Hosea 1 7

Hosea 1:7 kjv

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

Hosea 1:7 nkjv

Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, Will save them by the LORD their God, And will not save them by bow, Nor by sword or battle, By horses or horsemen."

Hosea 1:7 niv

Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them?not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the LORD their God, will save them."

Hosea 1:7 esv

But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen."

Hosea 1:7 nlt

But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies ? not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the LORD their God."

Hosea 1 verses

Hosea 1 7 Meaning

Hosea 1:7 declares God's specific promise of mercy and divine salvation to the house of Judah, distinguishing them from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This salvation would be accomplished solely by the Lord their God, emphatically stating that it would not be through human military means like bows, swords, battles, horses, or horsemen, thereby highlighting God's sovereign and supernatural intervention.

Hosea 1 7 Context

Hosea's prophetic ministry predominantly addresses the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim or Samaria), exposing their rampant idolatry, spiritual infidelity, and breaking of the covenant with God. Chapter 1 introduces Hosea's marriage to Gomer, which symbolizes Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness. The names of their children are prophetic: "Jezreel" (Hosea 1:4-5) signifies the violent downfall of Israel's reigning dynasty and the end of the kingdom; "Lo-Ruhamah" (Hosea 1:6) means "No Mercy," foretelling God's withdrawal of compassion and the complete rejection of Israel as a nation.

Immediately following this severe pronouncement of judgment against Israel, Hosea 1:7 provides a sharp and intentional contrast. It shifts focus to the Southern Kingdom, Judah, proclaiming that God will show mercy to them. This verse foreshadows Judah's distinct destiny, highlighting God's faithful preservation of the Davidic line and the tribe from which the Messiah would eventually come. Historically, Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC, whereas Judah, though threatened by the same empire, miraculously survived due to divine intervention (most notably Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem around 701 BC), validating the prophecy that God would save them without their own military strength.

Hosea 1 7 Word analysis

• But: The Hebrew conjunction 'akh (אַךְ) serves as a strong adversative, introducing a sharp contrast and a pivot from the severe judgment pronounced on Israel (Lo-Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi) to the hope and mercy extended to Judah. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and singularity of what follows.

• I will have mercy: The Hebrew v'richamtî (וְרִחַמְתִּי) comes from the root racham (רָחַם). This verb signifies deep compassion, tender love, often associated with a parent's affection for a child, or even linked to the word for "womb" (rechem). This is the precise antonym to "Lo-Ruhamah" ("not having obtained mercy") used for Israel in verse 6, highlighting the distinct and contrasting divine disposition towards Judah. God's mercy is an act of sovereign, unearned favor.

• on the house of Judah: Refers specifically to the Southern Kingdom, composed primarily of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which maintained the Davidic dynasty and the Jerusalem Temple. This distinguishes them sharply from "the house of Israel" (the Northern Kingdom) in verse 6, indicating God's preserving remnant and a continuation of His covenant promises tied to the lineage of David.

• and will save them: The Hebrew v'hoshatîm (וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּים) is from the verb yasha (יָשַׁע), meaning to deliver, rescue, or save. This verb emphasizes God as the sole active agent of deliverance. It underscores the divine nature of their forthcoming salvation, distinguishing it from any human effort.

• by the Lord their God: Hebrew b'YHWH 'Eloheykhem (בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם).

  • YHWH: The covenant, personal name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and intimate relationship with His people.
  • Elohim: The general, majestic name for God, emphasizing His power, sovereignty, and creator status.
  • The possessive "their God" (Eloheykhem) implies a continuing, though sometimes strained, covenant relationship with Judah, contrasting with the effectively severed relationship with apostate Israel. This stresses that salvation is rooted in their divine covenant bond.

• and will not save them: The strong negative particle lo' (לֹא) reinforces the absolute nature of God's chosen method of salvation. The repetition of the negative before listing the means highlights the complete exclusion of human involvement.

• by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen: This comprehensive enumeration lists typical military armaments and methods of warfare common in the ancient Near East. This serves as a potent polemic against trusting in human strength, military prowess, or international alliances for deliverance. It signals that Judah's salvation would be of a supernatural character, entirely apart from conventional human means.

