Hosea 10:13

KJV

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye have plowed {H2790} wickedness {H7562}, ye have reaped {H7114} iniquity {H5766}; ye have eaten {H398} the fruit {H6529} of lies {H3585}: because thou didst trust {H982} in thy way {H1870}, in the multitude {H7230} of thy mighty men {H1368}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You have plowed wickedness, reaped iniquity and eaten the fruit of lies. Because you trusted in your own way, in your large numbers of warriors,

Berean Standard Bible

You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,

American Standard Version

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 10:13 powerfully condemns the Northern Kingdom of Israel for its pervasive spiritual and moral corruption, illustrating the inescapable consequences of their actions through vivid agricultural metaphors. The nation had intentionally cultivated wickedness, inevitably reaping a harvest of iniquity and suffering the bitter results of their self-deception and false dependencies. Their downfall stemmed from a fundamental misplaced trust, relying on human strategies and military might rather than on the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 10:13 is situated within a broader prophetic lament and judgment against Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom of Israel) for its persistent apostasy and covenant infidelity. The preceding verses (Hosea 10:1-12) detail Israel's flourishing prosperity leading to increased idolatry, their divided heart, and their reliance on human kings and military power rather than God. The agricultural imagery, prominent throughout Hosea, culminates in this verse, contrasting the desired harvest of righteousness with the bitter fruit of their sin. The verses immediately following (Hosea 10:14-15) pronounce the impending judgment, including the destruction of their fortresses and the slaughter of their people, directly linking these calamities to the "fruit of lies" described in verse 13.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hosea prophesied during a tumultuous period in the Northern Kingdom, marked by political instability, assassinations of kings, and a constant shifting of alliances with regional powers like Assyria and Egypt. This era was characterized by widespread syncretism, where the worship of Yahweh was blended with Canaanite Baal worship, leading to moral decay, social injustice, and a disregard for God's covenant laws. The agrarian society of ancient Israel would have readily understood the metaphors of plowing, sowing, and reaping, making the spiritual consequences of their actions profoundly clear. Their "trust in thy way" and "multitude of thy mighty men" directly reflects their attempts to secure themselves through political maneuvering and military strength rather than through faithfulness to God, a common temptation for nations facing powerful empires.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several core themes prevalent in the book of Hosea and the broader prophetic tradition. It highlights the **law of sowing and reaping**, emphasizing that actions inevitably yield corresponding consequences, a principle foundational to divine justice. It underscores the danger of **misplaced trust**, showing Israel's fatal error in relying on human strength and political alliances rather than on God, a theme echoed in [Psalm 20:7](/psalm/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Lord"). The verse also speaks to **covenant infidelity** and **spiritual adultery**, as Israel's "wickedness" and "lies" are direct violations of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, leading to the "fruit of lies" as a bitter harvest. Ultimately, it foreshadows the **divine judgment** that will inevitably fall upon a nation that persistently rejects God's righteous path for its own self-devised "way."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **plowed (Hebrew, _chârash'_):** This verb (H2790) signifies "to scratch," "to engrave," or "to plough." Figuratively, it means "to devise" or "to fabricate," often in a bad sense. In the context of "plowing wickedness," it conveys a deliberate, intentional, and systematic cultivation of evil. It's not accidental sin, but a prepared ground for unrighteousness, suggesting a premeditated and sustained engagement in sinful practices.
