Hosea 11:5 kjv
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
Hosea 11:5 nkjv
"He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent.
Hosea 11:5 niv
"Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?
Hosea 11:5 esv
They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.
Hosea 11:5 nlt
"But since my people refuse to return to me,
they will return to Egypt
and will be forced to serve Assyria.
Hosea 11 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 11:5 | "He shall not return to the land of Egypt..." | Hosea 7:11 (Comparison to past reliance on Egypt) |
| Hosea 11:5 | "...but Assyria shall be his king..." | 2 Kings 17:6 (Assyria conquers Israel) |
| Hosea 11:5 | "...because they refused to return." | Jeremiah 8:4-5 (Repentance being refused) |
| Isaiah 10:5 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger!" | Isaiah 9:4 (Assyria as an instrument of judgment) |
| Jeremiah 2:37 | "You will also go out from there with your hands upon your head..." | Jeremiah 50:17 (Exile imagery) |
| Psalm 2:10 | "Be wise now, O kings; be warned, O judges of the earth." | Psalm 36:3 (Consequences of wickedness) |
| Amos 5:27 | "Therefore I will exile you beyond Damascus,' says the Lord..." | Amos 9:7 (Divine judgment and exile) |
| Micah 6:16 | "For the statutes of Omri are kept..." | 2 Kings 16:3-4 (Imitating Assyrian practices) |
| Hosea 10:15 | "Even so shall it be done unto you because of your great wickedness..." | Hosea 10:8 (Idolatry leading to ruin) |
| Deuteronomy 28:64-65 | "Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples..." | Deut 28:36 (Prophecy of scattering) |
| Isaiah 31:3 | "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit..." | Isa 31:1 (Reliance on Egypt condemned) |
| Hosea 9:3 | "They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land..." | Hosea 9:6 (Consequences of exile) |
| Hosea 12:1 | "Ephraim also is surrounded by lies, and the house of Israel by deceit..." | Hosea 12:7-8 (Deceit and unjust gain) |
| Jeremiah 46:28 | "Fear not, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you..." | Jer 46:27-28 (Contrast of God's presence) |
| Revelation 18:2 | "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." | Rev 18:2 (Judgment on powerful, oppressive nations) |
| Acts 7:42-43 | "Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven..." | Acts 7:41-43 (Idolatry of Israel) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:20 | "But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God..." | 1 Cor 10:19-21 (Warnings against idolatry) |
| Isaiah 8:19 | "And when they say, 'Seek to mediums and to wizards who whisper and mutter'..." | Isa 8:19 (Rejection of false guidance) |
| Hosea 11:1-2 | "Out of Egypt I called my son..." | Hos 11:1 (God's past tender care for Israel) |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world..." | John 3:16 (God's love demonstrated in action) |
Hosea 11 verses
Hosea 11 5 Meaning
Hosea 11:5 declares that the Israelites will return to Egypt and Assyria will be their king because they refused to turn to the Lord. This signifies their forced exile and submission to foreign powers due to their unfaithfulness.
Hosea 11 5 Context
This verse is part of a larger oracle in Hosea concerning God's judgment on Israel for their persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry. The chapter begins with God lamenting His past tender dealings with Israel, likening them to a parent loving a son. However, Israel’s apostasy has turned God’s love into grief and wrath. They have repeatedly turned away from the Lord, seeking alliances and spiritual comfort in foreign powers and false gods instead of relying on God. This verse specifically details the consequence of their persistent rejection of God’s covenant: they will be subjected to foreign rule and driven out of the promised land, reversing the original Exodus narrative.
Hosea 11 5 Word Analysis
- "When": This conditional opening emphasizes the consequence of Israel's actions.
- "he": Refers to Israel, personified as a collective entity.
- "shall not": Indicates a definitive negative outcome.
- "return": Implies a movement away from the land of God's promise, a rejection of its blessing. It contrasts with the historical return from Egypt.
- "to": Indicates direction.
- "the land": The land of Israel, the promised inheritance.
- "of": Shows possession or origin.
- "Egypt": Symbolically represents bondage and exile, but also the place from which God formerly delivered Israel. The reversal is stark – instead of returning from Egypt to freedom, they will now be ruled by kings from Egypt's sphere of influence, or return to a state resembling Egypt's dominion.
- "and": Connects two consequences.
- "Assyria": Represents the powerful empire of the North, which was actively expanding and exerting control over the region during Hosea's time. They would become instruments of God's judgment.
- "shall be": Denotes future certainty.
- "his": Refers to Israel.
- "king": Signifies domination and loss of self-rule, a surrender to foreign authority.
- "because": Establishes the causal link.
- "they": Refers to Israel.
- "refused": Expresses a conscious and deliberate rejection.
- "to": Indicates intent.
- "return": Here, "return" means to repent and turn back to the Lord their God. The Hebrew word (shuv) signifies turning back, both physically and spiritually.
- "unto": Shows direction or destination.
- "me": Refers to the Lord God, the speaker.
Word Group Analysis:
- "return to the land of Egypt": This phrase creates a powerful ironic contrast with the Exodus, where God brought Israel out of Egypt. Now, the threat is to return to a state like Egypt's control, not as free people returning home, but perhaps as exiles, or to suffer under powers associated with Egypt.
- "Assyria shall be his king": This signifies the absolute loss of sovereignty. Instead of enjoying the kingship of the Lord, they will be ruled by a foreign potentate, a direct consequence of their rejection of divine kingship.
- "because they refused to return unto me": This is the core reason for the judgment. Their refusal to repent, to turn back to God from their idolatry and disobedience, seals their fate of subjugation. The turning back (shuv) is central to the prophetic message for repentance and restoration.
Hosea 11 5 Bonus Section
The phrasing "Assyria shall be his king" highlights the relational aspect of God’s covenant. Israel's kingship and welfare were contingent upon their obedience and relationship with the Lord. By choosing other allegiances (political and spiritual), they invited a different kind of king, one that would rule them through oppression and exile rather than covenantal care. The verse underscores that rejecting the Lord's benevolent rule invariably results in succumbing to harsh and tyrannical rulers, be they geopolitical empires or spiritual forces. This principle echoes through Scripture, illustrating the consequences of national and personal disloyalty to God.
Hosea 11 5 Commentary
This verse succinctly captures the consequence of spiritual adultery. Israel's persistent turning away from the Lord, their refusal to repent and acknowledge God as their sole King and source of life, leads to a reversal of divine favor and liberation. Instead of the Lord's protective reign and promised land, they will face the subjugation of Assyria, a stark testament to their forsaking of the covenant. Their own willful rebellion against God results in their forced submission to foreign powers, demonstrating that rejecting God’s kingship ultimately leads to enslavement to lesser, earthly powers. This is a universal principle: those who refuse the Lord's loving sovereignty invite dominion by corrupting forces.