Hosea
Hos 1:11 The
[ par. 1 2 ]
Hos 1:11 [1] The Minor Prophets are composed of twelve books, from Hosea to Malachi. In ancient times these books might have been considered one book. “The book of the prophets” mentioned by Stephen in Acts 7:42, in his quoting of Amos 5:25-27, might refer to this collective book. These twelve books complete the divine revelation concerning God’s economy in His dealings with His elect (Israel) and the nations, which is covered in detail in the books of the Major Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. All the books of both the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets were called by the Lord Jesus “the Prophets,” in which things were written concerning Him (Luke 24:44). Thus, the central point of all the Prophets is Christ (cf. Luke 24:27; John 5:39).
Hos 1:11 [2] Like the Major Prophets, the Minor Prophets unveil that God’s economy in His loving chastisement of Israel, in His governmental dealing with Israel, and in His judgment upon the nations issues in the manifestation of Christ as the centrality and universality in God’s economy to bring in the kingdom, the age of restoration (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21), which will usher the old and ruined universe into the new heaven and new earth with the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-2).
Hos 1:12 Hosea
Meaning salvation, or deliverance (cf. Num. 13:16). The object of Hosea’s ministry was the adulterous and apostate kingdom of Israel. As to Israel’s condition, they were adulterous; as to their position, they were apostate. This book reveals that regardless of how adulterous Israel is as the wife to Jehovah and how apostate Israel is as the people to Him, He still desires that she would return to Him. If she would return to Him, He would still receive her, bring her back, and restore her.
Hos 1:1a Uzziah 2 Chron. 26:1; Isa. 1:1
Hos 1:1b Jotham 2 Kings 15:5, 7; Micah 1:1
Hos 1:1c Ahaz 2 Kings 16:1
Hos 1:1d Hezekiah 2 Kings 18:1
Hos 1:1e Jeroboam 2 Kings 14:16
Hos 1:21 wife
The crucial emphasis of the revelation released by all the prophets from Isaiah to Malachi is that God wants to have an organic union with His chosen people. In this union God is His people’s life and they are His expression. In this way God and His chosen people become a universal couple (Rev. 22:17 and note 1, par. 2). Because this is God’s intention in His eternal economy, both the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets speak of God as the Husband and of God’s chosen people as the wife. This thought is fully developed in the New Testament. See note 62, par. 2, in Exo. 20.
Hos 1:22 harlotries
The prophet Hosea took Gomer, a wife of harlotries (vv. 2-3). This symbolized that God took Israel as His wife, one who gave herself to harlotries and who departed from Jehovah. God told Hosea to do what He Himself had done, and Hosea did what God commanded him.
Hos 1:2a harlotry Deut. 31:16; Psa. 73:27; Jer. 2:20
Hos 1:41 Jezreel
Symbolizing that God would avenge the bloodshed at Jezreel (2 Kings 10:1-11) upon the house of Jehu and would bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel (2 Kings 15:10-12).
Hos 1:42 avenge
Or, visit (i.e., in order to avenge).
Hos 1:4a bloodshed 2 Kings 10:7-11
Hos 1:4b end 2 Kings 15:10, 12
Hos 1:61 Lo-ruhamah
Meaning she has not obtained compassion and symbolizing that God would no longer have compassion on the house of Israel.
Hos 1:6a house 2 Kings 17:6, 23
Hos 1:7a house 2 Kings 19:35
Hos 1:91 Lo-ammi
Meaning not My people and symbolizing that Israel was not God’s people and God would not belong to her.
Hos 1:9a not Rom. 9:25; cf. Exo. 6:7
Hos 1:101 number
The word in 1:10—2:1 is God’s promise of restoration to the children of Israel. This promise is a matter of grace. Grace follows sin. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Rom. 5:20).
Hos 1:102a sand Gen. 32:12; Rom. 9:27-28
See note 171 in Gen. 22.
