Hosea 7:12 kjv
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Hosea 7:12 nkjv
Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them According to what their congregation has heard.
Hosea 7:12 niv
When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.
Hosea 7:12 esv
As they go, I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens; I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.
Hosea 7:12 nlt
But as they fly about,
I will throw my net over them
and bring them down like a bird from the sky.
I will punish them for all the evil they do.
Hosea 7 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 7:12 | "Though they go, I will spread my net; they will fall into my snare." | God's judgment for disobedience |
| Jeremiah 48:43 | "Terror and pit and snare await you, O inhabitant of Moab." | Judgment against Moab |
| Jeremiah 49:16 | "...your reputation brought you deceit, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock..." | Pride leading to downfall |
| Ezekiel 12:13 | "I will spread my net for him, and he shall be taken in my snare..." | Judgment on a proud ruler |
| Psalm 10:15 | "Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers; find their wickedness till you find none." | God's justice |
| Psalm 31:4 | "Free me from the snare that is hidden for me, for you are my strength." | Prayer for deliverance |
| Psalm 140:5 | "Arrogant men have hid a snare for me; with ropes they have bound my feet; they have set traps for me along the path." | Enemies' schemes |
| Proverbs 6:5 | "Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." | Warning against entanglement |
| Isaiah 24:17 | "Terror and pit and snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!" | Judgment on the earth |
| Isaiah 28:15 | "because you say, 'We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming blast passes through it shall not come to us..." | Trusting in false alliances |
| Acts 7:42 | "But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven..." | Israel turning from God |
| Romans 1:21-23 | "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thoughts..." | Turning to idolatry |
| 2 Peter 2:4 | "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of deep darkness..." | Divine punishment |
| Hebrews 12:25 | "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who gave divine warning on earth..." | Refusing God's word |
| 1 John 2:15 | "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." | Worldly desires ensnare |
| Genesis 19:17 | "And when they had brought them out, one said, 'Escape for your life! Do not look back or stop anywhere in the plain. Escape to the hills..." | Escape from judgment |
| Exodus 15:9 | "The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire shall have dominion over them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'" | God's enemies boast |
| Psalm 91:3 | "He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence." | God's protection |
| Proverbs 1:11 | "If they say, 'Come with us; let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without cause..." | Schemes of the wicked |
| Luke 12:50 | "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is completed!" | Christ's ultimate sacrifice |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability..." | God's faithfulness in trial |
Hosea 7 verses
Hosea 7 12 Meaning
Hosea 7:12 speaks of a spiritual snare. It describes the people of Israel falling into a trap because they flee from God. They are depicted as actively leaving the Lord's presence and seeking aid from external powers rather than trusting in Him. This action is described as a self-inflicted downfall, akin to a bird caught in a fowler's net because it tried to escape divine scrutiny.
Hosea 7 12 Context
Hosea prophesies to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of political instability and spiritual decay. Chapter 7 depicts Israel's continued unfaithfulness to God, their reliance on foreign alliances (Egypt and Assyria), and their internal corruption. The people are shown engaging in idolatry, seeking strength from earthly powers, and practicing deception and violence. This verse, Hosea 7:12, fits within this larger condemnation of Israel's self-inflicted downfall due to their apostasy and rejection of God's guidance and protection. They try to escape the consequences of their actions by seeking other means, but their flight only leads them further into divine judgment.
Hosea 7 12 Word Analysis
- Even (Hebrew: gam)
- "Also," "and," "even." It's a particle of addition or emphasis, connecting this action to previous ones.
- If (Hebrew: ki)
- This often functions adversatively, like "although," "but," or "when." Here, it signals a concession before the consequence.
- They (Hebrew: hem)
- Refers to the people of Israel, specifically those who are the subject of Hosea's prophecy.
- Go (Hebrew: halak)
- "To walk," "to go," "to proceed." It implies movement and active participation in their own destruction.
- I (Hebrew: ani)
- God speaking, asserting His active role in their judgment.
- Will spread (Hebrew: paraś)
- "To spread out," "to scatter," "to extend." This denotes God's active action in ensnaring them.
- My (Hebrew: yaḍ)
- Literally "my hand," implying God's direct power and authority in bringing judgment.
- Net (Hebrew: pach)
- "A snare," "a trap," often a concealed device for catching birds or animals.
- They (Hebrew: hem)
- Again, the people of Israel.
- Shall fall (Hebrew: nafal)
- "To fall," "to fall down," "to fall into." Implies capture and subjugation.
- Into (Hebrew: be)
- A preposition indicating inclusion or being within the trap.
- My (Hebrew: rešet)
- "My snare," "my net."
- Snare (Hebrew: ḥā·lîm)
- Another term for "snare" or "net," possibly suggesting a more sophisticated or comprehensive trap.
Words/Group Analysis:
- "Even if they go": This phrase emphasizes that their attempts to escape God's notice or judgment by leaving His presence (as in, turning to other gods or foreign alliances) are futile. God's dominion extends everywhere.
- "I will spread my net; they shall fall into my snare": This uses a strong metaphor of a hunter ensnaring prey. "Net" (pach) and "snare" (ḥā·lîm) both convey the idea of a trap from which escape is difficult. God's judgment is portrayed as a certain consequence of their flight from Him. The repetition of snare-related terms amplifies the inevitability of their capture.
Hosea 7 12 Bonus Section
The imagery of a fowler's net or snare was common in the Ancient Near East to describe capture. The dual mention of "net" and "snare" possibly emphasizes both the intentionality of God’s judgment and the complexity or inescapability of the trap. This verse serves as a stark warning against seeking salvation or security in anything or anyone other than the LORD, a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Israel's mistake was not just running, but running away from God, which directly led them to the place of their judgment.
Hosea 7 12 Commentary
Hosea declares that Israel’s flight from God is not an escape but an enticement into God’s prepared trap. Their turning to other gods and foreign powers is not a solution but a transgression that brings divine retribution. God's sovereignty is over all things, and their attempts to outmaneuver His judgment are themselves the very means by which they will be caught. Their departure from seeking God leads directly into the snare God has set for them as a consequence of their disobedience.