Hosea 7:14

KJV

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they have not cried {H2199} unto me with their heart {H3820}, when they howled {H3213} upon their beds {H4904}: they assemble {H1481} themselves for corn {H1715} and wine {H8492}, and they rebel {H5493} against me.

Complete Jewish Bible

They have not cried out to me from their hearts, even though they wail on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and wine, yet turn away from me.

Berean Standard Bible

They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.

American Standard Version

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 7:14 powerfully critiques the spiritual hypocrisy of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, revealing a people whose cries of distress were superficial and self-serving, lacking genuine heartfelt repentance towards God. Despite their outward laments during times of suffering, their true focus remained on securing material provisions like "corn and wine," demonstrating a profound rebellion against the Lord and a persistent prioritization of earthly comforts over a sincere relationship with their divine covenant partner.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 7 is situated within a larger prophetic indictment against Israel (Ephraim) for its pervasive unfaithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh. The preceding verses (Hosea 7:1-10) vividly portray Israel's moral corruption, political instability, and spiritual adultery, likening them to a "heated oven" or "a cake not turned." The nation's leaders are depicted as consumed by lust and violence, while the people are spiritually blind, not recognizing God's hand in their afflictions. Verse 14 specifically delves into the *nature* of their response to these afflictions, exposing the hollowness of their cries and prayers, which are not directed to God with sincerity. This verse sets the stage for the subsequent condemnation of their reliance on foreign alliances (Hosea 7:11-13) and their continued defiance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Hosea ministered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the turbulent 8th century BC, a period marked by political assassinations, rapid succession of kings, and increasing pressure from the rising Assyrian Empire. Internally, Israel was plagued by idolatry, social injustice, and a general abandonment of Mosaic Law. Culturally, "howling upon their beds" could refer to private laments for personal suffering (perhaps from illness or famine), or even pagan mourning rituals performed in seclusion, rather than seeking the Lord in the temple or through genuine repentance. Their "assembling for corn and wine" underscores their focus on basic sustenance and prosperity, which they might have sought through pagan fertility rites (e.g., Baal worship) or through desperate, self-serving political maneuvers, rather than trusting in God's provision and covenant promises.
* **Key Themes:** Hosea 7:14 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book. Foremost is the theme of **Superficiality vs. Sincerity**, highlighting God's desire for a genuine, heartfelt relationship over outward displays of piety or distress that lack true repentance. The people's "howling" without crying "with their heart" exemplifies this spiritual disconnect, a theme echoed in Isaiah's critique of [lip service over heart service](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Lip Service, Not Heart Service"). Another crucial theme is **Misplaced Trust and Priorities**, as Israel prioritizes "corn and wine" and earthly solutions over seeking God's intervention and forgiveness. This reflects their persistent **Covenant Unfaithfulness and Rebellion**, a core accusation throughout Hosea, where Israel's actions consistently violate their sacred bond with Yahweh, despite His enduring love and pursuit, as seen in the book's overarching metaphor of God as a faithful husband to an adulterous wife. Ultimately, the verse underscores God's **Desire for True Repentance**, a call for a return to Him with their whole being, as emphasized in passages like [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Seek Me With All Your Heart").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried (Hebrew, _zâʻaq'_):** This primitive root means "to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly." In Hosea 7:14, the negative "not cried" in conjunction with "with their heart" indicates that while they may have made loud, distressed noises (howling), they did not utter a genuine, internal cry to God for help or repentance. Their "crying" was for their own suffering, not for their sin against God.
* **heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** A form of _lêbâb_, this word signifies "the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything." The absence of this "heart" in their cry is the crux of God's complaint. It means their lamentations lacked sincerity, true emotion, genuine will to turn, or intellectual understanding of their spiritual condition and God's nature. It was a superficial, external expression devoid of internal commitment.
* **rebel (Hebrew, _çûwr'_):** This primitive root means "to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without." Here, it signifies an active, deliberate turning away from God, a revolt against His authority and covenant. This rebellion is the underlying spiritual state that renders their outward cries meaningless.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they have not cried unto me with their heart,"**: This clause reveals the fundamental spiritual deficiency of Israel. Despite their distress, their cries were not directed to God from a place of genuine sincerity, deep emotion, or true repentance. It signifies a lack of an internal, wholehearted turning to the Lord, indicating a superficiality in their relationship with Him.
* **"when they howled upon their beds:"**: This describes the nature of their lament. "Howling" suggests a wailing cry of physical pain, anguish, or distress, possibly associated with sickness, famine, or the terror of impending judgment. "Upon their beds" implies a private, self-focused lament, perhaps even mimicking pagan mourning rituals, rather than a public, communal act of repentance or a sincere seeking of God in His temple. Their focus was on their own suffering, not on their sin against God.
* **"they assemble themselves for corn and wine,"**: This clause exposes their misplaced priorities. Their gathering or collective effort was not for spiritual revival or seeking God's face, but for the most basic material provisions—"corn and wine." This highlights a profound spiritual blindness where physical sustenance and prosperity superseded their relationship with the Almighty, perhaps even leading them to engage in idolatrous practices to secure these earthly goods.
* **"and they rebel against me."**: This final clause delivers the ultimate indictment. Despite their outward displays of distress and their desperate pursuit of material comfort, their fundamental attitude remained one of active defiance and turning away from God. This rebellion wasn't merely passive neglect but an ongoing, deliberate rejection of God's commands, His covenant, and His loving pursuit, underscoring the deep chasm between their actions and God's desire for true relationship.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 7:14 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, starkly juxtaposing "cried unto me with their heart" with "howled upon their beds." This highlights the difference between genuine, internal spiritual engagement and superficial, self-focused lamentation. The phrase "with their heart" employs **Metonymy**, where the "heart" represents the entirety of a person's inner being—their will, intellect, and emotions—emphasizing the absence of true sincerity. Similarly, "corn and wine" serve as **Synecdoche**, representing all material sustenance and earthly desires, underscoring Israel's misplaced priorities. There is also a subtle **Irony** in the verse: the people are in distress and "howling," yet they refuse to cry out sincerely to the very God who could deliver them, and against whom they are actively rebelling. God's lament, "they have not cried unto me," also carries an element of **Anthropomorphism**, portraying God with human-like emotions of disappointment and sorrow over His people's spiritual state.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 7:14 serves as a timeless theological commentary on the nature of true worship and repentance. It reveals God's profound desire for a genuine, wholehearted relationship with His people, one that transcends mere outward expressions of piety or cries of distress. The verse underscores that God is not interested in superficial lamentations or self-pity, but in a contrite spirit that acknowledges sin and seeks His forgiveness and restoration above all else. Israel's failure to cry "with their heart" exposes the danger of spiritual hypocrisy, where religious actions or expressions are divorced from an inward reality of devotion and obedience. This passage reminds us that God looks beyond our words and actions to the true intentions and affections of our hearts, demanding sincerity and an unwavering commitment to Him as the ultimate source of provision and salvation.