Hos 1:10b And Rom. 9:26; 1 Pet. 2:10
Hos 1:103c sons 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 21:7; cf. Matt. 16:16; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1
Sons of the living God indicates regeneration. When God fulfills His new covenant with Israel (Jer. 31:31-34 and note 311), He will regenerate them, putting Himself into them as their life to make them the sons of God. Thus, Israel will be not merely the people of God but also the sons of God.
Hos 1:11a gathered Jer. 3:18; Ezek. 34:23; 37:16-25
Hos 1:111 Jezreel
Meaning God sows, or God will sow. The day of Jezreel is the day for the people of Israel to be sown in the Holy Land by God (v. 11; 2:22-23). Today God has sown the children of Israel back in their fathers’ land, and no one can pluck them out again.
Hos 2:11 Ammi
Meaning My people.
Hos 2:12 Ruhamah
Meaning she has obtained compassion. The two names in this verse indicate that ultimately Israel will be perfected by God. Under the victory of God’s love, Israel will become God’s people and obtain His compassion. See note 11 in ch. 11.
Hos 2:21 not
The harlotries of Gomer, the wife of the prophet Hosea, symbolize the adulteries of Israel as the unchaste wife of Jehovah (vv. 2-13). In a sense, God divorced Israel, but He did this with the strong intention of receiving her back again.
Hos 2:2b harlotries Ezek. 16:20
Hos 2:3a born Ezek. 16:4
Hos 2:5a harlot Isa. 1:21; Jer. 3:1, 6, 8-9; Ezek. 16:15-16
Hos 2:51 lovers
Israel’s lovers were her idols.
Hos 2:61 Her
Following the Septuagint; the Hebrew text reads, your.
Hos 2:71 I
This indicates that although Israel would stubbornly pursue her lovers (her idols), eventually she would return to God as her first Husband.
Hos 2:7a return Hosea 5:15; 6:1; 14:1; Jer. 3:22; 31:18; Lam. 3:40; Luke 15:18
Hos 2:7b husband Jer. 2:2; 31:32; Ezek. 23:4
Hos 2:81 used
Or, made into Baal.
Hos 2:14a wilderness Ezek. 20:35
Hos 2:15a Achor Josh. 7:26; Isa. 65:10
Hos 2:15b youth Jer. 2:2; Ezek. 16:22, 60
Hos 2:16a Husband Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:14; Rev. 21:2
Hos 2:161 Baali
Meaning my Master. Also the name of a Canaanite god.
Hos 2:181a covenant Isa. 11:6-9; Ezek. 34:25
Just as God made a covenant for us with the living things at Noah’s time (Gen. 9:8-11), so He will make such a covenant for Israel at the time of restoration. Because of this latter covenant, the beasts, the birds, and the creeping things will be in a good order. Also, God will break bow, sword, and battle from the land and will cause Israel to lie down in safety.
Hos 2:18b break Psa. 46:9; Isa. 2:4; Ezek. 39:9-10
Hos 2:18c safety Lev. 26:5; Jer. 23:6
Hos 2:19a betroth Isa. 62:4-5; 2 Cor. 11:2
Hos 2:221 grain
See note 111 in ch. 6 and notes 261 in Isa. 30 and 181 in Joel 3.
Hos 2:231 Lo-ruhamah
See note 61 in ch. 1.
Hos 2:232 Lo-ammi
See note 91 in ch. 1.
Hos 3:11 again
Jehovah told Hosea to love Gomer, a woman of adulteries, again, symbolizing that Jehovah will love the children of Israel again, though they have turned to other gods (other lovers) and loved raisin cakes (pleasures for self). What Hosea did in obedience to God’s command regarding Gomer was a confirmation of what God promised to do regarding Israel.
Hos 3:1a loved Deut. 7:7; Jer. 3:1, 14; Hosea 11:8
Hos 3:31 many
Gomer’s abiding with Hosea many days without going about as a harlot nor being another man’s symbolizes that the children of Israel would abide for many days without king, without prince, without sacrifice, without pillar (for worship), and without ephod and teraphim (idols in homes) (v. 4). These “many days” began when the Babylonians burned the temple (2 Chron. 36:19). From that time Israel has been without king and without prince; furthermore, from that time until the present the Jews have not worshipped idols.
