Hosea 5:14 kjv
For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
Hosea 5:14 nkjv
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.
Hosea 5:14 niv
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
Hosea 5:14 esv
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.
Hosea 5:14 nlt
I will be like a lion to Israel,
like a strong young lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces!
I will carry them off,
and no one will be left to rescue them.
Hosea 5 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 5:14 | For I will be toward Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion toward the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue. | God's judgment compared to a lion |
| 2 Kings 17:25 | And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. | Divine judgment with lions |
| Jeremiah 4:7 | The lion has come up from the thicket, and the destroyer of nations has prepared to go forth; he has gone forth from his place to make your land desolate; your cities shall be laid waste, without inhabitant. | Nations as a destructive lion |
| Psalm 50:22 | "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And none can deliver:" | Warning against forgetting God |
| Isaiah 5:29 | His roar is like the roaring of a lion; Yes, he roars and takes the prey; He catches and no one delivers. | Enemy described as a lion |
| Jeremiah 25:38 | He has forsaken His lair, like a young lion; For the land has become a desolation because of the sword of the oppressor And because of His fierce anger. | Lion leaving its lair in judgment |
| Nahum 2:11-12 | Where is the lion's dwelling, And the feeding place of the young lions, Where the lion paced, the lioness and her cubs, And no one made them afraid? The lion tore enough for his cubs, And strangled prey for his lionesses, Filled his caves with prey And his dens with plunder. | Assyria as a predatory lion |
| Job 10:16 | When I lift myself up, you hunt me as a lion, And again you display your might against me. | God hunting like a lion |
| Psalm 22:13 | They gape upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. | Enemies as a roaring lion |
| Amos 3:8 | The lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy? | God's word as a roar |
| Revelation 5:5 | But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” | Christ as the Lion of Judah |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest to Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. | Rejection of knowledge leads to destruction |
| Hosea 5:15 | I will return and go to My place, Till they acknowledge their offense And seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. | Seeking God in affliction |
| Isaiah 1:18 | “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool." | God's call to repentance |
| Deuteronomy 32:39 | "Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand." | God's ultimate power to kill and heal |
| Psalm 33:9 | For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. | God's spoken word has power |
| Jeremiah 51:12 | Lift up banners on the walls of Babylon, Make the watch strong, Set up the watchmen, Prepare for an ambush; For the LORD has planned and will do to Babylon all that He has spoken against His places. | God's plans and judgments |
| Amos 1:3 | Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with implements of war. | Judgment on nations |
| Ezekiel 19:3 | She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion; And he learned to catch his prey; He devoured men. | Judah's rulers compared to lions |
| Joel 1:6 | A nation has come up against My land, Strong, and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the fangs of a lioness. | Enemy as a predatory lion |
Hosea 5 verses
Hosea 5 14 Meaning
The verse describes God's fierce anger and impending judgment upon His people. He will act like a lion, consuming them without any possibility of deliverance or rescue for those in distress.
Hosea 5 14 Context
Hosea 5:14 is part of a prophetic oracle concerning the sins of Israel, particularly the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) and Judah. The preceding verses (Hosea 5:8-13) detail the impending military destruction and plunder that will befall them due to their alliances with foreign powers and their apostasy. The prophet highlights their attempts to seek help from earthly rulers and idols rather than from God, which has provoked God's fierce anger. This verse specifically articulates the nature of God's retributive justice, presenting Him as a predator whose actions are inevitable and beyond human intervention. The historical context is a period of political instability and spiritual corruption in both Israel and Judah, leading up to the Assyrian conquests.
Hosea 5 14 Word analysis
- For (Ki - כִּי): Conjunction indicating reason or cause. It introduces the explanation for the previous statements of judgment.
- I will be (Ani eqev - אָנֹכִי אֶתֵּן): "I will be" or "I will give." Implies God's active role in His judgment.
- toward Ephraim (L Ephra’im - לְאֶפְרַיִם): Specifies the primary recipient of this lion-like judgment at this moment. Ephraim, the dominant tribe of the Northern Kingdom, represents the entire nation.
- as a lion (Kekisphim - כַּשָּׁחַל): "As a lion." Compares God's judgment to the raw power, ferocity, and predatory nature of a lion.
- and as a young lion (WeKedar'el bayit Yehudah - וְכַֽמְּנֹנִי לְבֵית יְהוּדָה): "And as a young lion to the house of Judah." Extends the metaphor to Judah, suggesting a growing threat or a more intense, yet controlled, aspect of God's judgment.
- house of Judah (bayit Yehudah - בֵּית יְהוּדָה): Refers to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
- I, even I (Anokiy gam anokiy - אָנֹכִי גַּם אָנֹכִי): Emphatic repetition of "I," stressing God's personal and direct involvement in administering the judgment. This emphasizes accountability and divine authority.
- will tear (A’arti’giyaz - אַרְתִּיץ): "I will tear," "I will rend," "I will tread down." A violent verb depicting destruction and utter subjugation.
- and go away (Wehelathti - וְהֶעֱתַרְתִּי): "And carry away," "And take away." Suggests a complete removal or dispossession.
- I will take away (Nasa’ti - נָשָׂאתִי): "I will carry away," "I will take," "I will remove." Reinforces the idea of complete confiscation or destruction.
- and none shall rescue (Weein mashheh - וְאֵין מַשְׁהֶה): "And none shall cause to stay," "And none shall deliver," "And none shall rescue." Highlights the absolute hopelessness of any escape from God's judgment. The divine power is sovereign and unhindered.
Word Group Analysis:
- "as a lion, and as a young lion": The pairing of "lion" and "young lion" could suggest both the established, unshakeable might (full-grown lion) and the developing, potentially fiercer, or more pervasive threat (young lion) of God's judgment. This speaks to the thoroughness of the impending doom.
- "I will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue": This parallel structure emphasizes the complete and inescapable nature of God's action. The action is not just violent but also final, with no possibility of intervention or reprieve. It conveys absolute sovereignty in judgment.
Hosea 5 14 Bonus Section
The imagery of God as a lion is not unique to this verse in Hosea. It appears in other prophetic contexts, often signifying divine wrath and unstoppable power. However, it's crucial to note that in Scripture, Christ is also referred to as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5), representing His victory and kingly authority. While this verse speaks of judgment, the underlying theme of divine power can also be understood in the broader biblical narrative, where God’s power ultimately serves His purposes of justice and redemption. The absolute nature of the "tearing" and "taking away" implies a total removal of their self-reliance and trust in earthly powers, forcing a recognition of their need for God. The implication is that true security is found only in God, and when that relationship is broken, the very power that could protect becomes the source of ultimate destruction.
Hosea 5 14 Commentary
Hosea 5:14 pronounces a severe judgment from God upon Ephraim and Judah. God declares His intention to act like a lion, a symbol of terrifying power and predatory action. He will "tear" and "carry away," meaning He will utterly destroy and possess, leaving nothing behind for the people to hold onto. The chilling finality is captured in "none shall rescue," indicating that all human attempts at deliverance or aid will be futile. This judgment is a consequence of their persistent idolatry, political foolishness, and rejection of divine guidance, as detailed in the preceding verses. God’s imagery as a lion highlights His untamed fury and His sovereign ability to bring absolute destruction when His covenant people turn from Him. The verse serves as a stark warning about the inevitable consequences of spiritual rebellion.