* **lies (Hebrew, _kachash'_):** The noun (H3585) literally denotes "a failure of flesh" or "emaciation," but figuratively it means "hypocrisy" or "falsehood." When Israel eats "the fruit of lies," it refers to the bitter, deceptive, and ultimately destructive outcomes of their unfaithfulness, idolatry, and reliance on false gods or deceptive political strategies. It signifies the emptiness and ruin that result from living a life built on deceit and spiritual falsehood.
* **trust (Hebrew, _bâṭach'_):** This primitive root (H982) means "to hide for refuge," and figuratively, "to be confident" or "sure." When Israel "didst trust in thy way," it indicates their misplaced confidence and security. Instead of finding refuge and assurance in God, they placed their faith in their own self-devised paths, human wisdom, and worldly power, which proved to be a false and ultimately destructive refuge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye have plowed wickedness":** This clause uses agricultural imagery to depict Israel's deliberate and systematic cultivation of sin. Just as a farmer prepares the ground for planting, Israel had actively prepared the conditions for evil to flourish in their society through their choices, policies, and spiritual practices. This wasn't passive sin but an intentional engagement in unrighteousness.
* **"ye have reaped iniquity":** This is the direct consequence of the previous action. The "iniquity" (H5766, moral evil, perverseness) is the inevitable harvest of the "wickedness" (H7562, wrong, moral evil) they had sown. It highlights the principle of divine justice, where actions yield corresponding results. Their unrighteous deeds had brought forth a bitter and corrupt harvest upon themselves.
* **"ye have eaten the fruit of lies":** This phrase further emphasizes the bitter outcome of their deceptive and unfaithful ways. The "fruit" (H6529, reward, outcome) of their "lies" (H3585, falsehood, hypocrisy) suggests that the consequences they faced were directly linked to their spiritual deception, idolatry, and reliance on false promises or alliances. They consumed the bitter results of their own self-deception and unfaithfulness.
* **"because thou didst trust in thy way":** This clause reveals the root cause of their downfall. Israel had placed their confidence and security in their own self-determined path, their own wisdom, and their own strategies, rather than seeking and following God's guidance. Their "way" (H1870, course of life, mode of action) was independent of God's covenant commands.
* **"in the multitude of thy mighty men":** This specifies another object of their misplaced trust: their military strength and human power. Instead of relying on God for protection and deliverance, they trusted in their numerous warriors and alliances, believing their own might would secure them. This reliance on human strength over divine power was a recurring sin for Israel.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 10:13 is rich in **Metaphor**, primarily employing agricultural imagery to convey spiritual truths. The actions of "plowing wickedness," "reaping iniquity," and "eating the fruit of lies" transform the familiar farming cycle into a powerful depiction of moral cause and effect. This sustained agricultural metaphor makes the abstract concept of sin's consequences tangible and relatable to an agrarian society. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Parallelism**, especially in the first two clauses ("Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity"), where the second clause reinforces and completes the idea of the first, emphasizing the direct and inevitable link between sowing evil and harvesting its bitter fruit. The entire verse also functions as a clear example of **Cause and Effect**, explicitly stating that Israel's negative outcomes ("reaped iniquity," "eaten the fruit of lies") are a direct result of their misplaced trust ("because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men").