* [Psalm 51:17](/psalms/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - The Sacrifice of a Broken Spirit")
* [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Honoring God with Lips, Not Heart")
* [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Seeking God with All Your Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 7:14 offers a profound challenge for contemporary believers to examine the authenticity and depth of their own spiritual lives, particularly in moments of personal or collective distress. It compels us to ask whether our prayers and lamentations are truly directed to God with a sincere heart of repentance and trust, or if they are merely self-focused expressions of discomfort, seeking relief from circumstances without addressing the underlying spiritual condition. Are we genuinely seeking God's will and forgiveness, or are we primarily concerned with our "corn and wine"—our material needs, comfort, or earthly solutions? This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God desires a relationship rooted in truth and wholehearted devotion, not superficiality or hypocrisy. It calls us to prioritize our spiritual walk above all else, ensuring that our cries for help are accompanied by a genuine turning away from rebellion and a sincere desire for His presence and glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Hosea 7:14 challenge my understanding of genuine prayer and repentance?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be "howling upon my bed" (lamenting circumstances) without truly "crying unto God with my heart" (seeking His will and forgiveness)?**
* **What "corn and wine" (material comforts, earthly solutions, or personal desires) might I be prioritizing over a deeper, more sincere relationship with God?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of "upon their beds" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "upon their beds" suggests a private, isolated, and perhaps self-pitying form of lamentation. It implies that their cries were not part of a communal, public act of repentance or a turning to God in His temple, but rather confined to their personal spaces, possibly due to sickness, fear, or a general sense of despair. This highlights that their distress was focused on their own physical or emotional suffering, rather than a spiritual brokenness that would lead them to seek God's face. It underscores the absence of a genuine, corporate movement towards repentance and reconciliation with Yahweh.

**How does Israel's "rebellion" manifest in this verse, despite their apparent distress?**

Answer: Israel's rebellion in Hosea 7:14 is subtly but powerfully revealed through their *actions and inactions* even amidst suffering. Firstly, their rebellion is evident in their *failure to cry out to God with their heart*, indicating a lack of sincere repentance and a continued turning away from Him internally. Secondly, their *misplaced priorities* are a manifestation of rebellion; instead of seeking God, they "assemble themselves for corn and wine," pursuing material sustenance through their own means, possibly even through idolatrous practices, rather than trusting in God's covenantal provision. This active pursuit of earthly solutions over divine intervention, coupled with their superficial laments, demonstrates a fundamental defiance of God's authority and a persistent refusal to truly return to Him, even when facing the consequences of their sin, as warned in passages like [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Consequences of Disobedience").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 7:14, with its poignant depiction of Israel's superficial cries and deep-seated rebellion, powerfully foreshadows the profound need for a Savior who could offer genuine heart-transformation and true reconciliation with God. Israel's inability to cry out "with their heart" underscores humanity's inherent spiritual brokenness and our tendency to seek comfort in earthly provisions ("corn and wine") rather than in the Lord. This spiritual deficit is perfectly remedied in Jesus Christ, who embodies the ultimate "heart-cry" to the Father, always living in perfect obedience and submission, even to the point of death on the cross (cf. [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Jesus' Obedience to Death")). Unlike Israel, who rebelled, Christ perfectly fulfilled God's will, becoming the true "bread of life" (cf. [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and the source of "living water" (cf. [John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Living Water")), offering spiritual sustenance far superior to any "corn and wine." Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus addresses the very root of our rebellion, making it possible for us to approach God with a truly contrite heart, cleansed from sin, and to receive the Holy Spirit who enables genuine worship "in spirit and in truth" (cf. [John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")). Thus, Hosea's lament finds its ultimate answer in the perfect obedience and redemptive work of Christ, who transforms our superficial cries into a heartfelt relationship with God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

James 4:3

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

Job 35:9

¶ By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make [the oppressed] to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

Job 35:10

But none saith, Where [is] God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Jeremiah 3:10

And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

Philippians 3:19

Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Zechariah 7:5

Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh [month], even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, [even] to me?

Amos 2:8

And they lay [themselves] down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned [in] the house of their god.