Hos 3:4a abide 2 Kings 15:29; 17:6, 23
Hos 3:5a seek Jer. 50:4-5; Hosea 5:5-6
Hos 3:51b David Isa. 9:7; 16:5; Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:22-25
This is Christ in the millennium (Rev. 20:6b). See note 111 in Amos 9.
Hos 3:52c last Isa. 2:2; Jer. 30:24; Ezek. 38:8, 16
I.e., in the age of restoration (Matt. 19:28).
Hos 4:1a controversy Isa. 3:13-14; Jer. 25:31; Hosea 12:2
Hos 4:11 faithfulness
Or, truth. As the unchaste wife of Jehovah, Israel became evil. Once a wife becomes unchaste, all kinds of evils follow. Once we forsake God, we too can do any kind of evil.
Hos 4:1b no Jer. 2:8; 4:22; 5:4; Hosea 5:4
Hos 4:51 you
Referring to the priest (v. 6).
Hos 4:61 that
Referring back to v. 1.
Hos 4:71 they
Referring again to the priests.
Hos 4:7a shame 1 Sam. 2:30; Mal. 2:9; Phil. 3:19
Hos 4:81 their
The priests desired that the people would sin, because the more the people sinned, the more sin offerings there would be for the priests to eat.
Hos 4:91 so
The priests, who had been sanctified, separated, to be a special group among the people, made themselves the same as the people, becoming low and common.
Hos 4:10a not Lev. 26:26; Micah 6:14; Hag. 1:6
Hos 4:111 take
The people of Israel had no heart for anything but fornication, wine, and new wine.
Hos 4:121 wooden
Instead of praying to God and inquiring of Him, God’s people inquired at their wooden post (idol).
Hos 4:12a harlots Deut. 31:16; Judg. 2:17; 1 Chron. 5:25; Psa. 73:27
Hos 4:141 punish
Or, visit (i.e., for punishment). So throughout the book.
Hos 4:142 prostitutes
Technically, cult prostitutes (cf. Deut. 23:17).
Hos 4:151a Gilgal Hosea 9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4; 5:5; Judg. 3:19
Gilgal was the center of idolatry (9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4; 5:5).
Hos 4:152b Beth-aven Hosea 5:8; 10:5; cf. 1 Kings 12:28-29
Meaning house of nothingness, or house of idolatry. It was probably applied contemptuously to Bethel, which had become a seat of idolatry (1 Kings 12:26-33; cf. Hosea 5:8; 10:5).
Hos 4:16a stubborn Jer. 5:23; 7:24; 9:14; Zech. 7:11
Hos 4:181 rulers
Lit., shields.
Hos 5:21 into
Others read, in corruption.
Hos 5:3a harlot Ezek. 23:5; Hosea 4:12
Hos 5:6a seek Prov. 1:28; Jer. 11:11
Hos 5:8a Beth-aven Josh. 7:2; Hosea 4:15
Hos 5:10a boundary Deut. 19:14; 27:17
Hos 5:13a wound Jer. 30:12
Hos 5:13b Assyria 2 Kings 15:19; Hosea 7:11; 10:6; 12:1
Hos 5:15a Until Hosea 14:1-3; 1 Kings 8:47-48; Jer. 29:13-14
Hos 5:151 earnestly
Eventually, in their affliction Israel will seek God earnestly. Thus, the divine chastisement of Israel will be effective.
