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Hosea, 9

1. No merrymaking, Israel, for you, no rejoicing like other peoples, for you have deserted your God to play the whore, you have loved the fee of prostitution on every threshing-floor.

1. Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved a harlot's hire upon all threshing floors.

2. The threshing-floor and wine-press will not feed them; they will be disappointed of new wine.

2. Threshing floor and winevat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them.

3. No more will they live in Yahweh's country; Ephraim will have to go back to Egypt, and eat polluted food in Assyria.

3. They shall not remain in the land of the LORD; but E'phraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.

4. No more will they pour libations of wine to Yahweh, and their sacrifices will not win his favour but will be like funeral fare for them: whoever eats them will be polluted; for their food will be for themselves alone, not being offered in Yahweh's home.

4. They shall not pour libations of wine to the LORD; and they shall not please him with their sacrifices. Their bread shall be like mourners' bread; all who eat of it shall be defiled; for their bread shall be for their hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the LORD.

5. What will you do on the solemn feast-day, on the day of Yahweh's festival?

5. What will you do on the day of appointed festival, and on the day of the feast of the LORD?

6. What a scene of devastastion they have left! Egypt will round them up, Memphis will bury them, nettles will inherit their fields and thorn-bushes invade their homesteads.

6. For behold, they are going to Assyria; Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; thorns shall be in their tents.

7. The days of punishment have come, the days of retribution are here; Israel knows it! 'The prophet is mad and the inspired man a fool!' Great has been your guilt- all the greater then the hostility!

7. The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred.

8. The watchman of Ephraim is with my God: it is the prophet- and a fowler's trap is placed on all his paths; and in the shrine of his God there is enmity towards him.

8. The prophet is the watchman of E'phraim, the people of my God, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

9. They have become deeply corrupt as in the days of Gibeah; he will remember their guilt, he will punish their sins.

9. They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gib'e-ah: he will remember their iniquity, he will punish their sins.

10. It was like finding grapes in the desert when I found Israel, like seeing early fruit on a fig tree when I saw your ancestors; but when they reached Baal-Peor they devoted themselves to Shame and became as loathsome as the thing they loved.

10. Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your fathers. But they came to Ba'al-pe'or, and consecrated themselves to Ba'al, and became detestable like the thing they loved.

11. The glory of Ephraim will fly away like a bird: no giving birth, no pregnancy, no conceiving.

11. E'phraim's glory shall fly away like a bird -- no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!

12. If they rear their children, I shall take them away before they grow up! Woe to them indeed when I leave them!

12. Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them till none is left. Woe to them when I depart from them!

13. Ephraim looked to me like Tyre, planted in a meadow, so Ephraim will present his children to the slaughterer.

13. E'phraim's sons, as I have seen, are destined for a prey; E'phraim must lead forth his sons to slaughter.

14. Give them, Yahweh- what are you to give? - give them wombs that miscarry and dried-up breasts.

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

15. Their wickedness appeared in full at Gilgal, there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I shall drive them from my home, I shall love them no longer; all their princes are rebels.

15. Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.

16. Ephraim is blasted, their root has dried out, they will bear no more fruit. And even if they do bear children I shall slaughter the darlings of their womb.

16. E'phraim is stricken, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit. Even though they bring forth, I will slay their beloved children.

17. Because they have not listened to him, my God will cast them off and they will become wanderers among the nations.

17. My God will cast them off, because they have not hearkened to him; they shall be wanderers 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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