  • Bow and sword: Represent individual and infantry weaponry.
  • Battle: Refers to the collective engagement or full-scale conflict.
  • Horses and horsemen: Signify cavalry, the elite and powerful components of ancient armies, representing military might and alliances (e.g., relying on Egypt's chariots, which Isa 31:1 condemns).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But I will have mercy on the house of Judah": This phrase establishes the sovereign and preferential nature of God's mercy towards Judah. In contrast to Israel, which receives "No Mercy" (Lo-Ruhamah), Judah is promised divine compassion, highlighting God's selective grace and commitment to His covenant with David, from whose line the Messiah would descend.
  • "and will save them by the Lord their God": This emphasizes that the source of Judah's salvation is exclusively divine. Their deliverance will not originate from their own might or from reliance on any earthly power, but solely from the covenant-keeping, powerful actions of YHWH. This phrase sets the stage for the specific denial of human means of salvation that follows.
  • "and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen": This powerful negation declares that Judah's deliverance will be distinctly supernatural and independent of human military might or strategic alliances. It serves as a clear indictment against any reliance on earthly power for salvation and anticipates historical fulfillments, most notably God's miraculous intervention during Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem, where Judah was saved without military strength, confirming this divine promise.

Hosea 1 7 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between God's "no mercy" on Israel and "mercy" on Judah (v.6 vs. v.7) highlights the conditional nature of the Old Covenant based on faithfulness, yet also showcases God's unconditional faithfulness to His overarching redemptive plan for a chosen remnant and a lineage from which the Messiah would come. This demonstrates the balance between judgment and preserving grace in God's character.
• This verse provides a crucial theological foundation for understanding salvation in the broader biblical narrative: it is ultimately and entirely a work of God. This principle transcends national deliverance to personal salvation, underscoring that human effort, strength, or self-reliance are insufficient and ultimately futile in achieving true, lasting salvation from divine wrath or earthly perils.
• While God draws a distinction between Israel and Judah here, it's important to note that later prophecies (e.g., Hos 3:5, Eze 37:22) indicate God's ultimate intention to reunite both "houses" under one head, highlighting a broader vision of restoration and reconciliation.
• The historical fulfillment in the Assyrian crisis for Judah serves as a powerful testament to the precise and reliable nature of biblical prophecy, reinforcing faith in God's word.

Hosea 1 7 Commentary

Hosea 1:7 is a crucial pivot in a chapter otherwise dominated by prophetic judgment against unfaithful Israel. Amidst the vivid symbolism of Hosea's children—Jezreel foreshadowing the end of Israel's dynasty and Lo-Ruhamah signifying the withdrawal of God's mercy—this verse abruptly shifts to a message of hope and distinct treatment for Judah. It declares that God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises (particularly with David) dictates a different path for the Southern Kingdom.

The essence of the verse lies in two key truths: God's sovereign mercy and divine, non-human salvation. While Israel's national identity is dismantled and their divine relationship suspended due to their spiritual adultery, Judah is promised specific and active compassion. This distinction, however, is not based on Judah's superior righteousness, but on God's elective grace and redemptive purposes. He would preserve Judah as the vessel through which the Messianic lineage would continue, a critical aspect of His overarching plan of salvation for all humanity.

Furthermore, the emphatic denial that salvation would come through "bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen" is a direct polemic against reliance on human military power or alliances, a common temptation for ancient kingdoms. This prophecy profoundly impacted Judah's history, most famously in 701 BC when God supernaturally delivered Jerusalem from the overwhelming Assyrian army of Sennacherib (as recounted in 2 Kgs 19 and Isa 37), fulfilling this very promise without Judah firing an arrow. It underscored that true deliverance, whether national or individual, comes solely from the Lord.

In summary, Hosea 1:7 stands as a powerful testament to God's character: His sovereignty in mercy, His ability to save without human means, and His faithfulness to His redemptive plans even amidst widespread apostasy. It highlights that God's ways of salvation are often contrary to human expectation, relying purely on His power and will.