Hosea 7:10 kjv
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
Hosea 7:10 nkjv
And the pride of Israel testifies to his face, But they do not return to the LORD their God, Nor seek Him for all this.
Hosea 7:10 niv
Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.
Hosea 7:10 esv
The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him, for all this.
Hosea 7:10 nlt
Their arrogance testifies against them,
yet they don't return to the LORD their God
or even try to find him.
Hosea 7 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 7:11 | Israel is like a dove easily tricked and foolish | Hosea 7:11 |
| Hosea 8:9 | Ephraim is like a wild donkey going off on its own | Hosea 8:9 |
| Hosea 10:6 | Israel will be carried away to Assyria as tribute | Hosea 10:6 |
| Hosea 12:1 | Ephraim makes alliances with Egypt and trades with Assyria | Hosea 12:1 |
| Isaiah 30:1-3 | Judah sought refuge in Pharaoh's strength | Isaiah 30:1-3 |
| Isaiah 31:1 | Woe to those who go to Egypt for help | Isaiah 31:1 |
| Jeremiah 2:18 | Israel's reliance on Egypt and Assyria | Jeremiah 2:18 |
| Jeremiah 2:36 | Israel shamed by reliance on Egypt | Jeremiah 2:36 |
| Jeremiah 37:7 | Pharaoh's army comes from Egypt | Jeremiah 37:7 |
| Ezekiel 29:6-7 | Egypt will be a staff of a broken reed for Israel | Ezekiel 29:6-7 |
| Ezekiel 30:13 | The idols of Egypt will be destroyed | Ezekiel 30:13 |
| Psalm 146:3 | Do not put your trust in princes | Psalm 146:3 |
| Psalm 118:8 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than in man | Psalm 118:8 |
| Proverbs 3:5 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart | Proverbs 3:5 |
| Proverbs 14:26 | In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence | Proverbs 14:26 |
| Proverbs 16:5 | The proud in heart are an abomination to the LORD | Proverbs 16:5 |
| Romans 1:21-23 | Exchanging the glory of God for created things | Romans 1:21-23 |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | God chooses the weak things to shame the strong | 1 Corinthians 1:27 |
| 2 Corinthians 1:9 | We should not rely on ourselves but on God | 2 Corinthians 1:9 |
| James 4:16 | Boasting is evil | James 4:16 |
| Revelation 18:13 | Babylon’s luxury and power come to an end | Revelation 18:13 |
Hosea 7 verses
Hosea 7 10 Meaning
The verse describes Israel's reliance on foreign powers, specifically Egypt and Assyria, rather than the Lord. This alliance is seen as a sign of their foolishness and departure from God. Their boasting in these earthly powers is contrasted with their abandonment of the Lord's help.
Hosea 7 10 Context
Hosea chapter 7 prophesies against the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of political instability and moral decay. The people had turned away from worshipping the Lord and embraced idolatry and foreign alliances for security and prosperity. Hosea likens Israel's actions to a baker's spoiled batch of dough, a treacherous wife, and a worn-out bird caught in a trap. Verse 10 specifically highlights their misguided political strategies, relying on the might of Egypt and Assyria instead of seeking God's deliverance. This misplaced trust is a direct consequence of their spiritual adultery.
Hosea 7 10 Word Analysis
- Ephraim: Refers to the northern kingdom of Israel, named after the most prominent tribe.
- is become: Indicates a transformation or degeneration, a process of falling away.
- old: Signifies a decline in spiritual vitality and wisdom; they have become accustomed to their sinful ways.
- like a stirred stick: A comparison to a loaf of bread that is partially baked and thus ruined, or a smoldering coal that could either ignite or die out, suggesting a state of incomplete repentance and a precarious spiritual condition. Another interpretation suggests it is like a "pressed cake" or "flatbread" left unturned, burning on one side.
- in one corner: This can refer to a loaf being unevenly baked, leading to an unfavorable outcome, or it might represent something partially done or an isolated issue that spoils the whole. It suggests their faith is flawed and incomplete.
- turning (Hebrew: mahôpeḵ - m-h-w-p-kh): Implies being turned over, but in this context, it signifies being overturned, corrupted, or reversed from its proper state.
- from me: Denotes a direct departure and turning away from the Lord.
- their strength: Refers to their security, their power, or their reliance.
- in me: Refers to reliance upon the Lord.
- shall be eaten up: Signifies consumption, destruction, or devouring.
- by strangers: Refers to foreign nations, the very alliances they sought for protection.
- by foreign nations: Repeats and emphasizes the consequence of their reliance on those outside of God's covenant.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis
- "Ephraim is become old like a stirred stick": This phrase conveys that Israel had lost its spiritual vigor and was partially corrupted. The "stirred stick" image suggests something mishandled, resulting in an unfavorable outcome, like dough that hasn't risen properly or bread that's burnt on one side because it wasn't turned. They are partially devoted but ultimately spoiled.
- "even he turneth aside, the cake is unturned": This highlights their ongoing defection. They are continually turning away from God, and as a result, their spiritual state remains unbalanced and unredeemed, like an unbaked or burnt bread that is never properly finished.
- "Their strength shall be eaten up by strangers": This signifies that their supposed strengths, their political alliances and human power, would be consumed by the very foreign nations they trusted, leading to their downfall.
- "yea, their strength in me is forgotten": This points to the complete abandonment of the Lord as their source of strength and salvation. They have forgotten that true security is found in God alone.
Hosea 7 10 Bonus Section
The "stirred stick" or "cake" imagery (Hebrew: Ugá or Kíbból) is a culinary metaphor indicating an incomplete or mishandled process, leading to spoilage. Scholars note this can refer to a type of unleavened cake or flatbread baked directly on coals or stones, which if not tended to properly, would burn on one side and remain raw on the other, becoming useless. This vividly portrays Israel's perverted worship and their corrupted spiritual state, being partially tainted by idolatry and foreign practices, thus making them unfit for the Lord. This complete reversal of their former commitment underscores their rebellion and sets the stage for the impending judgment.
Hosea 7 10 Commentary
Hosea 7:10 powerfully illustrates the folly of seeking security in human alliances rather than in God. Israel's diplomatic relations with Egypt and Assyria were seen by them as wise strategies, but the prophet reveals them as acts of spiritual treason. Their dependence on these pagan powers demonstrates a fundamental distrust in the Lord's ability and willingness to protect them. This verse serves as a timeless warning against prioritizing worldly strategies over faithful dependence on God, highlighting that when we turn away from Him, even our human-built strengths will inevitably be turned against us or consumed by the very forces we sought to manipulate. Their "strength in Me is forgotten" is the heart of their problem, leading to ultimate destruction through their trusted allies.