TRV
Hosea 5:9
Bible Versions
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
Efrayim will be laid waste when the day for punishment comes; I am announcing to the tribes of Isra'el what will surely happen.
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
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Hosea 9:11
¶ [As for] Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. -
Hosea 9:17
My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. -
Zechariah 1:6
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us. -
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: -
Isaiah 28:1
¶ Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! -
Isaiah 28:4
And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit before the summer; which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. -
Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Hosea 5:9 delivers a stark prophetic warning concerning the Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly focusing on Ephraim, its most prominent tribe.
Context of Hosea 5:9
The prophet Hosea ministered to Israel (the Northern Kingdom) during a period of significant spiritual decline and political instability, prior to the Assyrian invasion. The book of Hosea frequently uses the metaphor of Israel as an unfaithful wife, a harlot, who has turned away from her covenant relationship with God to pursue idolatry and foreign alliances. Here, "Ephraim" serves as a representative name for the entire northern kingdom, highlighting its leadership in apostasy. The "day of rebuke" points to the impending divine judgment and the devastating consequences of their persistent sin, which ultimately led to their exile by the Assyrians in 722 BC (see 2 Kings 17:6).
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "desolate" is shammah (שַׁמָּה), which conveys a sense of ruin, astonishment, and horror. It describes a land laid waste and a people brought to utter despair. The term "rebuke" comes from tokhachat (תּוֹכַחַת), implying correction, chastisement, or reproof. This isn't arbitrary punishment but a just response to their persistent rebellion and spiritual harlotry.
Practical Application
Hosea 5:9 serves as a timeless reminder that God's warnings are not idle threats but declarations of what will "surely be" if His people persist in disobedience. For believers today, this verse highlights the importance of heeding God's word and living in obedience to His commands. It underscores the truth that while God is merciful, He is also just, and there are consequences for spiritual complacency and turning away from Him. It also reminds us of God's faithfulness to His word, whether in judgment or in promises of restoration (Isaiah 55:11). We are called to learn from the past and remain steadfast in our covenant relationship with Him, trusting in His guidance and seeking His will.