Hosea 11 4

Hosea 11:4 kjv

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

Hosea 11:4 nkjv

I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.

Hosea 11:4 niv

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

Hosea 11:4 esv

I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

Hosea 11:4 nlt

I led Israel along
with my ropes of kindness and love.
I lifted the yoke from his neck,
and I myself stooped to feed him.

Hosea 11 verses

Hosea 11 4 Meaning

This verse describes God's deep tenderness and compassion towards His people, Israel. Despite their persistent straying and idolatry, God's heart was stirred with pity. He recalls His fatherly actions in bringing them out of Egypt and expresses a reluctance to completely destroy them because He is God, holy and powerful, and dwelling among them. His desire is to be their healer and restorer.

Hosea 11 4 Context

This verse is found within the book of Hosea, a prophet who ministered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of great spiritual and political decline. Chapter 11 begins with God reminiscing about His tender love and care for Israel, His "son," from their exodus from Egypt. This affection stands in stark contrast to Israel’s persistent unfaithfulness, symbolized by Hosea's own difficult marriage to an unfaithful wife, Gomer. Israel continually turned to other gods and pursued foreign alliances, acting like a rebellious child who rejects parental guidance. This verse offers a glimpse into the inner conflict within God’s heart as He contemplates judgment, yet His inherent nature is one of compassion and fatherly love. It foreshadows His eventual plan of redemption, not a complete annihilation, but a path towards restoration.

Hosea 11 4 Word Analysis

• ואמוּני (və·'ĕ·mū·nî) - "and my nursing" or "my nourishment." This implies a very intimate, nurturing care, like that given to a suckling child. It highlights God’s providing and sustaining love.

• את־בְּרִיחַ (’et-bərî·aḥ) - "them as with cords of friendship" or "leading strings." These were likely gentle bands or reins used to guide a young, unsteady child, signifying tender guidance rather than forceful control.

• ואקחהום (wə·’aq·ḥêm) - "and I lifted them." This verb signifies carrying, supporting, and taking up. It portrays a father carrying a child to His chest or cheek.

• על־עָרְפוֹ (’al-‘ōr·pî) - "upon my cheek." This vivid image evokes immense tenderness, like a father lifting a child to His face, a gesture of deep affection and intimacy.

• ושקִי (wə·shə·qî) - "and I will give them pasture" or "feed them." This continues the imagery of parental care, providing sustenance.

• לִכְלוּ־שָׁם (liḵ·lū-shām) - "to feed them." The Septuagint interprets this as feeding them within their land, implying a restoration to their place.

• אֱלֹהִים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) - "God." This emphasizes God’s divine nature and His authority, even in His compassion.

• אָנֹכִי (’ā·nō·ḵî) - "I." The repetition of "I" underscores God's personal involvement and unique identity.

• ולֹא־בִנְיִס (wə·lō-bin·yis) - "and not man" or "not human." This distinguishes God’s perfect and unending love from the flawed and fleeting affections of humans.

• בְּקִרְבְּךָ (bə·qir·bə·ḵā) - "in your midst." This signifies God’s presence and dwelling among His people, His immanent relationship.

• יָגוּר (yā·ḡūr) - "I will come" or "enter." Coupled with "in your midst," it implies God moving towards them, perhaps to dwell or to act.

• אַף־וּתּוֹשִׁיר (’aṗ-ū·tū·shîr) - "anger" or "wrath." This refers to God's righteous displeasure against sin.

• כְּמוֹהִי (kə·mō·hî) - "like him" or "like it." This likely refers to the consequences of their sin or the fate of other nations.

• ולֹא־אֶחֱרוֹת (wə·lō-’e·ḥə·rō·t) - "and I will not destroy." A declaration of restraint and unfulfilled judgment.

• ולֹא־אֶחֱסֵ()?> (wə·lō-’e·ḥə·sê?) - This verb means to consume, destroy, or lay waste, emphasizing the withholding of total annihilation.

• נֹעָמִי (nō·‘ă·mî) - "sweetness" or "pleasantness." Could refer to the pleasantness of God's dealings or a desired attribute of His people.

• צַפִּי (tzā·pî) - "nurse" or "caregiver." Reinforces the maternal image of nurture and upbringing.

• Words group by words group analysis:

  • "cords of kindness, cords of love" ($\displaystyle \text{בְּרִיחַ חָסֶד, בְּרִיחַ אַהֲבָה}$) conveys an inseparable bond of tender affection, guiding them like a child.
  • "lift infants to my cheeks; I myself carried them" ($\displaystyle \text{נֹשֵׂא הַטָּף אֶל־לֶחִי, וָאֶשָּׂאֵהוּ}$) vividly paints a picture of a father's intimate and tender embrace, bearing the weight of His beloved child.
  • "I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst" ($\displaystyle \text{אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים וְלֹא אִישׁ, קָדוֹשׁ בְּקִרְבְּךָ}$) emphasizes God’s unique divine nature, His holiness, His presence, and the qualitative difference of His actions from human ones.
  • "I will not come with destructive anger" ($\displaystyle \text{וְלֹא־אָבוֹא בַּאֵימַת אַפִּים}$) indicates God's deliberate choice to restrain His full wrath, despite His justified anger, because of His compassionate nature.

Hosea 11 4 Bonus Section

The imagery of God "carrying" Israel and lifting them to His cheek is particularly striking, moving beyond abstract theological concepts to a very tangible and emotional representation of divine care. This tenderness is not earned by Israel’s merit but flows from God’s unchanging nature and His covenant commitment. The Hebrew word for "anger" used here can also imply "fury" or "rage," yet God declares He will not come with this destructive force in His dealings with Israel at this moment. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's restraint and His merciful intent even when pronouncing judgment, ultimately pointing towards His plan for reconciliation. The mention of "I will return to my dwelling place" also suggests God's continued presence and faithfulness, even in the face of consequences, as His ultimate dwelling is with His people.

Hosea 11 4 Commentary

Hosea 11:4 reveals God's deep affection for Israel, His chosen people, comparing Himself to a tender parent. Even when Israel’s rebellion and sin (depicted earlier in Hosea's marriage to Gomer) warrant severe discipline, God's internal disposition is one of overwhelming compassion. The verse emphasizes that God’s desire to heal and restore far outweighs His propensity for destruction. His identity as God, dwelling among them in holiness, paradoxically restrains His wrath, showcasing a covenantal love that is persistent and deep. This foretells a future where God's relational commitment will ultimately triumph over judgment, a theme echoed in the New Testament where God’s love is most fully displayed in Christ. The verse highlights God's inherent fatherliness, a foundational attribute that informs His interactions with humanity.