Hosea 7:11 kjv
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Hosea 7:11 nkjv
"Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense? They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria.
Hosea 7:11 niv
"Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless? now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
Hosea 7:11 esv
Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.
Hosea 7:11 nlt
"The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves,
first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help.
Hosea 7 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 7:11 | Israel like a silly dove | Old Testament |
| Psalm 73:22 | I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. | Foolishness |
| Jer 2:36 | Why do you gad about so much to change your way? | Straying from God |
| Jer 7:24 | They did not listen or incline their ear... | Disobedience |
| Jer 17:5 | Cursed is the man who trusts in man... | Reliance on Man |
| Jer 46:17 | Pharaoh...has let the appointed time pass by. | Reliance on Egypt |
| Eze 16:26 | You played the whore with the Egyptians... | Idolatry/False Alliances |
| Mic 1:7 | They will return them to Egypt. | Consequences of Sin |
| Nah 3:9 | Egypt has been a very great multitude, | Judgment on Egypt |
| Prov 7:10 | And behold, a woman met him, boldly to | Deception |
| Is 30:2-3 | So the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame | Futile help |
| Is 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... | Seeking wrong help |
| Matt 10:16 | Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. | Dove imagery (positive) |
| John 3:8 | The wind blows where it wishes... | Spiritual perception |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are | Spiritual blindness |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the | Lack of spiritual understanding |
| Heb 1:3 | The radiance of the glory of God. | God's presence |
| Heb 5:11 | Though by now you ought to be teachers... | Spiritual immaturity |
| Rev 2:14 | I have a few things against you, that you permit that | False teachings |
| Rev 3:16 | So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, | Spiritual indifference |
| Ps 50:21 | You did these things and I kept silent; you thought | God's silence/judgment |
Hosea 7 verses
Hosea 7 11 Meaning
Hosea 7:11 describes Israel as foolish and senseless, like a dove easily deceived, having strayed from God. They ignorantly call to Egypt for help and rely on Assyria, thus forfeiting God's protection.
Hosea 7 11 Context
Hosea is a prophet ministering to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of political instability and spiritual corruption. Chapter 7 specifically details Israel's sins, including idolatry, adultery (in a spiritual sense), violence, and deception. Their attempts to secure foreign alliances, particularly with Egypt and Assyria, are seen as acts of spiritual unfaithfulness and political folly. This verse captures their misguided reliance on foreign powers instead of turning back to God.
Hosea 7 11 Word Analysis
Also (G Mga'ach): Introduces a further consequence or observation of their sinful behavior.
Israel (w r y s ' Yisrael): Refers to the Northern Kingdom, the covenant people of God.
like (l K) (k'mt.t) (Kämô-qôl): Introduces a simile, comparing Israel's vulnerability.
a silly (wy L): Lacking sense, understanding, or wisdom; naive and easily fooled.
dove (NYP): The Hebrew word is yonah. Doves are known for their gentleness but also for their lack of caution and their tendency to fly from danger, often into nets or snares, making them a symbol of naivety and vulnerability. In the Old Testament, doves were used in sacrifices (Lev 1:14; 12:8), signifying purity and atonement. Jesus sends his disciples out "innocent as doves" (Matt 10:16).
that fluttereth (x YPY): The verb is 'alaph, meaning to league together, associate, or wander. Here it implies erratic movement, wandering away from their true home and protector.
to Egypt (la M y y r M): Egypt was a land of bondage for Israel, and a powerful nation often turned to for political or military support.
from (v k): Indicates separation or departure.
to Assyria (v y r 'My): Assyria, a major empire, would become a conqueror of Israel. Turning to Assyria represented a misplaced trust in human might.
call (wa R): To cry out or invoke, signifying a desperate appeal for help.
Grouped Words: "like a silly dove that fluttereth to Egypt from Assyria": This phrase vividly paints a picture of foolishness. The dove's tendency to return to its habitat (though here it's confused with geographical locations like Egypt and Assyria, suggesting a perverted sense of direction or home) highlights their deviation from God's prescribed path and their mistaken appeals to nations that will ultimately prove disastrous.
Hosea 7 11 Bonus Section
The imagery of the "silly dove" is significant. While doves can symbolize peace or purity (e.g., in sacrifice, or the Holy Spirit in the New Testament), here it denotes utter lack of discernment. They fly to sources of potential destruction, mirroring their spiritual flight from God's grace to idolatry and false security. Their "calling" to these nations is not a cry for divine mercy but a plea for earthly alliances, revealing a heart alienated from the true source of help. This reliance on the arm of flesh, as other prophets also warn (Jer 17:5, Ps 146:3-5), seals their impending doom.
Hosea 7 11 Commentary
Hosea 7:11 profoundly illustrates Israel's spiritual and political bankruptcy. Their identity as God's covenant people is undermined by their futile attempts to secure help from pagan nations like Egypt and Assyria. The comparison to a dove that fluttereth is powerful, emphasizing their cluelessness and vulnerability. They are not seeking divine intervention but relying on superficial, unreliable foreign powers that ultimately served their own imperialistic aims. This verse is a stark warning against compromising faith and seeking security apart from the Lord.