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