Hosea 7:1 kjv
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
Hosea 7:1 nkjv
"When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria. For they have committed fraud; A thief comes in; A band of robbers takes spoil outside.
Hosea 7:1 niv
whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;
Hosea 7:1 esv
when I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for they deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside.
Hosea 7:1 nlt
"I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great.
Samaria is filled with liars.
Thieves are on the inside
and bandits on the outside!
Hosea 7 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 7:1 | When I would heal Israel... | Hosea 6:4, 11, 14:4-9 |
| Hosea 7:1 | ...then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered... | Jer 3:11, 5:30-31 |
| Hosea 7:1 | ...and the wickedness of Samaria; | 1 Kgs 16:24, 2 Kgs 17:20 |
| Hosea 7:1 | ...for they commit falsehood... | Hos 4:2, 11:12, Psa 5:6, Prov 12:22 |
| Hosea 7:1 | ...and a thief enters... | Psa 50:18, Prov 6:30 |
| Hosea 7:1 | ...and a gang of robbers plunders outside. | Isa 1:23, Luke 19:46 |
| Hosea 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Matt 9:13, 12:7 |
| Hosea 5:5 | The pride of Israel testifies against him; ... | Hos 10:6, Isa 3:1-2 |
| Hosea 7:7 | They are all of them like an oven heated by the baker... | Isa 9:18, Jer 20:14-18 |
| Hosea 7:9 | Strangers devour his strength... | Isa 1:7, Lam 4:17 |
| Hosea 7:10 | The pride of Israel testifies against him; ... | Hos 5:5, Isa 28:1-3 |
| Hosea 7:13 | Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! | Jer 2:19, 50:16 |
| Hosea 7:14 | They do not cry to me in their upon beds... | Job 35:9-10, Psa 18:41 |
| Hosea 7:15 | Although I trained and strengthened their arms... | Isa 40:31, Gal 6:9 |
| Hosea 7:16 | They turn to idols... | Ex 20:3-4, 1 Cor 10:14 |
| Hosea 8:4 | They set up kings, but not by me; they appointed officials, but I knew it not. | 1 Sam 15:23, Isa 30:1 |
| Hosea 8:5 | Your calf is going to be cut off from Samaria. | Hos 10:5-6, Isa 46:1-2 |
| Hosea 9:1 | Rejoice not, O Israel! | Jer 15:10, Amos 8:10 |
| Hosea 10:2 | Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. | Hos 7:1-2, Psa 78:37 |
| Hosea 10:3 | For now they will say, "We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD." | Judg 17:6, 1 Sam 8:19-20 |
| Hosea 14:2 | Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God... | Joel 2:12-13, Luke 15:18-20 |
Hosea 7 verses
Hosea 7 1 Meaning
When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and a thief enters, and a gang of robbers plunders outside.
This verse marks the beginning of Hosea's prophecy against Israel, highlighting the dire state of their spiritual and moral corruption. God declares His desire to heal Israel, but this healing is contingent upon their repentance. However, their iniquity and wickedness prevent this. Their actions are characterized by deceit and violent crime, demonstrating a complete departure from righteousness.
Hosea 7 1 Context
Hosea 7 is situated within the broader prophetic message of judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Chapters 4-14 primarily detail the covenant unfaithfulness of Israel, their religious and moral decay, and the inevitable consequences. Specifically, chapter 7 contrasts God's persistent desire to heal Israel with their unresponsiveness due to ingrained sin and outward rebellion. The immediate preceding verses in chapter 6 spoke of a false repentance. Chapter 7 illustrates why this repentance was hollow and why God's healing could not be applied. The historical context is the turbulent period in the 8th century BCE, marked by political instability, Assyrian threat, and widespread idolatry within Israel.
Hosea 7 1 Word Analysis
- When I would heal (Hebrew: rofe - "to heal, to mend, to restore"): This signifies God's desire and intention to restore Israel to wholeness. It speaks of a potential for covenantal renewal and blessing.
- Israel: Refers to the Northern Kingdom, established after the division of the United Monarchy.
- iniquity (Hebrew: avown - "guilt, punishment for iniquity, bentness, crookedness"): Highlights their spiritual crookedness and inherent corruption, not just their actions but their inner state.
- uncovered (Hebrew: nigla - "revealed, exposed, laid bare"): Implies that their sin is now visible and cannot be hidden. It's brought to light, perhaps by the exposure of their enemies or by their own defiant actions.
- Ephraim: A principal tribe of the Northern Kingdom, often used metonymically for the entire kingdom.
- wickedness (Hebrew: ra - "evil, badness, misfortune, wickedness"): Denotes their active evil deeds and the overall corrupted moral character.
- Samaria: The capital city of the Northern Kingdom, representing its political and religious center.
- they commit falsehood (Hebrew: yishqeow kheshet - "they pour out falsehood, they utter lies"): A strong idiom indicating deliberate and persistent deception.
- thief enters (Hebrew: ganav yavo): Symbolizes unlawful intrusion and personal gain through illicit means.
- gang of robbers (Hebrew: qedsheh gediyd - "band of robbers, troop of plunderers"): Points to organized criminality and violent exploitation of others.
- plunders outside (Hebrew: yaphesh qeytsah): Suggests raiding or plundering their neighbors or even within their own communities.
Hosea 7 1 Bonus Section
The imagery of "a thief enters" and "a gang of robbers plunders" can be understood not just as literal criminal activity but also as metaphorical for how Israel's enemies exploited them due to their internal weakness and spiritual vulnerability. Their lack of divine protection was a direct result of their covenant disobedience. The contrast between God's desire for healing and Israel's uncorrected sin sets a foundational theme for the book of Hosea, underscoring the nature of true repentance and the consequences of its absence. The repeated mention of "Ephraim" and "Samaria" emphasizes the pervasive nature of this corruption throughout the kingdom.
Hosea 7 1 Commentary
Hosea's message begins with a poignant statement of God's desire to heal Israel. However, this desire is met with the harsh reality of their sin. The corruption within Israel is so pervasive that it is "uncovered" and "exposed." This sin manifests as both internal falsehood and external predatory behavior—the thief and the robber. Their transgressions are not isolated incidents but represent a systemic breakdown of justice and morality. This unmasked sin is precisely what hinders God's healing and foretells imminent judgment. Their external actions—deception and violent acts—are direct consequences of their inner apostasy and rejection of God's covenant.