Hosea 13 6

Hosea 13:6 kjv

According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

Hosea 13:6 nkjv

When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.

Hosea 13:6 niv

When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

Hosea 13:6 esv

but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.

Hosea 13:6 nlt

But when you had eaten and were satisfied,
you became proud and forgot me.

Hosea 13 verses

Hosea 13 6 meaning

The verse describes a cyclical spiritual decline: God provided for Israel abundantly, nourishing them ("When I fed them"). This provision led to their complete satisfaction and fullness ("they were satisfied"). However, instead of gratitude, this satiety birthed arrogance and self-sufficiency ("they became proud"). This pride, in turn, led to the gravest sin: forgetting God, the very source of their blessings ("then they forgot me"). It highlights how prosperity can dangerously detach people from their dependence on their Creator.

Hosea 13 6 Context

Hosea 13 unfolds a powerful prophecy of impending judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) for their persistent idolatry and rejection of God. Despite God's tender love and past deliverance, Ephraim continually turned away. Chapter 13 specifically highlights how Israel’s strength and exaltation were dependent on God (v. 1), but they quickly established a pattern of sin through idol worship, even sacrificing children (v. 2), leading to their impending demise and being "like the morning mist" (v. 3). God reminds them that He alone is their Savior and God since their deliverance from Egypt (v. 4), the one who knew them in the wilderness, in "a land of drought" (v. 5). Verse 6 then details the precise mechanism of their spiritual downfall: God’s abundant provision led to their satisfaction, which inflated their pride, and ultimately caused them to forget their benevolent provider. This forgetfulness sets the stage for the severe judgment described in the following verses, portraying God as a devouring lion, leopard, and bear (v. 7-8) because of their self-destruction and defiance of their Helper (v. 9). Historically, this context refers to Israel's period of significant material prosperity, particularly during kings like Jeroboam II (8th century BCE), where material wealth increased but spiritual decline deepened, culminating in the Assyrian invasion and exile.

Hosea 13 6 Word analysis

• When I fed them (כְּמַרְעִיתָם, k'mar'itām):
  • This phrase literally translates to "as their pasture" or "according to their feeding place." It emphasizes God's direct, personal role as the provider and shepherd (ra'ah - to pasture/feed). It alludes to His faithful care in the wilderness (Hosea 13:5) and the fertile land He gave them, demonstrating His benevolent provision, not just of sustenance, but overall well-being. This highlights divine initiation and sustainment.
• they were satisfied (וַיִּשְׂבָּעוּ אָכְלוּ, va'yiśbā'ū ākhlū):
  • This literally reads "they ate and they were full/satisfied." The word saba' (satisfied, full) denotes complete satiation, an abundance beyond mere necessity. It speaks of material comfort, prosperity, and fullness, not just enough to survive, but a rich supply. It captures the consequence of God’s generosity.
• when they were satisfied, they became proud (וַיָּרוּם לִבָּם, va'yārūm libbām):
  • Literally, "then their heart was lifted up." The verb rum means to be high, exalted. "Libbām" (their heart) signifies their inner self—mind, will, and conscience. This describes spiritual arrogance, a swelling of self-importance and self-reliance that often replaces humble gratitude. This pride is a dangerous deviation from dependence on God.
• then they forgot me (עַל־כֵּן שָׁכְחוּ אֹתִי, al-kēn shākhkhū ōtī):
  • "Therefore, they forgot Me." Al-kēn ("therefore," "on account of this") clearly establishes a direct causal link between pride and the subsequent act of forgetting. The verb shakhach (to forget) in a biblical context implies more than simple memory loss; it suggests a deliberate disregard, a wilful failure to remember God's covenant, His benefits, and His very being. This represents a profound spiritual disengagement and a fundamental breach in the relationship, viewed as the gravest sin against their covenant-making God.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me": This complete sentence forms a stark cause-and-effect chain, outlining a progressive decline. It unveils a universal human failing, perfectly illustrated in Israel's history, where divine blessing, when not received with gratitude and dependence, instead fosters self-sufficiency (pride) and ultimately leads to apostasy (forgetting God). This trajectory from grace to arrogance to alienation serves as a severe warning, showing how the very prosperity God intended for their good paradoxically led them further away.

Hosea 13 6 Bonus section

The prophet Hosea often utilizes agricultural and shepherd imagery because Israel, being an agrarian society, readily understood these metaphors. The "feeding" (k'mar'itām) places Israel as God's flock, utterly dependent on Him. The subsequent transformation of God from gentle Shepherd to furious predator (lion, leopard, bear in 13:7-8) starkly illustrates the consequences of this forgotten relationship. It signifies that God's character is steadfast, but His interaction with His people adapts to their faithfulness or unfaithfulness. "Forgetting" God in the ancient Near Eastern context implied breaking the covenant relationship entirely, akin to a legal term for default on an agreement, emphasizing the seriousness beyond simple mental lapse. This concept of active forgetfulness is central to Israel's guilt throughout their history, portraying their sin as deliberate rejection despite overwhelming evidence of God's grace.

Hosea 13 6 Commentary

Hosea 13:6 encapsulates a tragic but frequently recurring pattern in both biblical and human history: the journey from divine blessing to human hubris, and ultimately, to spiritual amnesia. God, acting as a benevolent Shepherd, provided abundantly for Israel, nourishing them with land, produce, and peace. This provision brought them to a state of utter satisfaction. However, instead of this fullness eliciting deeper gratitude and trust, it sowed the seeds of self-reliance, causing their hearts to swell with pride. This "lifted up heart" manifested as an arrogant self-sufficiency that deemed God less necessary, paving the way for the gravest betrayal: forgetting their Provider. This "forgetting" wasn't a mere lapse of memory but a deliberate dismissal of His covenant, His benefits, and His very existence. The verse serves as a timeless admonition, warning that prosperity and comfort, unchecked by humility and vigilant remembrance of God, can become dangerous spiritual catalysts leading to apostasy and ultimate divine judgment. It underscores that true spiritual health lies in persistent acknowledgment of God as the sole source of all blessings, guarding against the subtle, corrosive nature of pride.