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Hosea, 5

1. Hear 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.

1. Hear this, O priests! and you, people of Israel, pay attention! Hear, officials of the king for you are to be judged. You have been a snare at Mizpah and a net on Tabor,

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

2. and a deep pit at Shittim, so I am to punish you all.

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

3. I know what Israel is like; he cannot hide from me. Ephraim is playing the harlot; Israel is a people which defiles itself.

4. They 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.

4. Their deeds prevent them from returning to their God; a spirit of prostitution has taken hold of them and they do not know Yahweh.

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

5. The pride of Israel is witness against him; this people are failing because of their guilt.

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 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find [him]; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

6. With their sheep and bulls they will go in search of Yahweh, but they will not find him for he has gone far from them.

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

7. He found they were unfaithful and their children were not his. So now the destroyer will do away with them and their lands will be devastated.

8. Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, [and] the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud [at] Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

8. Blow the horn at Gibeah, the trumpet at Ramah, raise the battlecry in Beth-aven! For Benjamin has been defeated,

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

9. the day has come in which Ephraim is ruined. Let the tribes of Israel know that this is about to occur!

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

10. The princes of Judah are like those who remove border stones and I shall pour out my anger on them like a flood.

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

11. In the same way those of Ephraim are oppressors and trample justice.

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

12. I will be like a moth for Ephraim, like rot for Judah.

13. When 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.

13. Ephraim saw he was sick and Judah saw his ulcer. Then Ephraim turned to the great King of Assyria for help, but he will not cure you or heal your sores.

14. For 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].

14. I will be like a leopard for Ephraim and like a lion for Judah. I will tear them to pieces and leave them. When I carry them off, no one will rescue them.

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

15. Then I will go away and return to my place until they admit their guilt and come back to me, for in their anguish they will earnestly seek me.



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Footnotes:

5:1-2 - God's call to Israel's priests and leaders highlights their responsibility for the spiritual guidance of the people. Failure by these leaders to lead the people in faithfulness to God results in imminent judgment. The sin of the leadership is reflected in the behavior of the people (see also James 3:1 and Ezekiel 34:2-10).

5:3-4 - God observes that Israel's unfaithfulness is not just external, but internal, in the heart. Israel's sin is deep and can only be healed through genuine repentance and inner transformation (see also Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 15:19).

5:5-7 - Israel's approaching shame and destruction reflect the consequences of their turning away from God. Their pride and self-sufficiency led to their downfall, and now they face divine judgment (see also Isaiah 5:15 and Proverbs 16:18).

5:8-12 - God's judgment also extends to the tribes of Israel, especially Ephraim and Judah. Sincere repentance is the only solution, but the people still persist in their sins. This passage illustrates how Israel's internal divisions amplify the spiritual crisis (see also Isaiah 1:15 and Ezekiel 22:30).

5:13-15 - The Lord promises to withdraw from Israel until the people sincerely repent. Suffering and anguish are seen as means of leading the people to recognize their dependence on God and return to Him (see also Amos 5:6 and Jeremiah 29:12-14).

Verses related to Hosea, 5:

Hosea chapter 5 intensifies the accusations against Israel and Judah. How does failed leadership affect the entire nation? This penetrating text condemns religious and political leaders for leading the people astray. The chapter addresses topics such as religious hypocrisy, mistaken political alliances and the inevitability of divine judgment. Hosea 5 reveals God's frustration with the stubbornness of His people. Ponder with us five biblical passages that relate to the critical themes of this incisive chapter.

Matthew 23:27-28: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs: beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and all kinds of impurity. This is how you are: on the outside you appear righteous to the people, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil." - Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of religious leaders, in a similar way to Hosea's denunciation in Hosea 5.

Isaiah 29:13: "The Lord says, 'These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The worship they give me is made up only of rules taught by men'." - Isaiah criticizes superficial worship, a theme that also appears in Hosea 5.

Amos 5:21-24: "I detest and despise your religious festivals; I can't stand your assemblies. Even if you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, it will not please me. [...] Rather, let righteousness flow like a river, justice like an everlasting stream!" - Amos criticizes empty ritualism, a theme that echoes the message of Hosea 5 about the true nature of the worship that God desires.

Galatians 6:7: "Don't be fooled: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." - Paul talks about the inevitable consequences of sin, a theme that also appears in Hosea 5 when God talks about the judgment of Israel.

Proverbs 15:3: "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, closely watching the evil and the good." - This proverb reflects the theme of Hosea 5 about God's knowledge of his people's actions, both good and bad.

FAQ:

What does God say about Israel's leadership in Hosea 5?

God denounces Israel's leadership, including the priests and kings, for their corruption and lack of spiritual leadership, which leads to the people's downfall. (Hosea 5:1-7)

What is the punishment announced by God for Israel in Hosea 5?

God announces punishment and destruction for Israel because of their sin, which will result in shame and suffering if the people fail to repent. (Hosea 5:8-15)

What does the "weeping of Ephraim" in Hosea 5 mean?

The "weeping of Ephraim" symbolizes the false repentance and lamentations of Israel, who, despite suffering, still do not genuinely turn to God. (Hosea 5:11-15)

What does God desire for Israel in Hosea 5?

God desires Israel to acknowledge their guilt, repent, and seek His mercy, abandoning idolatry and returning to His way. (Hosea 5:14-15)

How does Israel's rebellion affect their relationship with God in Hosea 5?

Israel's rebellion creates an alienation from God, who hides Himself from them until they acknowledge their sin and seek genuine repentance. (Hosea 5:6-15)


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