Hos 6:1b heal Exo. 15:26; Deut. 32:39; Job 5:18; Jer. 30:17
Hos 6:21 two
[ par. 1 2 ]
Hos 6:21 [1] With the Lord one day is like a thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8). According to this principle, the two days here may signify the first two periods of a thousand years each, counting from A.D. 70, when the Roman prince Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, cruelly killed thousands of Jews, and scattered the Jews among the nations. From that time the Jews have been without king, without prince, without sacrifice, and without the temple, fulfilling Hosea’s prophecy in 3:4. For two thousand years God has left Israel in a dead condition. After this two thousand-year period, the third thousand years will come. The third day may signify a third period of a thousand years, that is, the millennium, the age of restoration, which will be in the reality of Christ’s resurrection (Rev. 20:6). At that time Israel will be raised up, that is, restored.
Hos 6:21 [2] Christ was resurrected on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4), and as the pneumatic Christ, the life-giving Spirit, in resurrection (1 Cor. 15:45), He is the reality of the third day (John 11:25). Whenever we contact such a Christ, we are brought from the desolation of the two days to the resurrection of the third day. Cf. note 21 in Hab. 3.
Hos 6:21a third 1 Cor. 15:4; cf. Luke 13:32
See note 21.
Hos 6:31 His
In His second coming Christ will go forth as the dawn and come to Israel as the late rain that waters the earth. At that time, in the restoration, the millennium (Matt. 19:28), the people of Israel will be the earth watered by Christ as the late rain (cf. Psa. 72:6 and note). See notes 21 in Micah 5 and 231 in Joel 2.
Hos 6:3a dawn 2 Sam. 23:4
Hos 6:41 Ephraim
Another term for the northern kingdom of Israel. So also throughout the book.
Hos 6:5a words Jer. 5:14; 23:29; Heb. 4:12
Hos 6:51 My
According to the Septuagint; the Hebrew text reads, the judgments on you were light that went forth.
Hos 6:6a For Matt. 9:13; 12:7
Hos 6:6b sacrifice 1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 21:3; Eccl. 5:1; Isa. 1:11; Micah 6:6-7; Mark 12:33
Hos 6:111 harvest
In the restoration all the Israelites, including the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, will be very rich in all kinds of produce from the earth. The earth was created by God to produce a rich harvest, but because of the fall of man the earth was cursed to grow thorns, and man has had to labor with sweat for food (Gen. 3:17-19). In the restoration the earth will be restored to its original condition and will be rich, fertile, and productive. Thus, a harvest will be apportioned to Judah for their enjoyment. See notes 261 in Isa. 30 and 181 in Joel 3.
Hos 6:11a turn Psa. 126:1; Zeph. 2:7
Hos 7:11 iniquity
The sins of Israel were in two categories: sins in their social life among the people and the rulers (vv. 1-7) and evils in their relationship with Jehovah (vv. 8-16). Israel was wrong with man and also with God.
Hos 7:2a remember Jer. 14:10; 17:1; Hosea 9:9; Rev. 18:5
Hos 7:4a leavened 1 Cor. 5:6
Hos 7:61 the
Lit., it.
Hos 7:71 judges
I.e., the priests.
Hos 7:81 Not
This symbolizes that Israel was stubborn, remaining in a “charcoaled” condition and being unwilling to turn to Jehovah.
Hos 7:111 understanding
Israel’s being likened to a silly dove symbolizes that they were lacking the proper knowledge of God in His economy.
Hos 7:11a Egypt cf. 2 Kings 15:19; 17:4; Isa. 30:2-3; Hosea 5:13
Hos 7:161 deceitful
Israel’s being likened to a deceitful bow symbolizes that they were rebellious toward God and were not faithful to fight the battle for God’s kingdom.
Hos 8:1a eagle Deut. 28:49; Jer. 4:13; Hag. 1:8
Hos 8:11b covenant Hosea 6:7
Jehovah’s covenant is His binding of Israel in His holy requirements and righteous terms, and Jehovah’s law is His regulating of Israel according to what He is: love, light, holiness, and righteousness (see note 11 in Exo. 20).
