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Hosea, 10

1. Israel [is] an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

1. Israel was a spreading vine, rich in fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; the more his land prospered, the more he adorned his sacred stones.

2. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

2. Their heart is divided! They shall pay for it. Their altars will be thrown down and their sacred stones broken to pieces.

3. For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

3. Now they say, "We have no king (because we have no fear of God) and what good would a king do us?"

4. They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

4. Let them speak like this, take an oath and make covenants! Their sentence is growing like weeds in a plowed field.

5. The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

5. The people of Samaria tremble for their idols of Bethel; they mourn for their calf as do the priests who were so proud of it.

6. It shall be also carried unto Assyria [for] a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

6. The glorious idol has been taken far away, carried off to Assyria as a tribute to the great king. Ephraim will reap the shame of this; the people of Israel will be disgraced.

7. [As for] Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

7. As for the king of Samaria, he has been carried off like foam on water.

8. The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

8. The idolatrous high places - the sin of Israel - will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will creep over the altars. Then they will say to the mountains: "Cover us," and to the hills: "Fall on us."

9. O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

9. Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned and rebelled, Israel. Will not the battle against the evildoers of Gibeah overtake you again?

10. [It is] in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

10. I shall come and punish you, gathering the nations against you because of your double sin.

11. And Ephraim [is as] an heifer [that is] taught, [and] loveth to tread out [the corn]; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, [and] Jacob shall break his clods.

11. Ephraim is a well-trained heifer fond of threshing; on her neck I shall place a yoke; Ephraim will be harnessed and plowed; the nation of Jacob will break the clods.

12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

12. Plow new ground, sow for yourselves justice and reap the harvest of kindness. It is the time to go seeking Yahweh until he comes to rain salvation on you.

13. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

13. For your part you planted wickedness, reaped evil and ate the fruit of falsehood. When you rely on your own strength and your many warriors, confusion will overcome your people.

14. Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon [her] children.

14. See, your fortresses are destroyed as when Shalman devastated Beth-arbel; all was crushed.

15. So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

15. That is what will happen to you, people of Israel, because of your great evil. The storm will blow away the king of Israel.



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Footnotes:

10:1-2 - Israel's corruption is compared to a vineyard that produced adulterated fruit. The people, who should have been faithful to God, became idolatrous and deceitful. Israel's duplicity is the reason for their separation from God and the promise of judgment (see also Jeremiah 2:21 and Ezekiel 22:25-27).

10:3-6 - Israel is described as a nation that, faced with oppression, seeks a solution in false hopes and its own strength. Dependence on idols is a major flaw that will lead to the destruction of the kingdom (see also Psalm 115:4-8 and Isaiah 30:1-3).

10:7-10 - Israel's destruction is imminent, with the king being taken into exile and the nation suffering divine punishment. The people are being punished for their rebellion, and God laments their destruction, but justice is necessary because of their unfaithfulness (see also Amos 6:7 and Jeremiah 22:18-19).

10:11-12 - God calls Israel to repentance, comparing them to a land in need of righteousness. He calls the people to cultivate righteousness and turn to Him so that they can be restored (see also Joel 2:12-13 and Matthew 7:16-20).

10:13-15 - Israel's sin is compared to a deep wound, and the people will continue to be punished until they repent. God's judgment is inevitable, but if the people turn to Him, there will be restoration (see also Amos 4:12-13 and Jeremiah 31:18-20).

Verses related to Hosea, 10:

Hosea chapter 10 compares Israel to a fruitless vineyard. How can prosperity lead to spiritual decay? This incisive text uses agricultural metaphors to illustrate the coming judgment. The chapter addresses themes such as idolatry, false security, and the need to seek justice. Hosea 10 emphasizes that the spiritual harvest depends on what is sown. Consider with us five biblical passages that relate to the crucial themes of this cautionary chapter.

Matthew 3:10: "The ax has already been placed at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." - It reflects the impending judgment described in Hosea 10:2-3.

James 3:18: "Those who sow in peace reap the fruits of righteousness." - Contrasts with Hosea 10:12-13, where Israel is accused of sowing injustice.

Luke 23:30: "Then they will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills: 'Cover us!'" - It directly quotes Hosea 10:8, applying it to the context of the final judgment.

1 Samuel 15:22: "But Samuel replied, 'Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying his word? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than the fat of rams.'" - It echoes the theme of Hosea 10:12 about the importance of obedience over ritual.

Galatians 4:19: "My children, I am again suffering birth pains because of you, until Christ is formed in you." - It may be compared with the agricultural image of Hosea 10:11, where Ephraim is compared to a trained heifer.

FAQ:

What does "Ephraim is a vineyard laden with fruit" mean?

The expression indicates that in the past Israel (Ephraim) had prosperity, but now, because of their idolatry, the fruits are withering and God's blessing is moving away. (Hosea 10:1)

Why does God say that "Ephraim has given himself over to his idol"?

God reveals that Ephraim (Israel) gave themselves completely to idolatry, rejecting allegiance to the Lord and following pagan practices, which resulted in their ruin. (Hosea 10:5-6)

What does "Sow to yourselves in righteousness" mean?

God calls Israel to sow righteousness, which means acting in accordance with His will, practicing righteousness and seeking peace, so that they may reap blessings rather than destruction. (Hosea 10:12)

What does the destruction of Beth-aven symbolize for Israel?

The destruction of Beth-aven symbolizes the end of idolatry and false worship in Israel, showing that God rejects all forms of false worship that bring destruction. (Hosea 10:5-8)

Why does God promise that Israel will be conquered by enemies?

God announces the conquest of Israel by its enemies as a consequence of its unfaithfulness and sin. They will be punished for their lack of repentance and their persistence in evil. (Hosea 10:9-11)


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