Hosea 5:5

And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

And the pride {H1347} of Israel {H3478} doth testify {H6030} to his face {H6440}: therefore shall Israel {H3478} and Ephraim {H669} fall {H3782} in their iniquity {H5771}; Judah {H3063} also shall fall {H3782} with them.

Isra'el's arrogance will testify in his face; Isra'el and Efrayim will stumble in their crimes; Y'hudah too will stumble with them.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.

And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in their iniquity; Judah also shall stumble with them.

Hosea 5:5 delivers a stern prophetic warning, primarily directed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to by the name of its leading tribe, Ephraim), but also encompassing the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The verse highlights the undeniable evidence of their spiritual decline and foretells their impending judgment due to their persistent sin and arrogant self-reliance.

Context

The prophet Hosea ministered in the 8th century BC, a tumultuous period leading up to the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom. Throughout the book, Hosea vividly portrays Israel's spiritual adultery – their abandonment of covenant fidelity to Yahweh in favor of idolatry, political alliances, and moral decay. This verse specifically addresses the deep-seated pride that characterized both kingdoms. The phrase "Israel and Ephraim" refers to the ten northern tribes who had separated from Judah, establishing their own kings and centers of worship, notably at Bethel and Dan. While Judah, the Southern Kingdom, often maintained a more consistent, albeit imperfect, relationship with God, this verse warns that even Judah would not escape the consequences of shared iniquity and a similar spirit of rebellion, particularly as they adopted some of the Northern Kingdom's corrupt practices.

Key Themes

  • The Destructive Nature of Pride: The verse directly states that "the pride of Israel doth testify to his face." This isn't merely a character flaw but a pervasive spiritual condition that blinded them to their sin and God's impending judgment. This haughtiness prevented repentance and led to their downfall.
  • Inescapable Consequences of Iniquity: The phrase "fall in their iniquity" underscores the direct link between their sin and their impending collapse. God's judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to their persistent rebellion and spiritual infidelity.
  • Universal Application of Justice: The inclusion of "Judah also shall fall with them" demonstrates that God's justice is not limited to one kingdom or group. While Judah's ultimate judgment would come later at the hands of Babylon, this verse serves as an early warning that shared sin would lead to shared consequences, emphasizing that God holds all His people accountable.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pride" here is ga'on (גָּאוֹן), which can carry a range of meanings from majesty and excellence (often used positively for God's glory) to arrogance and haughtiness when applied to humans. In this context, it clearly signifies a negative, self-exalting pride that prevented Israel from acknowledging their sin or seeking God. The phrase "testify to his face" implies that their arrogance was so blatant and pervasive that it served as its own damning witness, a clear and undeniable indictment visible to all, including God Himself.

Practical Application

Hosea 5:5 serves as a timeless reminder of the dangers of spiritual pride and self-sufficiency. For believers today, it highlights the importance of humility before God and a willingness to acknowledge our sins and repent. When we allow pride to dictate our actions or worldview, we risk becoming blind to our spiritual condition and inviting divine correction. The verse also underscores that God's standards of righteousness and justice apply universally. We are called to live in humility, seeking God's will and recognizing that persistent sin, unrepented, leads to inevitable consequences, just as it did for ancient Israel and Judah. Cultivating a spirit of humility and dependence on God is essential for spiritual well-being and avoiding the pitfalls of arrogance.

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 7:10

    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.

  • Ezekiel 23:31

    Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.

  • Ezekiel 23:35

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

  • Amos 5:2

    The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up.

  • Hosea 5:14

    For I [will be] unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, [even] I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue [him].

  • Hosea 8:14

    For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

  • Proverbs 11:21

    ¶ [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

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