Hos 8:4a kings 2 Kings 15:13, 17, 25
Hos 8:51a calf 1 Kings 12:28-29; 2 Kings 17:16-18; Acts 7:41
Samaria was a capital of the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 16:29), and her calf was an idol (v. 6), a golden calf image (cf. 1 Kings 12:28; Exo. 32:4).
Hos 8:52 innocence
Here innocence means not making idols.
Hos 8:7a sown Prov. 22:8; Hosea 10:12-13; Gal. 6:8
Hos 8:9a Assyria 2 Kings 15:19
Hos 8:9b hired Ezek. 16:33-34
Hos 8:10a gather Ezek. 16:37; 23:22-24; Hosea 10:10
Hos 8:10b king Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37
Hos 8:13a no Jer. 14:10; Hosea 9:4; Amos 5:22
Hos 8:13b remember Hosea 7:2; 9:9; Rev. 18:5
Hos 8:13c Egypt Deut. 28:68; Hosea 9:3, 6
Hos 8:14a Maker Deut. 32:18; Isa. 29:23; 54:5
Hos 8:141 fire
The minor prophets spoke concerning the evils, the rottenness, and the corruption of Israel, but Israel was stubborn and would not listen to them. Eventually, God was forced to send the Assyrians and the Babylonians as the fire to judge, to punish, and to chastise His rebellious and apostate people.
Hos 9:1a harlot Hosea 4:12; 5:4
Hos 9:3a Egypt Hosea 8:13; 11:5
Hos 9:3b what Ezek. 4:13; Dan. 1:8
Hos 9:61 Moph
Probably Memphis, an Egyptian city near the Nile; elsewhere called Noph.
Hos 9:62 things
Idols made of silver.
Hos 9:71 inspired
Lit., man of the spirit. Israel’s considering a prophet as a fool and considering a man of the spirit, an inspired one, as mad indicates that they did not care for God’s interests. On the contrary, they thought that caring for God’s interests was foolishness.
Hos 9:81 watchman
This indicates that in the past the northern kingdom of Israel was quite good.
Hos 9:82 prophet
This may mean that the prophets had become so evil that wherever they went they were a trap to snare the people. In the temple the prophets created enmity; they did not have love or sympathy.
Hos 9:91a Gibeah Hosea 10:9; Judg. 19:22; 20:5
The corruption of Israel was so great that it matched the corruption in the days of Gibeah as described in Judges 19:15-30.
Hos 9:101 found
This refers to the time of the exodus from Egypt, when God considered Israel a young wife (Jer. 2:2). However, when this wife grew up, she left God for Baal and went to Baal-peor (a city named after the idol Baal of Peor—Num. 25:3; Psa. 106:28) and sanctified herself unto the shameful thing (idol) and became an abomination, like the thing (idol) that she loved.
Hos 9:10a Baal-peor Num. 25:3; Psa. 106:28
Hos 9:12a turn Deut. 31:17; Hosea 5:6
Hos 9:15a Gilgal Hosea 4:15; 12:11
Hos 9:17a wanderers Deut. 28:64-65
Hos 10:1a vine Psa. 80:8-11; Isa. 5:1-7
Hos 10:11 himself
The fruit of the vine should have been offered to God as a drink offering (see note 132 in Lev. 23), but Israel used the vines to bring forth fruit for themselves, not for God. They became rich, but they used their produce to build up altars and to make idols.
Hos 10:2a divided 1 Kings 18:21; cf. Matt. 6:24
Hos 10:31a no Hosea 3:4; 10:7; 11:5; Micah 4:9
Because they did not fear Jehovah, Israel was not able to be in a proper situation, with God’s deputy authority (a king) among them. This refers to the headship, the leadership, representing God as His authority among His people.
Hos 10:5a calves 1 Kings 12:28-29; Hosea 4:15; 8:5-6
Hos 10:51 Beth-aven
See note 152 in ch. 4.
Hos 10:52 will
Others translate, who rejoiced over it.
