: (fierce) lion. See also: Job 4:10; Psalms 91:13; Proverbs 26:13.
כְּ/נָמֵ֖ר
nâmêr
H5246
"leopard"
Prep | N-ms
Another Hebrew word for leopard, also noting its striped appearance. It appears in Daniel 7:6, describing a vision of four beasts, including a leopard.
Definition: leopard Aramaic equivalent: ne.mar (נְמַר "leopard" H5245)
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: leopard. See also: Song of Solomon 4:8; Jeremiah 13:23; Isaiah 11:6.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
derek
H1870
"way"
N-cs
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Definition: : road/route 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 626 OT verses. KJV: along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 3:24; Deuteronomy 28:29; 1 Kings 15:34.
אָשֽׁוּר
shûwr
H7789
"to see"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
To see or observe something, like a spy watching from a distance, as in the story of Moses sending scouts to Canaan. It can also mean to care for or regard someone, showing concern for their well-being. This word is used in many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) to see, behold, observe, regard 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to behold, observe 1a2) to regard 1a3) to watch, watch (stealthily), lie in wait
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: behold, lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see. See also: Numbers 23:9; Job 34:29; Jeremiah 5:26.
Study Notes — Hosea 13:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Hosea 13:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Hosea 13:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Hosea 13:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
- Ellicott's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
- Cambridge Bible on Hosea 13:7
- Barnes' Notes on Hosea 13:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
- Sermons on Hosea 13:7
Context — God’s Anger against Israel
5I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
6When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
7So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart. 9You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me— against your helper.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosea 5:14 | For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 5:6 | Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous. |
| 3 | Lamentations 3:10 | He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush. |
| 4 | Amos 3:4 | Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing? |
| 5 | Amos 1:2 | He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.” |
| 6 | Isaiah 42:13 | The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies: |
| 7 | Amos 3:8 | The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken— who will not prophesy? |
Hosea 13:7 Summary
[This verse is saying that God will judge His people for their sin and rebellion, using powerful images from nature to describe His intervention. Just like a lion pounces on its prey or a leopard lurks by the path, God will suddenly and powerfully intervene in the lives of His people, as seen in (Psalm 50:22) and (Isaiah 30:15). This is not because He is angry or vindictive, but because He loves them and desires to correct and restore them, as seen in (Hebrews 12:6) and (Revelation 3:19). By using these images, God is reminding us of His power and majesty, and calling us to humble ourselves before Him.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to pounce on His people like a lion?
This is a metaphor for God's judgment and discipline, as seen in Hosea 13:7, where He will pounce on them like a lion, indicating a sudden and powerful intervention in their lives, similar to what is described in Isaiah 5:29 and Jeremiah 5:6.
Why does God compare Himself to a leopard lurking by the path?
The comparison to a leopard lurking by the path suggests that God will be watching and waiting for the perfect moment to intervene in the lives of His people, much like a leopard waits for its prey, as described in Psalm 10:9 and Jeremiah 5:6.
Is God's judgment on His people a result of His anger or love?
God's judgment on His people is a result of His love, as He desires to correct and restore them, as seen in Hebrews 12:6, where it says that the Lord disciplines those He loves, and in Revelation 3:19, where Jesus says that He rebukes and disciplines those He loves.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of the book of Hosea?
This verse is part of the larger theme of Hosea, which is a call to repentance and a warning of God's judgment on His people for their sin and rebellion, as seen in Hosea 14:1, where God calls His people to return to Him, and in Hosea 6:1-3, where He promises to heal and restore them if they return to Him.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have become complacent or proud, like the Israelites in Hosea 13:6, and how can I humble myself before God?
- How does the image of God as a lion or leopard make me feel, and what does it reveal about His power and majesty?
- In what ways can I be more mindful of God's presence and watchfulness in my life, like a leopard lurking by the path?
- What are some areas where I need to surrender to God's discipline and correction, and how can I trust in His love and goodness even in difficult times?
Gill's Exposition on Hosea 13:7
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion, Because of their idolatry, ingratitude, luxury, and especially their forgetfulness of God, which is last mentioned, and with which the words are connected.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Hosea 13:7
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: Therefore I will be unto them as a lion - (Hosea 5:14; Lamentations 3:10, "He was unto me as a bear lying in
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
Therefore; since they have so abused my gifts by luxury, pride, and atheistical forgetfulness of me, of what I had done for them, what I deserved and expected from them, I will use them as is meet, and take my revenge upon them. I will be unto them; unthankful, apostates, idolaters, sottish drunkards, belly-gods, who live to eat and drink, and forget me. As a lion: see ; that is, in his fullest strength, of a middle age, swift in pursuing, and that can continue the chase till he overtake his prey; and which is strong, courageous, and proud of his strength and success; that will dreadfully roar over his prey, as if he challenged any one to attempt its rescue. As a leopard; a very fierce, swift, sly, and watchful creature, . Observe them; watch for them, that I may be sure to take them.
