Hosea 9 13

Hosea 9:13 kjv

Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

Hosea 9:13 nkjv

Just as I saw Ephraim like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place, So Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer."

Hosea 9:13 niv

I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer."

Hosea 9:13 esv

Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm planted in a meadow; but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.

Hosea 9:13 nlt

I have watched Israel become as beautiful as Tyre.
But now Israel will bring out her children for slaughter."

Hosea 9 verses

Hosea 9 13 Meaning

Hosea 9:13 foretells Israel's utter destruction and exile. They will be brought out and hunted, becoming utterly desolate and despised. The verse paints a picture of God's severe judgment upon His people for their unfaithfulness and idolatry. It signifies the finality of their punishment for persistent rebellion, resulting in their complete ruin.

Hosea 9 13 Context

Hosea's prophecy in chapter 9 describes the imminent and severe judgment of God upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim). The chapter focuses on the consequences of Israel's idolatry and their departure from God. They have pursued foreign gods, engaged in corrupt worship, and celebrated pagan festivals with lewdness. This particular verse, 9:13, directly addresses the people of Ephraim, confronting them with the reality of their apostasy and the inescapable judgment that awaits them. It serves as a stern warning about the outcome of their spiritual unfaithfulness, which has alienated them from God and alienated God from them in His active involvement for their good. The historical context is the period leading up to the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom.

Hosea 9 13 Word Analysis

• "O Ephraim" (וְאֶפְרַיִם - v'Ephraim): "O" expresses lament or an address. "Ephraim" refers to the most prominent tribe and, by extension, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, signifying their deep-rooted spiritual decay.
• "what have I to do with you?" (מַה־לִּי־וָלָךְ - mah-li-vālākh): This idiom expresses disassociation or separation. God is stating that because of their persistent sin, His close relationship with them is effectively severed; He has nothing further to do with them in terms of protection and blessing as before. It indicates a casting off.
• "you are a people forsaken" (עם־מְשׂוּבָה - 'am-mesuvah): "people" ('am) signifies the collective identity. "Forsaken" (mesuvah) comes from the root "to turn back" or "to apostatize." It describes them as a people who have turned away from God, and as a consequence, have been left or abandoned by Him, leading to their impending ruin. The implication is not that God has ceased to exist for them, but that He has withdrawn His active presence and favor.
• "they shall be taken" (יִלָּקְחוּ - yilākḥū): Future passive verb. They will be captured, seized, and carried away into exile. This is the consequence of their forsaking God.
• "unless indeed" / "but if" (כִּי־אִם־כִּי - ki-im-ki): A conditional phrase that is unusual here, suggesting a complex sentence structure in the original Hebrew. However, the prevalent understanding points to the inevitability of judgment given their state. Some translations render it simply as "but," emphasizing the stark reality of their situation. It's a forceful affirmation of doom.
• "I will cast them away" (אָנֹכִי־אֶשְׁלָכֵם - anōkhi-'esh'lākhēm): "I" (anokhi) emphasizes God as the active agent of their removal. "Cast them away" ('esh'lākhēm) denotes a deliberate and forceful rejection, like casting off something unwanted or a person discarded.
• "out of my sight" (מִלִּפְנֵימִמֶּנִּי - milliph'nēmimmi): From before Me. This indicates a complete removal from God's presence, a loss of divine favor and protection.

Word Groups Analysis

• "O Ephraim, what have I to do with you? you are a people forsaken." This phrase encapsulates God's sorrowful declaration of abandonment towards a covenant people who have irrevocably broken their commitment. It signals a judicial severing of the relational ties, due to Ephraim's active apostasy ('mesuvah').
• "they shall be taken unless indeed I will cast them away out of my sight." This portion emphasizes the inescapable doom awaiting them. Their capture and exile are not random but are the direct, God-ordained consequence of His decision to cast them away due to their turning from Him. The language highlights divine action in their destruction.

Hosea 9 13 Bonus Section

The imagery of God "casting away" a people echoes earlier covenantal pronouncements where conditional blessings and cursings were laid out. Their being "taken" into exile, losing their land and relationship with God’s immediate presence, fulfilled the negative aspects of the covenant when they failed to uphold their end. The chapter as a whole reveals that Israel’s devotion was shallow, oriented towards temporary alliances and pagan practices rather than a deep, abiding faith in the God who had delivered them from Egypt. Hosea’s ministry frequently confronts this superficial religiosity, contrasting it with the true devotion God requires.

Hosea 9 13 Commentary

Hosea 9:13 delivers a severe pronouncement from God directly to Ephraim, the representative nation of the Northern Kingdom. The Lord declares His dissociation from them, not because He is weak or indifferent, but because they have consistently turned away from Him ("forsaken," mesuvah). This spiritual whoredom and idolatry have placed them outside the bounds of His protective favor. The verse highlights that their future is not one of prosperity but of being seized and removed from God's sight. This "casting away" signifies a definitive judgment—exile. Their capture is the inevitable result of their apostasy. The emphasis on God as the active agent in their casting away underscores the severity of their disobedience. For those in covenant relationship with God, turning away from Him leads not to liberty but to a harsher, more absolute removal from His perceived presence. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God’s grace is conditional upon faithfulness; persistent sin results in removal and devastation, as the history of Israel tragically demonstrates.