Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

Woe {H188} unto them! for they have fled {H5074} from me: destruction {H7701} unto them! because they have transgressed {H6586} against me: though I have redeemed {H6299} them, yet they have spoken {H1696} lies {H3577} against me.

Woe to them! for they have strayed from me. Destruction to them! for they have wronged me. Am I supposed to redeem them, when they have spoken lies against me?

Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me.

Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have trespassed against me: though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

Hosea 7:13 delivers a stern prophetic warning from God concerning the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). The verse encapsulates God's grief and righteous anger over His people's profound unfaithfulness despite His steadfast love and redemptive acts.

Context

The book of Hosea is a powerful narrative of God's unwavering love for an unfaithful Israel, portrayed through Hosea's own marriage to an unfaithful wife. Chapter 7 specifically details Israel's deep moral and spiritual corruption, illustrating their reliance on foreign alliances rather than God, their political instability, and pervasive idolatry. This verse comes amidst a series of denunciations against their deceit, hypocrisy, and turning away from the Lord, leading to inevitable judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Warning: The repeated phrase "Woe unto them!" and "destruction unto them!" signifies God's pronouncement of severe consequences for Israel's actions. It's a lamentation over their self-inflicted ruin.
  • Israel's Rebellion and Apostasy: "They have fled from me" and "they have transgressed against me" highlight Israel's deliberate turning away from the covenant relationship with God. This was not merely a mistake but a conscious act of rebellion against their sovereign.
  • God's Unrequited Redemption: The poignant phrase "though I have redeemed them" underscores God's prior acts of salvation and deliverance, most notably their liberation from Egyptian bondage and His continued care. This emphasizes the depth of their ingratitude and treachery.
  • Deceit and Falsehood: "Yet they have spoken lies against me" refers to Israel's idolatry, false worship, and broken covenant promises. They effectively denied God's truth and character by their actions, embracing falsehoods and false gods. This spiritual deceit was a direct affront to the God who had redeemed them.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "woe" is hoy (הוֹי), a strong interjection expressing lament, grief, and a pronouncement of impending doom. "Transgressed" comes from the root pasha' (פָּשַׁע), which means to rebel, revolt, or deliberately break a covenant, emphasizing the severe nature of Israel's sin. "Spoken lies" (from kashab, כָּזַב) conveys the idea of being false, treacherous, or deceitful, specifically in their relationship with God.

Practical Application

Hosea 7:13 serves as a timeless warning for all who claim to follow God. It reminds us that:

  • God's Redemption Demands Loyalty: Our salvation and blessings from God are not licenses for disobedience but call for a deeper commitment and faithfulness. We are called to respond to God's grace with genuine devotion, not hypocrisy or rebellion.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: Turning away from God, whether through direct rebellion, idolatry (placing anything before God), or living a life of deceit, inevitably leads to spiritual and often tangible consequences.
  • Truth vs. Falsehood: We must constantly examine whether our words and actions truly align with God's truth, or if we are, in essence, "speaking lies" against Him by our conduct or beliefs. This includes recognizing and resisting contemporary forms of idolatry and spiritual compromise. Just as Israel was called to remember God's faithfulness, believers today are called to put away falsehood and speak truth.

This verse powerfully illustrates God's sorrow over His people's rejection, even as He announces the just repercussions for their persistent unfaithfulness.

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 9:12

    Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, [that there shall] not [be] a man [left]: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
  • Hosea 11:12

    Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
  • Jeremiah 14:10

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
  • Jonah 1:10

    Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
  • Ezekiel 16:23

    And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord GOD;)
  • Isaiah 41:14

    Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
  • Matthew 23:37

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

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