King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They return, but not upward; they are like an unreliable bow. Their leaders will die by the sword because of their angry talk. They will become a laughingstock in the land of Egypt.
Berean Standard Bible:
They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
American Standard Version:
They return, but not to him that is on 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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
They return{H7725}, but not to the most High{H5920}: they are like a deceitful{H7423} bow{H7198}: their princes{H8269} shall fall{H5307} by the sword{H2719} for the rage{H2195} of their tongue{H3956}: this{H2097} shall be their derision{H3933} in the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Hosea 9:3
- They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria.
Psalms 78:57
- But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Psalms 73:9
- They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Ezekiel 23:32
- Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.
Psalms 12:4
- Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?
Hosea 9:6
- For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant [places] for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns [shall be] in their tabernacles.
Hosea 11:7
- And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt [him].
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Commentary for Hosea 7:16
Hosea 7:16 is a verse from the Old Testament, specifically from the book of Hosea, who was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BCE. The verse forms part of a larger prophetic oracle against the apostasy and moral corruption of Israel. In this context, the verse addresses the spiritual infidelity of the Israelites, who, despite their outward actions of repentance, do not genuinely return to worship and obey the "most High," which is a reference to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
The metaphor of a "deceitful bow" suggests that the people's attempts at restoration or repentance are insincere and ineffective, much like a bow that fails to shoot arrows straight. This imagery conveys the idea that their religious practices and expressions of loyalty are superficial and unreliable.
Furthermore, the verse predicts divine judgment in the form of the downfall of their leaders ("their princes shall fall by the sword") as a consequence of their sinful behavior. The "rage of their tongue" may refer to the harmful speech, perhaps false oaths or blasphemy, that has characterized the rulers and people of Israel. This conduct invites disaster, and the verse suggests that their fate will be so severe that it will become a subject of mockery, particularly in Egypt, which was a historical adversary and sometimes ally of Israel.
The mention of Egypt could also imply that the Israelites might seek refuge or assistance from Egypt in their time of crisis, only to find themselves objects of ridicule there. This would be a bitter irony, as Egypt was traditionally a place from which the Israelites were delivered (in the Exodus) and was often seen as a symbol of oppression and backsliding.
In summary, Hosea 7:16 condemns the insincere repentance of the Israelites, warns of the impending doom of their leaders due to their sinful speech, and foreshadows the nation's humiliation, possibly in the context of seeking help from Egypt, which will ultimately fail to save them from the consequences of their spiritual unfaithfulness. This verse reflects the broader themes of the book of Hosea, which include the call to genuine repentance, the faithfulness of God despite His people's unfaithfulness, and the seriousness of covenant infidelity.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H5920
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַל
Transliteration: ʻal
Pronunciation: al
Description: from עָלָה; properly, the top; specifically, the highest (i.e. God); also (adverb) aloft, to Jehovah; above, high, most High. - Strong's Number: H7423
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְמִיָּה
Transliteration: rᵉmîyâh
Pronunciation: rem-ee-yaw'
Description: from רָמָה; remissness, treachery; deceit(-ful, -fully), false, guile, idle, slack, slothful. - Strong's Number: H7198
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶשֶׁת
Transliteration: qesheth
Pronunciation: keh'-sheth
Description: from קָשָׁה in the original sense (of קוֹשׁ) of bending; a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris; [idiom] arch(-er), [phrase] arrow, bow(-man, -shot). - Strong's Number: H8269
There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׂר
Transliteration: sar
Pronunciation: sar
Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward. - Strong's Number: H5307
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַל
Transliteration: nâphal
Pronunciation: naw-fal'
Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. - Strong's Number: H2195
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זַעַם
Transliteration: zaʻam
Pronunciation: zah'-am
Description: from זָעַם; strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin); angry, indignation, rage. - Strong's Number: H3956
There are 115 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָשׁוֹן
Transliteration: lâshôwn
Pronunciation: law-shone'
Description: or לָשֹׁן; also (in plural) feminine לְשֹׁנָה; from לָשַׁן; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water); [phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge. - Strong's Number: H2097
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זוֹ
Transliteration: zôw
Pronunciation: zo
Description: for זֶה; this or that; that, this. - Strong's Number: H3933
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַעַג
Transliteration: laʻag
Pronunciation: lah'-ag
Description: from לָעַג; derision, scoffing; derision, scorn (-ing). - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H4714
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
Transliteration: Mitsrayim
Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.