Hosea 11:12 kjv
Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
Hosea 11:12 nkjv
"Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, And the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah still walks with God, Even with the Holy One who is faithful.
Hosea 11:12 niv
Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.
Hosea 11:12 esv
Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
Hosea 11:12 nlt
Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit,
but Judah still obeys God
and is faithful to the Holy One.
Hosea 11 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 11:12 | Ephraim also hath watched in lies; yea, in the house of Israel. | God's observation of deceit |
| Hosea 12:7 | He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand. | Israel's commercial dishonesty |
| Hosea 13:10 | I will be thy king; where is there any other that may save thee? | Israel's rejection of God's rule |
| Isaiah 30:1 | Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me. | Reliance on foreign alliances |
| Jeremiah 3:9 | And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land. | Idolatry and unfaithfulness |
| Ezekiel 28:18 | By the multitude of thine iniquity by the traffic of thy merchandise hath thy strength been weakened. | Financial corruption |
| Proverbs 11:1 | A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. | Divine hatred of dishonesty |
| John 8:44 | Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. | Source of falsehood |
| Romans 1:25 | Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. | Idolatry as deception |
| 1 Timothy 4:2 | Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. | False teachers and doctrines |
| Revelation 21:8 | But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. | Fate of liars |
| Hosea 4:1 | Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. | Lack of truth in Israel |
| Hosea 7:1-2 | When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim and the evils of Samaria were discovered: and they commit falsehood; and the thief doth enter in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. And they consider not in their heart that I remember all their wickedness. | Discovery of Ephraim's sin |
| Psalm 5:6 | Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: the LORD will abhor the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. | God's hatred of liars |
| Psalm 108:10 | Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? | Dependence on foreign aid |
| Jeremiah 2:36 | Why is thine acceptable to change thy ways? Thou shalt be ashamed also of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. | Shifting alliances as foolishness |
| Hosea 10:3 | For now they shall say, We have no king, because we trespassed against the LORD. | Consequences of national sin |
| Hosea 10:13 | Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies. | Reaping what they sow |
| Hosea 5:10 | The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound. | Transgressing divine boundaries |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. | Trust in man brings a curse |
Hosea 11 verses
Hosea 11 12 Meaning
The verse signifies the Lord’s judgment on Ephraim (northern kingdom of Israel) for their deceit and falsehoods, comparing their worship and alliances to crooked dealings that will ultimately fail and lead to destruction. It speaks of the divine consequence for spiritual adultery and political treachery.
Hosea 11 12 Context
This verse comes in the context of Hosea's prophetic ministry to the northern kingdom of Israel, particularly the house of Ephraim. For much of the book, Hosea is instructed by God to portray Israel’s unfaithfulness to God as adultery, highlighting their practice of idolatry and their reliance on foreign nations for protection and aid rather than on the Lord. Chapter 11 recounts God’s fatherly love and disappointment with His disobedient son, Israel. Verse 12 follows a series of pronouncements of judgment on Ephraim’s deceptive practices, emphasizing their unreliability and spiritual crookedness in their dealings both within their own community and in their foreign alliances.
Hosea 11 12 Word analysis
- Ephraim: (Hebrew: אֶפְרַיִם, ’ephrayim) Refers to the tribe of Joseph’s second son and subsequently the dominant northern kingdom of Israel. Its inclusion signifies the primary target of God’s judgment in this passage.
- also: (Hebrew: גַּם, gam) Connects this statement with preceding judgments or observations against Israel, indicating that Ephraim’s deceit is an additional, significant sin.
- hath watched: (Hebrew: שָׁמַר, shamar) In this context, it’s not vigilance for good, but a more active, persistent, and vigilant engagement in deceitful practices. It suggests a sustained and deliberate involvement in falsehood. The word can also imply guarding or keeping, but here it is applied negatively, as if guarding or upholding their lies.
- in lies: (Hebrew: בְּשֶׁקֶר, bəšeqer) The preposition "in" indicates being enveloped or immersed in deceit, living by it, and actively participating in it. Lies are not isolated acts but a defining characteristic of their behavior.
- yea: (Hebrew: וְגַם, wəgam) Literally "and also." It emphatically confirms and amplifies the previous statement, leaving no room for doubt that this is a serious matter. It underscores the depth and pervasiveness of their deceit.
- in the house of Israel: (Hebrew: בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, bêṯ yiśrā’ēl) Refers to the entire nation of Israel, underscoring that this pervasive deceit is not limited to a select few but characterizes the people collectively. It reinforces the idea of a national, systemic sin.
words-group by words-group analysis
- "Ephraim also hath watched in lies": This phrase paints a picture of Ephraim actively cultivating and maintaining their deceptive practices. It’s not just occasional dishonesty, but a strategic and constant engagement with falsehood, which permeates their actions and decisions, making them unreliable and untrustworthy in the eyes of God.
- "yea, in the house of Israel": This confirms that the sin of deceit is widespread throughout the entire nation, implicating the collective identity and integrity of the people of God. Their internal dealings and communal life were marked by this corruption.
Hosea 11 12 Bonus section
The practice of “watching in lies” by Ephraim mirrors the ancient Near Eastern political landscape, where treaties and alliances were often sealed with oaths that were readily broken for strategic advantage. Israel, influenced by surrounding pagan cultures, adopted similar manipulative tactics in their international relations, particularly their reliance on Egypt or Assyria for protection, which ultimately proved to be empty promises and treacherous partnerships. Hosea's message underscores that such humanly devised strategies, devoid of truth and integrity, are viewed by God as spiritual fornication and national suicide. This highlights the prophet’s overarching theme: true security and blessing come only from unwavering covenant faithfulness to the Lord, not from manipulative human schemes built on falsehood.
Hosea 11 12 Commentary
The verse reveals God's keen awareness and severe displeasure with Ephraim's pervasive habit of deceit, extending it to the whole nation of Israel. Their unfaithfulness wasn't just external but deeply embedded in their character and actions. This verse functions as a sharp indictment, preparing the way for the severe judgment that would fall upon them. It emphasizes that God sees through all their schemes and political machinations, which were built on a foundation of lies and insincerity. The concept of "watching in lies" implies an active, deliberate engagement in dishonesty that characterizes their relationship with both God and man.