Hos 10:6a Assyria Hosea 5:13
Hos 10:7a Samaria 2 Kings 17:6
Hos 10:8a mountains Isa. 2:19; Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:16
Hos 10:9b battle Judg. 20:17-48
Hos 10:10a gathered Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 23:46-47; Hosea 8:1, 10
Hos 10:101 double
Referring to Israel’s two evils in forsaking Jehovah and turning to idols (Jer. 2:13 and note).
Hos 10:121a Sow Hosea 8:7; Gal. 6:8
Here to sow means to seek Jehovah. To seek Jehovah rightly is to sow rightly. Thus, Hosea charged the children of Israel to sow unto righteousness. If they did this, they would reap according to lovingkindness. Otherwise, if they plowed wickedness, they would reap injustice. Cf. Gal. 6:7-8.
Hos 10:122 fallow
Fallow ground is ground that has been plowed but has not been sown. The children of Israel were the fallow ground. They had been plowed by God but had not been sown with righteousness. They were to break up the fallow ground; i.e., they were to seek God until Christ came as righteousness to rain righteousness upon them.
Hos 10:141 tumult
Hosea’s prophecy in vv. 14-15 was fully fulfilled by Titus and his Roman army in A.D. 70.
Hos 10:14a Shalman 2 Kings 18:9
Hos 10:151 dawn
This word indicates that Israel was in the night, in darkness. They were a people who were altogether lacking in righteousness and justice. They forsook God and they were evil to one another.
Hos 11:1a child Hosea 2:15
Hos 11:11 loved
[ par. 1 2 ]
Hos 11:11 [1] The last four chapters of this book concern Jehovah’s unchanging love versus Israel’s stubborn unchastity. Israel is depicted as the wife of Jehovah throughout this book (2:7, 19). But when God’s everlasting and unchanging love is touched, Israel is called God’s son (Exo. 4:22-23), indicating that in God’s view Israel has the Father’s life (cf. 1:10 and note 3). God’s everlasting love is not a love in affection, like the love of a husband toward a wife, but a love in life, like the love of a father toward a son. On the one hand, God loves us as His wife, and the Lord Jesus is our Husband (John 3:29; 2 Cor. 11:2). On the other hand, God is our Father, and we are sons of the Father (Gal. 3:26; 4:6).
Hos 11:11 [2] Although God is loving, He is also a God of purity and righteousness. He cannot tolerate any kind of uncleanness or unrighteousness. Wherever these things are found among God’s people, God comes in to chastise them. Nevertheless, when God’s people are chastised by Him, they are still loved by Him (cf. Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19). God’s everlasting love (Jer. 31:3) is always victorious. Eventually, in spite of our failures and mistakes, God’s love will gain the victory (cf. Rom. 8:35-39).
Hos 11:1b out Matt. 2:15
Hos 11:12c son Exo. 4:22-23
[ par. 1 2 ]
Hos 11:12 [1] Implying Christ in His union with Israel as the Son of God, who is loved by God and was called out of Egypt by God (Matt. 2:13-15). This indicates that although Israel became exceedingly evil, Christ still became organically one with Israel through incarnation to be a real Israelite. Christ joined Himself to Israel in the matter of being a son of God.
Hos 11:12 [2] This verse implies Christ as the Son of God. It also implies that all God’s chosen people become sons of God by virtue of their being organically united with Christ (cf. Rom. 11:17 and notes; Gal. 3:26 and note 2). This is possible because Christ is the Son of God in two aspects: the aspect of His being the only begotten Son of God and the aspect of His being the firstborn Son of God. In eternity Christ was God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9), possessing only divinity without humanity. As such, He was unique. However, one day Christ was incarnated to be a man, taking on human nature and joining Himself with humanity (John 1:14). After dying an all-inclusive, vicarious death on the cross, He entered into resurrection. In resurrection and through resurrection He was begotten of God in His humanity to be the firstborn Son of God, possessing both divinity and humanity (Acts 13:33 and note; Rom. 1:3-4 and notes). Hence, in addition to His being the unique, only begotten Son of God from eternity, Christ, after His incarnation and through His resurrection, has become the Son of God in another sense, in the sense of being the firstborn Son of God (Heb. 1:5-6). Furthermore, in Christ’s resurrection all His believers were begotten of God, regenerated (1 Pet. 1:3), to be the many sons of God (Heb. 2:10), Christ’s many brothers (Rom. 8:29), to be His members for the constituting of His organic Body. All this is implied in this verse.
