Hosea uniquely links Israel's pride with their inability to demonstrate faithfulness, creating one of only three biblical passages where these contrasting themes directly intersect.
Hosea 5
Judgment on Leaders and People
1“Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.
2The rebels are deep in slaughter, but I discipline all of them.
3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.
4Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know the LORD.
5The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.
6They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.
7They are unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.
War Between Israel and Judah
8“Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!
9Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.
10The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.
11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment, because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.
12Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.
14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.
15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
God pronounces judgment on Israel's religious and political leaders for leading the nation into idolatry and spiritual prostitution. The chapter describes how both Israel and Judah have become so entrenched in their unfaithfulness that they cannot return to God, leading to divine withdrawal and coming military devastation. God declares He will be like a destructive moth and lion to both kingdoms until they acknowledge their guilt and earnestly seek His face in their affliction.
Context
This chapter intensifies the judgment themes from chapter 4, moving from general corruption to specific divine withdrawal and military consequences that will be further developed in subsequent chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 Divine Indictment of Leaders God calls priests, people, and royalty to account for their role in Israel's spiritual corruption and idolatry.
- 4-7 Spiritual Inability and Divine Withdrawal Israel's deep defilement prevents repentance, leading God to withdraw His presence despite their religious rituals.
- 8-11 Warning of Coming War Battle cries sound as both Israel and Judah face desolation due to their persistent pursuit of idols.
- 12-15 God as Destroyer and Restorer God promises to be like a moth and lion, bringing destruction until the people acknowledge their sin and seek Him earnestly.
Judgment on Leaders and People
5:1–5:7 prophecy rebuke wrathful
God pronounces judgment on Israel's priests, leaders, and people for their spiritual prostitution and idolatry. Their pride and unfaithfulness have made them unable to return to God, who has withdrawn from them.
theme_rarity
Hosea uniquely links Israel's pride with their inability to demonstrate faithfulness, creating one of only three biblical passages where these contrasting themes directly intersect.
War Between Israel and Judah
5:8–5:15 prophecy rebuke wrathful
God declares war and judgment upon both Israel and Judah for their idolatry and unfaithfulness. He will be like a lion tearing them apart until they acknowledge their offense and seek His face in their affliction.
geographic
Hosea transforms Bethel ("house of God") into Beth Aven ("house of wickedness"), appearing in only three biblical passages, marking the sacred shrine's complete moral corruption.
Insights
Hosea transforms Bethel ("house of God") into Beth Aven ("house of wickedness"), appearing in only three biblical passages, marking the sacred shrine's complete moral corruption.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Hosea 5:1 1 reference
Hosea 5:6 1 reference
Hosea 5:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Psalms 98:6 Lexical
With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
Joshua 6:16 Lexical
At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you t…
Joshua 6:20 Lexical
So the people shouted and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shou…
Joel 2:1 Lexical
Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the d…
Jeremiah 6:1 Lexical
“Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the middle of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa and raise up a sig…
Hosea 5:12 1 reference
Hosea 5:13 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...