Hosea 5:13

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

When Ephraim {H669} saw {H7200} his sickness {H2483}, and Judah {H3063} saw his wound {H4205}, then went {H3212} Ephraim {H669} to the Assyrian {H804}, and sent {H7971} to king {H4428} Jareb {H3377}{H7378}: yet could {H3201} he not heal {H7495} you, nor cure {H1455} you of your wound {H4205}.

When Efrayim saw his sickness and Y'hudah his wound, Efrayim went to Ashur and sent envoys to a warring king; but he can't heal you or cure your wound.

When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

Hosea 5:13 delivers a powerful indictment against the kingdoms of Israel (represented by Ephraim) and Judah for their spiritual and political failings. The verse highlights their desperate, yet misguided, attempts to find healing and security outside of God.

Context of Hosea 5:13

The prophet Hosea ministered during a tumultuous period in the 8th century BC, primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) before its fall to Assyria. His message consistently rebuked Israel for its spiritual adultery—turning away from Yahweh to worship idols and seek foreign alliances. Chapter 5 specifically details God's judgment against the priests, the people, and the royal house for their corruption and unfaithfulness. The "sickness" and "wound" refer to their deep-seated spiritual decay and the national calamities resulting from their sin, including internal strife and external threats.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Misplaced Trust: The primary theme is the kingdoms' fatal error in seeking human solutions to spiritual problems. Instead of repenting and returning to God, Ephraim turned to the powerful Assyrian Empire, personified by "king Jareb," likely an Assyrian monarch like Tiglath-Pileser III or a title meaning "the great warrior king." This act demonstrates a profound lack of faith in God's ability to protect and restore them. For a similar warning against relying on human strength, see Isaiah 31:1.
  • Futility of Earthly Alliances: The verse explicitly states, "yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound." This emphasizes that political maneuvering and foreign aid are utterly useless when dealing with divine judgment and spiritual sickness. Only God can truly heal and restore His people. This contrasts sharply with God's promise to heal those who turn to Him (Jeremiah 3:22).
  • Spiritual Adultery: The act of seeking help from Assyria instead of Yahweh is a manifestation of the spiritual adultery that pervades Hosea's prophecy. It symbolizes a betrayal of the covenant relationship with God, akin to a spouse seeking comfort from a stranger.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Jareb" (יָרֵב, yareb) is debated among scholars. It could be a proper name, or it might be a derogatory Hebrew term meaning "contentious" or "one who contends," perhaps mocking the Assyrian king as a "king of contention" or "the great king" who brings strife. This ambiguity underscores the prophet's sarcastic tone towards their misguided alliance.

Practical Application

Hosea 5:13 serves as a timeless warning for individuals and nations. When faced with difficulties—whether personal struggles, national crises, or spiritual maladies—our first instinct should be to turn to God, not to rely solely on human wisdom, political power, or material resources. Seeking solutions in worldly alliances or self-help strategies without acknowledging God's sovereignty is ultimately futile. True healing, restoration, and lasting security come only from repentance and faithful reliance on the Lord. We are called to humble ourselves and seek God's face, trusting in His divine power to heal our wounds, both spiritual and physical.

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.

  • Hosea 7:11

    Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

  • Hosea 12:1

    ¶ Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

  • Hosea 10:6

    It shall be also carried unto Assyria [for] a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

  • Jeremiah 30:12

    For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise [is] incurable, [and] thy wound [is] grievous.

  • Hosea 8:9

    For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

  • 2 Kings 15:19

    [And] Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

  • Jeremiah 30:14

    All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; [because] thy sins were increased.

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