Hosea 13 16

Hosea 13:16 kjv

Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

Hosea 13:16 nkjv

Samaria is held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword, Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child ripped open.

Hosea 13:16 niv

The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open."

Hosea 13:16 esv

Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword; their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

Hosea 13:16 nlt

The people of Samaria
must bear the consequences of their guilt
because they rebelled against their God.
They will be killed by an invading army,
their little ones dashed to death against the ground,
their pregnant women ripped open by swords."

Hosea 13 16 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Hosea 13:16Samaria shall be held guilty, for she has rebelled against her God.Hosea 13:16 (OT context)
Isaiah 13:16Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes.Isaiah 13:16 (parallel destruction)
Jeremiah 51:34Nebuchadnezzar... has swallowed me like a monster... My children were cast out.Jeremiah 51:34 (Babylon's fate)
Nahum 3:10Her children were dashed in pieces at the head of every street.Nahum 3:10 (Nineveh's doom)
2 Kings 15:29Tiglath-pileser... carried them away captive.2 Kings 15:29 (historical deportation)
2 Kings 17:5-6The Assyrian king... carried Israel away into exile.2 Kings 17:5-6 (fall of Samaria)
Psalm 137:8-9Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock.Psalm 137:8-9 (exilic lament)
Revelation 18:21A mighty angel... cast it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon... be thrown down.”Rev 18:21 (judgment on Babylon)
Isaiah 47:1-3I will strip you bare, expose your nakedness.Isaiah 47:1-3 (Babylon's downfall)
Hosea 10:14Therefore a tumult will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be plundered.Hosea 10:14 (similar judgment)
Hosea 14:1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God.Hosea 14:1 (call to repentance)
Amos 3:2To you only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.Amos 3:2 (special responsibility)
Jeremiah 30:14-15All who love you have forgotten you; they do not seek you.Jer 30:14-15 (judgment on Judah)
Ezekiel 23:47The assembly shall stone them with stones, and cut them down with their swords.Ezek 23:47 (judgment on two sisters)
Hosea 2:3I will strip her naked...Hosea 2:3 (similar imagery)
Isaiah 3:17-24The Lord will scourge the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion.Isaiah 3:17-24 (judgment on Jerusalem)
Luke 23:29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave milk!”Luke 23:29 (echoes of devastation)
Proverbs 1:27-28when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind... they will call, but I will not answer.Prov 1:27-28 (consequences of sin)
Jeremiah 20:16-18cursed be the day on which I was born! … cursed be the man who brought the news to my father.Jer 20:16-18 (anguish over birth)
Matthew 24:19Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!Matt 24:19 (judgment in end times)

Hosea 13 verses

Hosea 13 16 Meaning

The verse describes a catastrophic consequence for Samaria, its capital city. The inhabitants will suffer immense destruction due to their rebellion against God. This destruction includes violent death, the dashing of their children against the rocks, and the ripping open of pregnant women.

Hosea 13 16 Context

Hosea 13 prophesies the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel, symbolized by Ephraim, and its capital, Samaria. This chapter details the severity of God's judgment upon Israel for its persistent idolatry and spiritual adultery, which is the central theme of Hosea's prophecy. Samaria, as the political and religious center, bears the brunt of this divine wrath. The nation had turned away from Yahweh, the God who delivered them from Egypt and sustained them, embracing foreign gods and practices. This verse serves as a specific declaration of guilt and impending punishment for the sin that permeates the entire city.

Hosea 13 16 Word Analysis

  • Woe (Hebrew: אוֹי - 'ōy) - An interjection expressing grief, pain, or calamity; a strong declaration of impending disaster.
  • Samaria (Hebrew: שֹׁמְרוֹן - Šōmərōn) - The capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, known for its prosperity but also its deep-seated idolatry.
  • shall be held guilty (Hebrew: אַשְׁמָה - ’ašmāh) - Shall be convicted of guilt; made to bear responsibility for sin and face the resulting judgment. This signifies accountability.
  • for she has rebelled (Hebrew: כִּי מָרְדָה - kî mɔrⱦâ) - Because she has been rebellious; implies persistent and willful opposition to divine authority. Rebellion is a key sin identified against Israel.
  • against her God (Hebrew: בֵּאלֹהֶיהָ - bêlōhêyhâ) - Against her God; emphasizes that the rebellion is specifically against Yahweh, their covenant God who claimed them. It highlights the betrayal of a relationship.

Grouped Analysis:

  • Woe to Samaria: This opening immediately sets a tone of impending doom specifically for the capital of the northern kingdom, identifying the target of divine judgment.
  • shall be held guilty, for she has rebelled against her God: This phrase directly links the punishment (guilt) to the cause (rebellion against God). It underlines that God is just in His judgment, and His people have broken their covenant relationship with Him. The sin is not just disobedience but a fundamental turning away from the source of their identity and provision.

Hosea 13 16 Bonus Section

The verse’s vivid imagery of violence against women and children reflects the extreme brutality common in ancient warfare and the total ruin prophesied for rebellious nations. This serves as a potent warning against the consequences of turning away from God. The phrase "against her God" is significant because it highlights that Israel's rebellion was not against some distant deity but against the very God who had chosen, delivered, and sustained them, making their betrayal particularly egregious. The prophetic warnings found in Hosea, particularly the severe judgment described in this chapter, serve as a timeless reminder of the cost of sin and the importance of unwavering faithfulness to God.

Hosea 13 16 Commentary

This verse delivers a harsh prophecy against Samaria, condemning its people for their persistent rebellion against Yahweh, their covenant God. The pronouncement of guilt underscores the severity of their sin, which led to a betrayal of their divine relationship. The consequence is stated implicitly in the surrounding verses: utter destruction. This destruction is described in graphic terms—infants dashed against rocks, pregnant women ripped open—highlighting the brutal nature of the impending Assyrian invasion and the complete devastation of the city and its people. The rebellion signifies more than just a political or religious deviation; it is a deep-seated rejection of God's authority and faithfulness, resulting in catastrophic loss and suffering for the nation.