Hosea 5:9 kjv
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
Hosea 5:9 nkjv
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.
Hosea 5:9 niv
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
Hosea 5:9 esv
Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of punishment; among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.
Hosea 5:9 nlt
One thing is certain, Israel :
On your day of punishment,
you will become a heap of rubble.
Hosea 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 5:9 | Ephraim shall be a desolation, a ruin among the nations. | Direct prophecy of Ephraim's downfall |
| Isaiah 1:3 | but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. | Israel's willful ignorance |
| Jeremiah 4:6 | "Raise the banner toward Zion! Flee for safety! Do not stand still." | Call to escape coming judgment |
| Jeremiah 6:1 | "Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!..." | Warning of impending disaster |
| Amos 3:12 | "Thus says the Lord: As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s maw two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the next of the}^ Israelite shall be rescued..." | partial deliverance amidst destruction |
| Micah 1:6 | "Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of ruins, a place for planting vineyards..." | Prophecy against Samaria (capital of Ephraim) |
| Nahum 2:10 | "She is empty, void, and desolate..." | Description of destroyed cities |
| Zephaniah 1:3 | "I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the Lord." | Universal judgment |
| Matthew 24:2 | "See, no stone will be left upon another stone, for it will be torn down." | Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction |
| Luke 21:6 | "As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." | Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction |
| Acts 4:24 | "...they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them," | Acknowledging God as Creator |
| Romans 9:27 | And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel were as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved," | Remnant theology |
| Galatians 3:16 | Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” as referring to many, but as referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. | Promises through offspring |
| Hebrews 11:1 | Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Definition of faith |
| 1 Peter 1:24 | For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flowers fall," | Transience of human glory |
| Revelation 18:2 | "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every unclean spirit," | Prophecy of Babylon's destruction |
| Deuteronomy 28:37 | And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you. | Consequences of disobedience |
| Jeremiah 24:9 | And I will give them counsel and knowledge and understanding, but they did not obey me, says the Lord. | God's unheeded counsel |
| Ezekiel 15:4 | It is cast into the fire for fuel, and the fire consumes its two ends, and its middle is charred. Is it useful for any purpose? | Uselessness of corrupted vine |
| Hosea 4:17 | Ephraim is joined to idols—leave him alone! | Idolatrous devotion |
| Hosea 9:1 | Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not exult as other peoples do, for because of your whoring you have gone from your God. | Sin leading to separation |
| Hosea 10:15 | This is how it will go for them because of their great evil. Israel will be left desolate, the fruit of your sin removed. | Fruit of sin |
Hosea 5 verses
Hosea 5 9 Meaning
On that day, Ephraim shall become a desolation, a ruin among the nations.
Hosea 5 9 Context
Hosea's prophecy in chapter 5 depicts a dire situation for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly the tribe of Ephraim, which was the dominant tribe. The nation is condemned for its idolatry, covenant breaking, and reliance on foreign powers instead of the Lord. God expresses His profound disappointment and sorrow over their spiritual unfaithfulness. Hosea's message is a severe warning of imminent judgment and national ruin that will befall them due to their persistent sin. This verse specifically foreshadows the complete devastation that awaits Ephraim as a consequence of their spiritual harlotry and rejection of God's authority. The historical backdrop involves the decline of the Northern Kingdom, with Assyria looming as a major threat, ultimately leading to its destruction and the exile of its people.
Hosea 5 9 Word analysis
- וְהָיָה (wə·hā·yāh): "and it shall be." This is a common consecutive imperfect verb form in Hebrew, indicating a future outcome or consequence of the preceding pronouncements. It signifies that what follows is a direct result of Israel's actions.
- אֶפְרָיִם (’ep̄·rā·yim): "Ephraim." This is a prominent name representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel, named after the son of Joseph. Its significance lies in its symbolic representation of the majority of the ten tribes and their collective rebellion against God.
- לְשָׁמָה (lə·šā·māh): "a desolation," "a waste," "a ruin." This Hebrew word denotes utter destruction, emptiness, and desolation. It evokes a powerful image of a land left uninhabited and devoid of life, signifying a complete downfall.
- וּבַ֧יִת (ū·ḇ·a·yiṯ): "and a house." While literally meaning "house," in this context it can also refer to a dynasty, a family, or even the nation itself. It emphasizes that the ruin will affect not just the land but the very fabric of their society and lineage.
- יְהוּדָה (yə·hū·ḏāh): "Judah." This refers to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The inclusion of Judah here suggests a potential consequence for their complicity or failure to learn from Ephraim's apostasy, or it could highlight a specific detail within the broader prophecy.
- לְמִשְׁפָּט (lə·miš·pāṭ): "for a judgment," "to judgment." This indicates that the desolation will be an act of divine justice, a punishment meted out by God for their sins.
- כִּי (kî): "because," "for." This introduces the reason for the impending judgment and desolation.
- חֹלֵּ֣֣֣ק (ḥō·lê ·ṯā): "I will divide." This verb signifies splitting or apportioning. In this context, it means God will distribute them or scatter them as judgment.
- אֲנִִ֧י (’á·nî): "I." The pronoun emphasizes God's direct involvement in bringing about this judgment. It is a personal action from the Lord.
- מִגֵּיו (mî·gē·yō): "from the valley," "from a torrent valley." This could refer to a geographical location associated with Israel's troubles or a more figurative "valley of decision" where judgment occurs.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (yîs·rā·’êl): "Israel." Used here perhaps as a synonym or in conjunction with Ephraim to denote the collective people of the Northern Kingdom.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Ephraim shall be a desolation": This phrase is a stark prediction of the ultimate ruin of the Northern Kingdom. It's a prophetic declaration of the devastating consequences of their apostasy and rebellion against God, indicating a complete loss of their status and existence as a distinct nation.
- "and Judah for a ruin": This suggests that Judah will also suffer consequences, though the exact nature is debated. It might mean Judah will be judged alongside Ephraim, or that they will face ruin due to their own sins, or even that they will be a remnant that testifies to the fate of Ephraim.
- "because I will divide them": This clause explains the cause of their ruin: God Himself will scatter them. This scattering is a judicial act, a divine dispersal as a punishment for their transgressions, leading to their desolation and ruin among the nations.
- "from the valley": This phrase can refer to a specific geographical valley where a significant defeat occurred, or it can be metaphorical, representing a time of deep crisis and judgment that originates from a foundational crisis or breaking point.
Hosea 5 9 Bonus section
The prophecy against Ephraim in Hosea carries significant theological weight regarding God's justice and mercy. While this verse focuses on the unmitigated judgment of national ruin for persistent rebellion, other parts of Hosea, and scripture in general, point to God’s enduring love and the possibility of restoration for a repentant remnant. The ultimate fulfillment of the "desolation" for Ephraim is seen in the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE, after which the ten tribes were dispersed and effectively lost as a distinct entity among the nations. This serves as a powerful historical testament to the truth of prophetic pronouncements when a nation rejects its covenant relationship with God.
Hosea 5 9 Commentary
Hosea 5:9 unequivocally declares the devastating consequence of Ephraim's persistent sin: utter desolation. This is not merely a temporal setback but a profound, national ruin. God, as the ultimate judge, will Himself bring about this scattering and destruction. The verse serves as a severe warning, emphasizing that unfaithfulness to God will inevitably lead to complete loss and disappearance from the stage of nations. The repetition of "desolation" and "ruin" underscores the totality of the coming judgment. It highlights the finality of God's disciplinary action against a people who repeatedly turn away from Him. The scattering described is not an act of abandonment but a direct consequence of their actions, illustrating divine justice.