Hosea 5:11

Ephraim [is] oppressed [and] broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

Ephraim {H669} is oppressed {H6231} and broken {H7533} in judgment {H4941}, because he willingly {H2974} walked {H1980} after {H310} the commandment {H6673}.

Efrayim is oppressed, crushed by the judgment, because he deliberately sought out futility.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; because he was content to walk after man’s command.

Hosea 5:11 delivers a stark message of divine judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often referred to as "Ephraim" in the prophetic books. The verse highlights the severe consequences of their persistent disobedience and idolatry, leading to their oppression and breaking.

Context

The prophet Hosea ministered to Israel during a period of great political instability and spiritual decline, just before their eventual conquest by Assyria. Chapters 4-6 specifically detail God's indictment against the people, their priests, and their leaders for widespread corruption, spiritual adultery, and a pervasive turning away from the Lord. Instead of seeking God, Israel had adopted pagan practices and relied on foreign alliances. The "commandment" mentioned here does not refer to God's holy law, but rather to man-made decrees, idolatrous practices, or the commands of foreign powers that led them astray from true worship. A prime example of such a "commandment" was the establishment of golden calves by Jeroboam I, designed to prevent people from worshipping in Jerusalem, which became a foundational sin for the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12:28-30).

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The verse powerfully illustrates that God does not ignore sin, especially the willful abandonment of His covenant. Ephraim's suffering is a direct result of their choices.
  • Idolatry and Rebellion: At the heart of Ephraim's breaking was their choice to follow human commands and pagan rituals over the clear directives of the Lord. This spiritual disloyalty is a recurring theme in Hosea's prophecy, often depicted as spiritual harlotry.
  • The Danger of Man-Made Religion: The phrase "walked after the commandment" serves as a solemn warning against creating or following religious practices that deviate from God's revealed will, no matter how politically or culturally convenient they may seem.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Ephraim" is often used synonymously with the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel, highlighting its prominence as the largest and most influential tribe. The Hebrew words for "oppressed" ('ashuq) and "broken" (ratsuts) convey a sense of being crushed, wronged, and severely damaged. This signifies not just a mild rebuke but a devastating, comprehensive judgment. The term "commandment" (Hebrew: tzav) is crucial here. While it can refer to a divine decree, in this negative context, it strongly implies a humanly ordained statute or idolatrous instruction that directly contradicted God's law, leading the people into sin and ultimately, destruction.

Practical Application

Hosea 5:11 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Discerning Truth from Tradition: We must constantly compare our beliefs and practices against the unchanging Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Human traditions, even those with religious veneer, can lead us astray if they contradict divine truth.
  • The Seriousness of Willful Disobedience: The verse underscores that there are real, often severe, consequences for knowingly choosing a path contrary to God's will. Ignoring or redefining God's commands leads to spiritual brokenness.
  • Call to Repentance: Like Ephraim, humanity is prone to stray. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the need for continuous self-examination and a willingness to return to God's ways when we realize we have walked after our own "commandments" rather than His (1 John 1:9).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 28:33

    The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

  • Micah 6:16

    For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

  • 1 Kings 12:26

    And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

  • 1 Kings 12:33

    So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

  • 2 Kings 15:29

    In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

  • Amos 5:11

    Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

  • Amos 5:12

    For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].

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