Hosea 13:9 kjv
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
Hosea 13:9 nkjv
"O Israel, you are destroyed, But your help is from Me.
Hosea 13:9 niv
"You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.
Hosea 13:9 esv
He destroys you, O Israel, for you are against me, against your helper.
Hosea 13:9 nlt
"You are about to be destroyed, O Israel ?
yes, by me, your only helper.
Hosea 13 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 13:9 | "It is your destruction, O Israel, that you have opposed Me... | Hosea 14:1 |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry. | Rebelling against God leads to ruin. |
| Jer 2:13 | "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters... | Israel's forsaking God is a source of destruction. |
| Psa 73:28 | But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works. | Closeness to God is life and safety. |
| Psa 18:2 | The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. | God is Israel's only true helper. |
| Psa 37:39 | But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. | God is the source of salvation. |
| Isa 17:10 | Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And your God of your strength, You have not remembered the rock of your refuge; Therefore you shall plant pleasant plants and set it with foreign slips. | Forgetting God leads to consequences. |
| Isa 43:11 | I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. | God alone is Savior. |
| Isa 45:20-22 | Gather yourselves together, yes, assemble, O nation not favored, Before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His injunction. Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. | Seeking God is a path to protection. |
| Jer 3:23 | Indeed, the clamor from the hills, the noise from the mountains, Is a tumult of a multitude in the fields. Indeed, the noise of the multitude of Your enemies is a tumult of their armies. Certainly the voice of the Lord inflicting retribution on the enemy is breaking their lands. | National destruction from enemy turmoil. |
| Luke 11:23 | "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. | Opposition to God leads to scattering. |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. | Dependence on Christ for fruitfulness and life. |
| Acts 4:12 | Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” | Christ is the exclusive source of salvation. |
| Rom 11:20 | Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be proud, but fear. | Warning against pride and assurance in faith. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. | God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. |
| Heb 12:5-11 | And you have forgotten and need to be reminded that you are His children. "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And He scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had earthly fathers who corrected us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but rather painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. | God's discipline for correction. |
| Rev 3:15-16 | "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were either cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth." | God's rejection of lukewarmness. |
| Deut 32:15 | "But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, you are covered with fat; Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. | Israel's fatness and subsequent rebellion. |
| Psa 81:11 | "So My people would not listen to My voice, And Israel would not have it. | Israel's refusal to obey. |
| Prov 1:28-30 | Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; They will seek Me diligently, but no one will find Me, Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have no counsel, but rejected all my reproof. | Rejection of God's counsel leads to being unanswered. |
Hosea 13 verses
Hosea 13 9 Meaning
Israel, your destruction comes from yourself; in me alone is your help.
Hosea 13 9 Context
Hosea 13 prophesies the final downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel. The chapter highlights their deep-rooted sin, particularly their persistent idolatry and reliance on self-strength or other nations, which has alienated them from God. Verse 9 serves as a pivotal declaration of the direct cause of their destruction: their opposition to God. This follows a severe judgment against Ephraim (another name for the northern kingdom), recounting their past sins and foretelling their utter ruin. The prophet stresses that their destruction is not due to an external enemy overcoming them as much as it is due to their internal rebellion and defiance against God, their true source of help and salvation. This verse culminates the message of judgment and emphasizes that Israel's fate is sealed because they have turned away from the only one who could have saved them.
Hosea 13 9 Word Analysis
"O Israel" (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): A direct address to the covenant people. The name itself, meaning "God strives" or "prince with God," is used here ironically, highlighting their failure to live up to their God-given identity.
"your destruction" (Hebrew: אָסְפֶךָ, osefeka): This word means "your destruction," "your ruin," or "your overthrow." It implies a gathering or sweeping away into desolation, a consequence of their actions.
"is from Me" (Hebrew: מֵאִתִּי, me'iti): Literally "from Me" or "from my side." It indicates that the cause and agency of their destruction originates with God's judgment.
"O Israel": (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): Again, a direct address.
"in Me" (Hebrew: בִּי, bi): In, with, or by Me.
"is your help" (Hebrew: עֶזְרְךָ, 'ezreka): Your help, your aid, your succor. This word starkly contrasts with "destruction" (אָסְפֶךָ, osefeka), showing that God is the sole source of true assistance, which they have rejected.
Words Group Analysis:
- "your destruction... is from Me, O Israel": This is a cause-and-effect statement. God is not capriciously destroying them, but their rebellion against Him is the reason He is now enacting judgment.
- "you have opposed Me" (Hebrew: אַתָּה ᴵⱽ עָמַלְתָּ, 'attah 'amal’ta - this reading is difficult and not consistently supported. A more widely accepted reading is 'atta samalta 'you have destroyed yourselves', or similar roots related to acting against God. The sense remains that Israel is the agent of its own downfall by opposing God). This phrase emphasizes their active resistance and defiance towards God. It’s a crucial turning point in understanding their fate: it’s not just passive falling away, but active antagonism.
- "in Me is your help": This juxtaposes their self-inflicted ruin with God's availability as their rescuer. It's an offer and a statement of fact: God remains the source of salvation, though they have turned from Him.
Hosea 13 9 Bonus Section
The emphasis on Israel's self-inflicted destruction through opposition to God echoes the principle stated in Hosea 14:1: "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity." Their stumbling, their fall, originates from their internal condition and actions against God. This theme of rejection leading to judgment is prevalent throughout Scripture, illustrating that God's judgment is righteous and consistent with the covenant, which is conditional on obedience. The ancient Israelites, and by extension all who profess faith, are called to recognize that their spiritual well-being and preservation are wholly dependent on their relationship with God. To oppose Him is to court destruction. The very name "Israel" (God strives) was meant to be a constant reminder of this reliance, yet they perverted it into a pattern of striving against God rather than striving with Him.
Hosea 13 9 Commentary
This verse serves as a solemn declaration of the cause and effect in God's relationship with Israel. Their "destruction" (אָסְפֶךָ) is not an arbitrary act of God but a direct consequence of their opposition and rebellion against Him. The phrasing "you have opposed Me" (or "you have destroyed yourselves" depending on textual nuances) points to Israel's culpability. They have, in essence, become the architects of their own ruin by rejecting God, who is presented as the sole provider of true "help" (עֶזְרְךָ). This paradox – God is the source of their downfall because He is their ultimate help and they have turned away from Him – is central to the prophetic message. It underscores the theme that obedience to God leads to life and prosperity, while disobedience, even self-destructive behavior stemming from turning away from God, leads to ruin. The verse is a severe indictment of unfaithfulness and a final reminder that salvation is found only in Him.