Hosea 7
Lutheran reading notes
In Hosea chapter 7, the prophetic message develops the theme of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s enduring covenant love. Lutheran interpretation often highlights the contrast between divine judgment against sin and the promise of grace that God provides for those who trust in Him.
1
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, {and} the troop of robbers spoileth without. {wickedness: Heb. evils} {spoileth: Heb. strippeth}
Hosea 7:1 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And they consider not in their hearts {that} I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. {consider...: Heb. say not to}
Hosea 7:2 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
Hosea 7:3 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
They {are} all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, {who} ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. {who...: or, the raiser will cease} {raising: or, waking}
Hosea 7:4 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
In the day of our king the princes have made {him} sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. {bottles...: or, heat through wine}
Hosea 7:5 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. {made...: or, applied}
Hosea 7:6 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: {there is} none among them that calleth unto me.
Hosea 7:7 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
Hosea 7:8 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth {it} not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. {here...: Heb. sprinkled}
Hosea 7:9 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
Hosea 7:10 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Hosea 7:11 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
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 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. {destruction: Heb. spoil}
Hosea 7:13 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, {and} they rebel against me.
Hosea 7:14 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Though I have bound {and} strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. {have...: or, chastened}
Hosea 7:15 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
They return, {but} not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this {shall be} their derision in the land of Egypt.
Hosea 7:16 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.