Hos 11:21 they
The prophets. God sent the prophets to call Israel again and again, but the more the prophets called them, the farther they went away from the prophets. From the time Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70 until now, God has not raised up any prophets among the Jews. According to the Lord’s word in Matt. 21:43, the kingdom of God has been taken from the Jews and has been given to the church. In the church every regenerated believer is a priest (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6), and every believer should endeavor to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1, 31, 39; cf. Num. 11:29).
Hos 11:2a Baals 2 Kings 17:16; Hosea 2:13; 13:2
Hos 11:3a took Deut. 1:31; 8:2; 32:10-12; Isa. 46:3
Hos 11:3b healed Exo. 15:26
Hos 11:41 with
The phrase with cords of a man, with bands of love indicates that God loves us with His divine love not on the level of divinity but on the level of humanity. God’s love is divine, but it reaches us in the cords of a man, i.e., through Christ’s humanity. The cords through which God draws us include Christ’s incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. It is by all these steps of Christ in His humanity that God’s love in His salvation reaches us (Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10). Apart from Christ, God’s everlasting love, His unchanging, subduing love, could not be prevailing in relation to us. God’s unchanging love is prevailing because it is a love in Christ, with Christ, by Christ, and for Christ.
Hos 11:42 yoke
This yoke was Pharaoh’s yoke in Egypt, and this eating was the eating of the manna, a type of Christ as our heavenly food (John 6:31-35), in the wilderness. Pharaoh had put a strong yoke on Israel, but God took off that yoke and gently caused them to eat by bringing them into the wilderness, where God fed them with manna in a gentle way morning by morning (Exo. 16:14-18).
Hos 11:81a Admah Gen. 14:8; Deut. 29:23
Admah and Zeboim were destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah (Deut. 29:23). Israel had become even more evil than Sodom and Gomorrah. However, because of His everlasting love, God would not destroy Israel (v. 9).
Hos 11:8b compassions Deut. 32:36; Isa. 63:15; Jer. 31:20
Hos 11:9a not Num. 23:19; cf. Isa. 55:8-9; Mal. 3:6
Hos 11:10a roar Isa. 31:4; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2; Rev. 10:3
Hos 11:10b west Zech. 8:7
Hos 11:11a dove Isa. 60:8; Hosea 7:11
Hos 11:11b dwell Ezek. 28:25-26; 37:25
Hos 12:1a Assyria 2 Kings 15:19; 17:4; Hosea 5:13; 7:11
Hos 12:2a controversy Hosea 4:1; Micah 6:2
Hos 12:3a grasped Gen. 25:26
Hos 12:4a contended Gen. 32:28
Hos 12:41 Angel
The Angel with whom Jacob contended was Christ (Gen. 32:24-32 and notes).
Hos 12:4b Bethel Gen. 28:19; 35:15
Hos 12:6a return Hosea 14:1; Micah 6:8
Hos 12:6b wait Psa. 37:7; Isa. 40:31
Hos 12:9a But Hosea 13:4
Hos 12:9b tents Lev. 23:42-43; Neh. 8:17; Zech. 14:16
Hos 12:11a Gilead Hosea 6:8
Hos 12:11b Gilgal Hosea 4:15; 9:15; Amos 4:4; 5:5
Hos 12:121a Aram Gen. 28:5; Deut. 26:5
I.e., Syria.
