Hosea 9:3 kjv
They shall not dwell in the LORD's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
Hosea 9:3 nkjv
They shall not dwell in the LORD's land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
Hosea 9:3 niv
They will not remain in the LORD's land; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
Hosea 9:3 esv
They shall not remain in the land of the LORD, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.
Hosea 9:3 nlt
You may no longer stay here in the LORD's land.
Instead, you will return to Egypt,
and in Assyria you will eat food
that is ceremonially unclean.
Hosea 9 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hos 9:3 | They shall not return into Egypt; but Assyria, shall be their king... | Hos 9:3 |
| Hos 11:5 | He shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king... | Hos 11:5 |
| Jer 2:16, 18 | Also Lebanon shall be your shame... and thy way is to go for the Egyptians... | Jer 2:16, 18 |
| Jer 44:12-14 | They shall not return... But a small number that escaped the sword shall return... | Jer 44:12-14 |
| Isa 7:17 | The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house... | Isa 7:17 |
| Isa 30:2-3 | For the strength of Pharaoh shall be your confusion, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your shame. | Isa 30:2-3 |
| Jer 37:7-8 | Thus says the LORD... Pharaoh's army which is come forth to help you... shall return to Egypt. | Jer 37:7-8 |
| Mic 7:15 | According to the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. | Mic 7:15 |
| Ps 78:42-43 | They remembered not his hand, nor the day that he redeemed them from the enemy. When he also wrought his signs in Egypt... | Ps 78:42-43 |
| Deut 28:68 | And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen... | Deut 28:68 |
| Lev 26:33 | And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you... | Lev 26:33 |
| 2 Kin 17:4-6 | But if his princes could not be found, then he returned... For he took Samaria and carried Israel away unto Assyria... | 2 Kin 17:4-6 |
| Jer 22:10 | Weep ye not for the dead, neither bewail him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall no more return to see his native country. | Jer 22:10 |
| John 8:33-34 | They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? | John 8:33-34 |
| Rom 6:20 | For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. | Rom 6:20 |
| Gal 5:1 | Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. | Gal 5:1 |
| Ex 14:13 | And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD... | Ex 14:13 |
| Num 20:16 | And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: | Num 20:16 |
| Neh 9:9 | And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; | Neh 9:9 |
| Jer 43:7 | So they came into the land of Egypt: for they were disobedient unto the voice of the LORD: and they came even unto Tahpanhes. | Jer 43:7 |
Hosea 9 verses
Hosea 9 3 Meaning
Hosea 9:3 declares the inevitable consequence of Israel's idolatry and unfaithfulness: their return to Egypt, a symbol of bondage and spiritual exile, rather than their promised land. This signifies a reversal of God's intended plan and a painful but just consequence for their chosen path.
Hosea 9 3 Context
Hosea 9 addresses the impending judgment on Israel, particularly the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria). The chapter emphasizes the consequence of their deep-seated idolatry and covenant betrayal. Specifically, verse 3 speaks to the forced exile and scattering of the people, a stark contrast to God's past deliverance. They will not return to Egypt, the land from which God had once liberated them with great power, symbolizing their lost opportunity for repentance and return to the promised land. Instead, they will face Assyria, the instrument of their judgment, a foreign oppressor. This verse is part of a broader lament over Israel's sin and impending doom.
Hosea 9 3 Word Analysis
- "They shall not return": ( Hebrew: וְשָׁב לֹא ) - veShav lo. Indicates an impossibility or a denial of return. This signifies the forfeiture of their ability to go back to their familiar place of past affliction and also their inability to return to their current land as a redeemed people.
- "into Egypt": ( Hebrew: מִצְרָיִמָה ) - Mitzraimah. Egypt represents a place of bondage, slavery, and historical divine intervention for Israel’s salvation. The negation of their return here underscores the finality of their exile from the land of promise.
- "but Assyria": ( Hebrew: אַשּׁוּר ) - Ashur. Assyria represents the great empire of the time, known for its military might and brutal conquest. It becomes the symbol of their future oppressor, replacing Egypt.
- "shall be their king": ( Hebrew: מַלְכֵּ֣הֶם ה֣וּא ) - Malkhem hu. This phrase highlights the loss of true kingship under Yahweh and the imposition of a foreign, oppressive ruler. The possessive "their king" emphasizes that this foreign rule is directly linked to their own actions.
Hosea 9 3 Bonus Section
The reference to Egypt is significant as it evokes the Exodus narrative, God's foundational act of redemption for Israel. Their inability to return to Egypt is not a blessing in this context, but rather a denial of the possibility of revisiting even the starting point of their journey with God, due to their current apostasy. Assyria's rise as their "king" points to the disintegration of their sovereignty and their replacement by a foreign, idolatrous power, reflecting their own internal spiritual capitulation to foreign deities. The ultimate irony is that the very "strength" and "trust" they placed in alliances, perhaps even with Egypt, would ultimately lead them to the harsher reality of Assyrian captivity, as highlighted in other prophetic texts.
Hosea 9 3 Commentary
Hosea 9:3 pronounces a profound reversal for Israel. Having turned away from Yahweh, their liberation from Egypt, a central event in their history and theology, will be nullified in terms of its ultimate meaning. They will not go back to Egypt as those experiencing God’s past favor, nor will they return to their own land as a penitent nation. Instead, their destination and future will be under the iron fist of Assyria. This Assyrian kingship signifies not just political subjugation but a spiritual dethronement, a consequence of their worship of foreign gods. The verse starkly contrasts God’s past gracious deliverance with the future harsh subjugation due to Israel’s chosen sin. Their hope for the future was tied to covenant faithfulness, which they broke, leading to this grim prophecy.