Trapp's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
Hosea 13:7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe [them]:Ver. 7. Therefore will I be unto them as a lion, as a leopard, &c.] Thus still God proceedeth to use similitudes by the ministry of his prophets, as he did before, Hosea 13:3. He here compareth himself (who otherwise is compared to an eagle, bearing her young upon her wings; to a hen, hovering over chickens; to a father, cherishing his children, Exodus 19:4 Deuteronomy 32:10-11 Matthew 23:37) to a lion, yea, to an old lion, which taketh the prey but seldom, and therefore is more ravenous of it when taken; to a leopard, or panther, that diligently observeth by the way, and lieth in wait for his prey, and useth subtilty, as not being so swift of foot, confer Jeremiah 5:6; to a bear robbed of her whelps, which are very dear to her; to any other cruel creature, Hosea 13:8, as the tiger that flieth upon the very picture of a man, and teareth it, or if he cannot come at it, teareth himself for anger. Neither is it for nothing (saith Rivet) that God compareth himself here to all these together; but to show that there was no hope of escape, neither could he that had avoided one danger be safe from another, so dreadful a thing is it to fall into the punishing hands of the living God. Oh consider this, ye that forget God; lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you.
Ellicott's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
(7) I will be . . .—More correctly, have become . . . as a panther in the way do I lie in wait. The idea of this and the following verses is that of a Divine judgment suspended over Israel, destined soon to fall with overwhelming ruin (721 B.C.). The English version follows the interpretation of the Targum. But the LXX., Vulg., and Syriac versions are based on a slightly different reading of the text contained in some Hebrew MSS. They render, “as a panther on the way to Assyria.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
Verse 7. I will be unto them as a lion] שחל shachal is supposed to mean here the black lion, frequent in Ethiopia. As a leopard] נמר namar, so termed from its spotted skin, for to be spotted is the signification of the root. Will I observe them] The leopard, tiger, and panther will hide themselves in thick bush-wood, near where they expect any prey to pass; and as soon as it comes near, spring suddenly upon it. To this is the allusion in the text: "By the way will I observe them;" watch for them as the leopard does. They shall be greatly harassed even on their way to Assyria, when going into captivity.
Cambridge Bible on Hosea 13:7
7. I will be] Rather, I have become. The evident decay of Israel as a nation shows that the punishment has begun (see Hosea 7:8-10). the leopard] Familiar to the Hebrews and Assyrians under the same name (nâmçr, nimru). Its habit of springing from an ambush is again referred to in Jeremiah 5:6. by the way will I observe them] According to another pronunciation of the consonants, the Septuagint, Peshito, and Vulgate (supported by some MSS. and many editions of the Hebrew Bible), render ‘in the way to Assyria’, an allusion being supposed to Israel’s dallying with the great northern empire (Hosea 5:13). So also Hitzig and Ewald. But the prophet has to deal now with the disease itself, not with a mere symptom.
Barnes' Notes on Hosea 13:7
I will be unto them as a lion - They had waxen fat, were full; yet it was, to become themselves a prey. Their wealth which they were proud of, which they abused, allured their enemies.
Whedon's Commentary on Hosea 13:7
4-8. Love — Ingratitude — Destruction. The conduct of Israel was the more shocking because Jehovah had always proved himself ready to be their helper and friend.
Sermons on Hosea 13:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Letter 106 by James Bourne | James Bourne addresses a dear friend who is struggling to speak or write about spiritual matters, advising her to give up these difficulties and immerse herself in worldly pursuits |
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Auferstehung Israels (With German Translation) by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker begins by praying for a resurrection event through the spoken word. He emphasizes the need for the church to reach a place of apostolic and prophetic ma |
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(Through the Bible) Jeremiah 3-5 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for people to turn away from worldly distractions and dedicate themselves fully to God and spiritual matters. He quotes from the bo |
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(Belarus) God Has Risen to Defend His Name by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes God's promises of provision and protection for his people. He highlights that God has promised that his people will never have to beg for br |
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Knowing the Lord’s Mind and Will by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of knowing the Lord's mind and will through a three-step process: petitioning God in prayer, preparing one's heart to hear His voice, and |
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The Fellowship of Christ's Suffering by Carter Conlon | This sermon focuses on the Fellowship of Christ's Suffering as outlined in 1 Peter chapter 5. The speaker emphasizes the need for believers to be sober and vigilant against the adv |
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The Author & the End of Theology by James Arminius | James Arminius preaches about the importance of embracing Sacred Theology, focusing on the Object, Author, End, and Certainty of this divine science. He emphasizes the necessity of |