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 10:13 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle of divine justice and the inescapable consequences of human action. It underscores that God's moral order ensures that what is sown will be reaped, whether for good or ill. Israel's intentional cultivation of sin and their reliance on human strength rather than divine faithfulness led them to a bitter harvest, demonstrating that true security and flourishing come only from covenant fidelity to God. This passage serves as a timeless warning against self-reliance and misplaced trust, reminding us that any foundation built apart from God's truth and guidance will ultimately yield ruin.

* [Job 4:8](/job/4-8 "Job 4:8 - Those who plow wickedness reap trouble")
* [Galatians 6:7-8](/galatians/6-7-8 "Galatians 6:7-8 - Sowing and Reaping in the Spirit and Flesh")
* [Proverbs 1:31](/proverbs/1-31 "Proverbs 1:31 - Eating the fruit of their own way")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 10:13 serves as a sober and timeless mirror for individuals and communities today. It compels us to critically examine the "ground" of our lives: What are we intentionally cultivating through our thoughts, words, and actions? Are we "plowing wickedness" by harboring bitterness, engaging in deceit, pursuing selfish ambitions, or neglecting justice? The verse reminds us that there is an inevitable "reaping" for every "sowing," and the "fruit" we consume will reflect the "seeds" we plant. Furthermore, this passage challenges the objects of our trust. In a world that often champions self-reliance, personal strength, and material security, Hosea's indictment of Israel's misplaced trust in their "way" and "mighty men" resonates powerfully. Do we place our ultimate confidence in our careers, financial stability, social influence, or personal abilities, or do we truly trust in the sovereign power and faithful provision of God? True peace, stability, and a harvest of righteousness come only when our trust is firmly rooted in the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "seeds" of thought, word, and action am I currently "plowing" in my life, and what kind of "harvest" might they produce?**
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to "trust in my own way" or rely on my own "mighty men" (resources, connections, abilities) instead of God?**
* **How can I actively cultivate "righteousness" and "truth" in my daily life to ensure a spiritual harvest that honors God?**

### FAQ

**What does "plowed wickedness" specifically mean in this context?**

Answer: "Plowed wickedness" is a powerful agricultural metaphor indicating the deliberate and systematic cultivation of evil. Just as a farmer prepares the soil for planting, Israel had intentionally created conditions and engaged in practices that fostered sin. This wasn't accidental or passive wrongdoing, but a conscious and sustained effort to pursue unrighteousness, idolatry, and injustice, preparing the ground for a bitter harvest. It speaks to a deep-seated spiritual corruption that permeated their society and choices, as seen throughout [Hosea](/hosea/1 "The Book of Hosea").

**How does the principle of "sowing and reaping" apply to us today?**

Answer: The principle of "sowing and reaping" is a universal spiritual law, profoundly articulated in [Galatians 6:7-8](/galatians/6-7-8 "Galatians 6:7-8 - Sowing and Reaping in the Spirit and Flesh"). It means that our actions, choices, and attitudes (what we "sow") will inevitably produce corresponding consequences (what we "reap"). If we sow righteousness, kindness, and truth, we can expect a harvest of good outcomes. Conversely, if we sow wickedness, deceit, and selfishness, we will reap negative and destructive results. This applies to individual lives, families, communities, and nations, underscoring God's moral order and justice.

**What was Israel's "way" that they trusted in, and why was it wrong?**

Answer: Israel's "way" refers to their self-devised path, their chosen mode of life and action that deviated from God's covenant commands. This included their pursuit of idolatry, their reliance on foreign alliances for security, their political maneuvering, and their trust in their own military might ("multitude of thy mighty men") rather than in Yahweh. It was wrong because it represented a rejection of God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Instead of walking in obedience to His law and trusting in His divine protection, they sought human solutions and false gods, which ultimately led to their downfall and judgment, as highlighted in [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalm/33-16-17 "Psalm 33:16-17 - No king is saved by the multitude of an army").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 10:13, though a stark indictment of Israel's sin and misplaced trust, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Israel "plowed wickedness" and "reaped iniquity," bearing the bitter "fruit of lies" because they trusted in their own way and strength. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ is the one who perfectly "sowed righteousness" throughout His earthly life, living in complete obedience to the Father's "way" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). He did not trust in "mighty men" or worldly power, but entirely in God ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Matthew 4:1-11 - The Temptation of Jesus")). More profoundly, Christ, though sinless, became the ultimate "reaper" of our iniquity and "ate the fruit of lies" on our behalf, bearing the full consequences of humanity's sin and misplaced trust on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ became sin for us")). Through His death and resurrection, He broke the cycle of sowing wickedness and reaping death, offering a new "way" where those who trust in Him can "sow to the Spirit" and "reap eternal life" ([Galatians 6:8](/galatians/6-8 "Galatians 6:8 - Sowing to the Spirit")). Thus, the judgment foreshadowed for Israel's sin points to the saving work of Christ, who alone provides the true foundation for trust and the means to yield a harvest of righteousness.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 4:8

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:8

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Psalms 33:16

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

Hosea 8:7

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Proverbs 1:31

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Proverbs 22:8

¶ He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.