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Hosea, 9

1. Rejoice 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.

1. Do not rejoice and celebrate, Israel, like other nations, for you have deserted your God. You are fond of prostitution gifts and run to every threshing floor where there is wheat.

2. The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

2. This is why threshing floors and vats will not feed you; new wine will disappoint you.

3. They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria.

3. No longer will you remain in Yahweh's land. Ephraim will return to Egypt - in fact to Assyria, where they will eat unclean food.

4. They 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.

4. No more will they be able to pour out the wine offering for Yahweh and no longer will they sacrifice to him. They will have only bread for mourners; all who eat it will be defiled. This food will be for themselves and it will not be taken into the house of Yahweh.

5. What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?

5. What shall you do on the feast? You will leave but not for the pilgrimage to Yahweh; rather you will flee because of the invaders.

6. For, 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.

6. Egypt will gather you and Memphis entomb you. Nettles will take over your treasures of silver and thorns creep over your tents.

7. The 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.

7. The time of punishment has come, the day of retribution is here. The Israelites will know it. The prophets will go out of their mind; the seers will become like mad men because your defeat will be as great as your sins have been.

8. The 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.

8. Ephraim watches before my God; his prophets try to stop the enemy on every path to protect the house of their gods.

9. They have deeply corrupted [themselves], as in the days of Gibeah: [therefore] he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.

9. Yet they are as corrupted as they were long ago in Gibeah. Yahweh will remember their wickedness and punish their sin.

10. I 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 Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame; and [their] abominations were according as they loved.

10. I found Israel like wild grapes in the desert, I saw your fathers like the first fruits on a fig tree. But no sooner had they come to Baal-peor than they gave themselves to the idol; and they became as worthless as their dirty god.

11. [As for] Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.

11. The glory of Ephraim will flee away like a bird; it has died stillborn, miscarried, not even conceived.

12. Though 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!

12. Had they brought out children, I would take them off before they were adults, for woe to them when I abandon them!

13. Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, [is] planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

13. I have seen that Ephraim will make his sons like a game; he will send his sons to be slaughtered.

14. Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

14. Give them, Yahweh, what you will; give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.

15. All 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.

15. It is at Gilgal that their wickedness is seen. There I hated them. I will expel them from my House because of their evil conduct. I will love them no longer for all their leaders are rebels.

16. Ephraim 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.

16. Ephraim is blighted; his root is withered; he will produce no fruit. Even when they are with child, the child will die in the womb.

17. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

17. My God will reject them because they did not listen; he will make them wander among the nations.



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Footnotes:

9:1-2 - The people of Israel are warned not to rejoice, for God's judgment is approaching. The land will be destroyed because of idolatry and unfaithfulness, and their joy will be turned into sorrow. This demonstrates the consequences of turning away from God (see also Amos 6:6 and Ezekiel 23:28-29).

9:3-6 - The desolation of the land is foretold, with crop failure and food shortages. This reflects God's punishment for Israel's abandonment of their faithfulness to God and their pursuit of prosperity in earthly and idolatrous pursuits (see also Deuteronomy 28:38-40 and Isaiah 24:4-6).

9:7-9 - The coming crisis is a consequence of Israel's rejection of the prophets' words and their moral corruption. The hardness of their hearts hinders their repentance, and God stands ready to act against wickedness (see also Jeremiah 7:13 and Amos 2:6-8).

9:10-14 - God refers to Israel's sin by comparing it to a fig tree that bore rotten fruit. He recalls Israel's unfaithfulness from its earliest days and announces that the people will be punished with the loss of their prosperity and divine protection (see also Jeremiah 2:21 and Amos 4:6-8).

9:15-17 - God exhorts the people of Israel to abandon idolatry and sin, but instead, they continue to follow their own will. Israel's desolation is imminent, and God will harden their hearts so that they will not repent (see also Isaiah 5:5-7 and Amos 3:10-11).

Verses related to Hosea, 9:

Hosea chapter 9 describes Israel's impending exile. How does spiritual infidelity lead to the loss of divine blessings? This dark text announces the end of celebrations and the beginning of judgment, using images of infertility and rejection. The chapter explores themes such as the holiness of God, the consequences of sin, and the rejection of false prophets. Hosea 9 reveals the painful estrangement between God and His chosen people. Reflect with us on five biblical passages that elucidate the deep themes of this impactful chapter.

1 Corinthians 10:20: "No! I say that what the pagans sacrifice is offered to the devils and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with the devils." - It relates to Hosea 9:1 about pagan worship and its consequences.

Ezekiel 13:3: "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit without having seen anything!" - It echoes the condemnation of false prophets in Hosea 9:7-8.

Revelation 18:23: "The light of a lamp will never shine on you again. The voice of the bride and groom will never be heard in you. Its traders were the greatest in the world. All nations have been deceived by your sorcery!" - It reflects the theme of judgment and loss of joy present in Hosea 9:1-2.

Deuteronomy 28:64-65: "The Lord will scatter them among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. Among these nations you will have no peace, no resting place for your feet." - It relates to the threats of exile in Hosea 9:3, 17.

Luke 23:29: "For the time will come when you will say: 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!'" - Echoes the theme of infertility as judgment in Hosea 9:11-14.

FAQ:

What does God mean when he says, "Israel will be a desolation"?

God is announcing Israel's destruction and exile as a consequence of their idolatry and disobedience, resulting in abandonment and desolation. (Hosea 9:7)

What is the relationship between Israel's unfaithfulness and her bitter harvest?

Israel's unfaithfulness will result in bitter consequences, such as the loss of God's blessings and suffering. The bitter harvest symbolizes divine punishment. (Hosea 9:1-2)

Why does God say that "Ephraim will be like a fleeing animal"?

God says that Ephraim (Israel) will be like a fleeing animal, showing that the people will not find peace or security, but will live in constant flight and distress because of sin. (Hosea 9:3-9)

What does "Israel was rejected by God" mean?

Israel was rejected by God because of their unfaithfulness and continued sin, especially by worshiping idols and disobeying His commandments. (Hosea 9:17)

What is the destiny of Israel according to Hosea 9?

Israel's fate will be exile and destruction as a consequence of abandoning God and persisting in sin and idolatry. (Hosea 9:16-17)


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