Hos 12:12b served Gen. 29:20, 27
Hos 12:13a prophet Exo. 12:50-51; 13:3; Deut. 18:15; Psa. 77:20
Hos 12:14a provoked 2 Kings 17:11-18
Hos 13:1a Baal 2 Kings 17:16; Hosea 11:2
Hos 13:4a savior Isa. 43:11; 45:21
Hos 13:5a wilderness Deut. 8:15; 32:10; Jer. 2:2
Hos 13:6a full Deut. 8:12, 14; 32:15
Hos 13:6b forgotten Hosea 8:14
Hos 13:7a lion Lam. 3:10; Hosea 5:14
Hos 13:10a Give 1 Sam. 8:5-6
Hos 13:111a king 1 Sam. 8:7; 10:19; Hosea 10:3
The king given by Jehovah in His anger might have been Saul, who was eventually taken away by Jehovah in His overflowing wrath (1 Sam. 8:4-7; 9:17; 10:1; 31:1-13).
Hos 13:11b took 1 Sam. 15:22-23; Acts 13:22
Hos 13:13a pains Isa. 13:8; Jer. 30:6
Hos 13:141 Sheol
See note 231 in Matt. 11.
Hos 13:14a death Isa. 25:8; Ezek. 37:12
Hos 13:14b Where 1 Cor. 15:55; cf. 1 Cor. 15:26
Hos 13:142 Repentance
God’s love for Israel is everlasting (see note 11 in ch. 11; Jer. 31:3), and He will never repent of this love (cf. Rom. 11:28-29).
Hos 13:16a Samaria 2 Kings 17:6
Hos 14:1a Return Hosea 6:1; 12:6; Joel 2:13
Hos 14:21 our
The Septuagint translates, the fruit of our lips (cf. Heb. 13:15).
Hos 14:2a lips Heb. 13:15
Hos 14:41 I
Verses 4-8 portray Israel in the restoration (Matt. 19:28), as revealed in 2:15-23; 3:5; 6:1-3; 10:12. Israel’s transformation as described in vv. 4-7 is based on the factor of love in life (see note 11 in ch. 11). Love in affection does not transform, but love in life transforms people through the growth in life. Our relationship with God is of the divine, eternal life of God (1 John 5:11). This life enlivens us, regenerates us, sanctifies us positionally and dispositionally, renews us, transforms us, conforms us, matures us, and glorifies us, making us the same as God in life, nature, appearance, and glory. At the beginning of this book Israel was a harlot, but at the end of this book, Israel has become a son (11:1). Thus, the outcome of this book is transformation in life by God’s love (cf. Rom. 8:28-39; Heb. 12:5-10).
Hos 14:4a heal Exo. 15:26; Isa. 57:18; Jer. 3:22
Hos 14:5a dew Deut. 32:2
Hos 14:51b lily S.S. 2:1-2; Matt. 6:28
Signifying a pure life that trusts in God (Matt. 6:28).
Hos 14:52 trees
Signifying standing steadily in the uplifted humanity (cf. S.S. 3:9).
Hos 14:61 shoots
Signifying flourishing and spreading.
Hos 14:62 splendor
Signifying glory in faithfulness.
Hos 14:6a olive Psa. 52:8; 128:3
Hos 14:63b fragrance Gen. 27:27; S.S. 4:11
Signifying the sweet odor of a life in the uplifted humanity.
Hos 14:71 sit
Signifying being overshadowed by the sufficient grace enjoyed by them (2 Cor. 12:9).
Hos 14:72 grain
Signifying being full of life for producing satisfying food.
Hos 14:73 bud
Signifying blossoming for producing cheering drink.
Hos 14:74 renown
Signifying a good name spreading like tasteful wine.
Hos 14:81 green
Symbolizing God’s being living and evergreen.
Hos 14:8a fir Isa. 41:19; 55:13; 60:13
Hos 14:82 From
Ephraim’s bearing fruit from Jehovah indicates Israel’s oneness with Jehovah. This is more than an organic union; it is the oneness of two in one life, in one nature, and in one living.
Hos 14:9a ways Deut. 32:4; Psa. 145:17