Hosea 7:15 kjv
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
Hosea 7:15 nkjv
Though I disciplined and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me;
Hosea 7:15 niv
I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me.
Hosea 7:15 esv
Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.
Hosea 7:15 nlt
I trained them and made them strong,
yet now they plot evil against me.
Hosea 7 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 7:15 | And yet it was I who instructed and strengthened their arms, but they have devised evil against me. | Reinforces God's action vs. their rebellion. |
| Isaiah 43:11 | I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. | Parallel to reliance on external saviors. |
| Jeremiah 2:36 | Why do you run about so much to change your way? You will be put to shame, even as you were put to shame by Assyria. | Echoes the shame of misplaced trust. |
| Psalm 147:10-11 | He does not delight in the strength of a horse or in the power of a man. The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his love. | Contrasts God's pleasure with worldly strength. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | Shows God making foolish worldly wisdom. |
| Isaiah 30:7 | The help of Egypt is worthless and of no avail; therefore I have called her Rahab the idle destroyer. | Directly links Egypt's aid to futility. |
| Psalm 118:8 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. | A direct parallel to the verse's theme. |
| Romans 8:7 | The flesh[a] cannot please God. | Explains the corrupted nature of their attempts. |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.” | Severe warning against human reliance. |
| 2 Kings 17:16 | They forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves molten images, two calves, and an Asherah, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. | Describes the specific idolatry they engaged in. |
| John 15:5 | “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” | Emphasizes dependence on God for fruitfulness. |
| Isaiah 10:24 | Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says this: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they defeat you with their rod and lift up their staff against you as Egypt did. | Mentions Egypt's past failures in dealing with Israel. |
| 2 Chronicles 28:20 | And Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, instead of strengthening him. | Illustrates the negative outcome of seeking foreign aid. |
| Deuteronomy 18:14 | For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to soothsayers and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you so. | Contrasts Israel with nations who relied on forbidden practices. |
| 2 Timothy 3:5 | They will pay lip service to godliness, but they will reject its true power. Avoid them! | Describes outward religion without inner substance. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:14 | And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. | Parallels the futility of faith without true foundation. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. | Shows true strength coming from God's Spirit. |
| Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Directly contrasts earthly powers with God. |
| Jeremiah 9:23-24 | This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom, or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let them who boast boast of the understanding they have of me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” | Identifies what truly pleases God. |
| Galatians 5:4 | You have been severed from Christ; you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen away from grace. | Describes severing from Christ by pursuing self-justification. |
Hosea 7 verses
Hosea 7 15 Meaning
The verse describes God's assessment of Israel's flawed efforts and misplaced trust, indicating their pursuit of worthless idols and a reliance on Egypt that brought no true salvation. It highlights their deviation from God's intended path and the futility of their actions.
Hosea 7 15 Context
Hosea 7 speaks of the moral and spiritual corruption of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The chapter portrays them as being ripe for judgment due to their persistent idolatry, political intrigue, and general disobedience to God. Verse 15 fits within this broader context of national apostasy, specifically addressing their reliance on human alliances (represented by Egypt) and their pursuit of spiritual deception rather than seeking God's help and deliverance. They had turned away from God's strength and guidance, opting instead for weak and ultimately destructive foreign aid and empty religious practices. This was happening during a time of looming Assyrian threat, making their misguided choices even more perilous.
Hosea 7 15 Word Analysis
- וְאֶתְ֒ (və’eṯ): "And" (conjunction) - links this statement to previous actions or descriptions, connecting their defiance to God's prior actions.
- יִסַּרְ֒ (yisár): "He instructed" (Hiphil, Qal verb stem, imperfect tense) - refers to God's repeated discipline and teaching.
- תְּמִימָה (təmīmáh): "Completeness" or "integrity" (noun) - This could refer to their overall spiritual condition or a state of integrity that was supposed to be God-given or maintained. In this context, it highlights the absence of true integrity in their actions. It can also refer to the completeness of the discipline God offered.
- וְאֹתָם (və’oṯám): "And them" (conjunction and pronoun) - pointing to the people of Israel.
- הֵכַחְתִּי (heḵaḵtī): "I strengthened" or "I made strong" (Hiphil verb, perfect tense) - emphasizing God's direct action in empowering them, whether militarily or otherwise, which they misused.
- בִּזְרֹעֹתָם (biżro‘oṯám): "In their arms" (preposition + plural noun) - refers to their physical strength, their capability to act, their power and ability.
- וְהֵם (vəhēm): "And they" (conjunction and pronoun) - introduces their contrary actions.
- יַעֲצ֥וּ (ya‘aṣū): "They devised" or "they consulted" (Qal verb, imperfect tense) - indicates their planning and deliberation.
- עָלַ֖י (‘álay): "Against me" (preposition and pronoun) - specifying the target of their plans, directly opposing God.
- רָעָֽה (ra‘á): "Evil" or "mischief" or "calamity" (noun) - describes the nature of their deliberations and actions, something harmful and wicked.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis
- "I instructed and strengthened their arms": This phrase emphasizes God's consistent efforts to guide, discipline, and empower Israel. The use of "arms" signifies their capacity for action and warfare, highlighting that their very strength and ability to defend or advance were provided or enabled by God.
- "They devised evil against me": This contrasts directly with God's benevolent actions. "Devised" implies a deliberate, plotted, and cunning intention. The "evil" they plotted was not merely against each other or earthly powers, but a direct rebellion against God himself.
Hosea 7 15 Bonus Section
The verse can be seen as a commentary on the human propensity to twist divine gifts towards self-serving and rebellious ends. God gave Israel the capacity to "arms" themselves, intending for this strength to be used in righteousness, perhaps in defense against enemies as a consequence of obedience. Instead, they directed this very capacity, this strength they possessed, towards plotting against the one who provided it. This highlights a tragic spiritual reality: the same abilities God grants can be corrupted and turned into instruments of rebellion, a concept seen also in the fall of Lucifer and in human history where great talents are used for wicked purposes. The "evil" they devised was not a sudden outburst, but a calculated conspiracy against God's person and plan for them.
Hosea 7 15 Commentary
This verse acts as a profound indictment of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness. God recounts His efforts to equip and sustain them, providing both instruction for right living and the strength to carry it out. Yet, instead of reciprocating with obedience and reliance on Him, they actively plotted "evil against me." This "evil" likely encompassed their idolatry, their political alliances with foreign nations like Egypt (which Hosea frequently condemns), and their general disregard for God's covenant. It's a statement of betrayal, where divine provision is met with malicious intent. The verse underscores the foolishness of seeking strength and security from any source other than the LORD, for any reliance that turns from God is ultimately destructive. It reveals a deep-seated rebellion not just of action, but of planning and intent.