Hosea 7:9

KJV

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

KJV (with Strong's)

Strangers {H2114} have devoured {H398} his strength {H3581}, and he knoweth {H3045} it not: yea, gray hairs {H7872} are here and there {H2236} upon him, yet he knoweth {H3045} not.

Complete Jewish Bible

Foreigners have eaten up his strength, but he doesn't know it; yes, gray hairs appear on him here and there, but he doesn't know it.

Berean Standard Bible

Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.

American Standard Version

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth it not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 7:9 powerfully depicts the tragic and oblivious decline of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often called Ephraim, as it suffers the debilitating consequences of its unfaithfulness to God. The nation's strength and vitality are being consumed by foreign entanglements and idolatrous practices, yet it remains profoundly unaware of its own spiritual and national decay, symbolized by the unheeded appearance of gray hairs—a clear sign of aging and impending judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 7 is part of a larger prophetic indictment against Israel's apostasy, specifically focusing on their political instability, reliance on foreign alliances, and pervasive idolatry. This chapter, along with Hosea 8-10, details the internal corruption and external entanglements that are leading the nation to ruin. Verse 9 follows a series of vivid metaphors describing Israel's spiritual sickness and self-destructive behavior, such as their burning lust likened to an oven (Hosea 7:4-7) and their turning to foreign powers like a "silly dove" (Hosea 7:11). It highlights the internal decay resulting from their external choices, emphasizing their profound lack of awareness regarding their deteriorating condition.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hosea ministered in the tumultuous 8th century BCE, a period marked by the aggressive rise of the Assyrian Empire. Israel, instead of trusting in Yahweh for security, repeatedly sought alliances with powerful foreign nations like Assyria and Egypt. These alliances often involved paying heavy tribute, adopting foreign customs, and engaging in political intrigue that led to rapid successions of kings, often through assassination, indicating severe internal instability. The "strangers" in this verse primarily refer to these foreign powers, but also implicitly to the foreign gods and idolatrous practices Israel embraced, which were alien to their covenant with God. The metaphor of aging and gray hairs would have been universally understood as an undeniable sign of decline, loss of vigor, and the approach of death.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Spiritual Blindness and Ignorance:** The repeated phrase "he knoweth it not" is central to the verse, underscoring Israel's profound lack of discernment regarding their true spiritual and national condition. This spiritual insensitivity, despite clear signs of decay, is a critical warning against complacency in faith, echoing themes of ignorance found elsewhere in Scripture, such as [Isaiah 1:3](/isaiah/1-3 "Isaiah 1:3 - Israel's Ignorance of God").
* **Consequences of Foreign Alliances and Idolatry:** Israel's turning to "strangers" for help, whether political security from foreign nations or spiritual comfort from pagan gods, ultimately weakened them. These interactions consumed their true resources, independence, and spiritual integrity, rather than providing the security they sought. This is a recurring indictment in Hosea's prophecy, as seen in passages like [Hosea 5:13](/hosea/5-13 "Hosea 5:13 - Israel's Reliance on Assyria").
* **Decay and Impending Judgment:** The powerful metaphor of "gray hairs" signifies Israel's advanced state of spiritual and national decay. It communicates that the nation was nearing divine judgment and national collapse, a consequence of their persistent covenant breaking. This imagery conveys an irreversible process of decline, similar to how [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters") describes Israel forsaking the true source of life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strangers (Hebrew, _zûwr'_):** This term (H2114) derives from a root meaning "to turn aside" or "to be a foreigner." It denotes not merely foreign individuals, but those who are alien, unauthorized, or even profane. In Hosea 7:9, it refers primarily to the foreign nations (like Assyria and Egypt) with whom Israel sought alliances, but it also carries the connotation of foreign gods and practices that Israel adopted, which were "strange" or illegitimate in the eyes of Yahweh's covenant.
* **Devoured (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** The verb (H398) literally means "to eat," but is used here figuratively to mean "to consume," "to burn up," or "to destroy completely." It vividly portrays the destructive impact of these "strangers" on Israel's strength, indicating a complete consumption and loss of vitality, resources, and independence.
* **Strength (Hebrew, _kôach'_):** This word (H3581) signifies vigor, power, ability, or resources. It encompasses Israel's national vitality, military might, economic stability, and spiritual resilience. The "devouring" of this strength implies a complete depletion of all that made Israel robust and independent, leaving the nation vulnerable.
* **Gray hairs (Hebrew, _sêybâh'_): This term (H7872) literally refers to the physical manifestation of old age, the whitening of hair. As a metaphor, it signifies the irreversible process of aging, decay, and the approach of death. Its appearance "here and there" (from H2236, _zâraq'_, "sprinkled") suggests a gradual, yet undeniable, onset of decline.
* **Knoweth (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This verb (H3045) is profound, implying not mere intellectual awareness but a deep, experiential, and discerning understanding. The repeated "he knoweth it not" highlights Israel's tragic spiritual blindness—they lacked the profound recognition of their deteriorating condition, despite clear evidence, indicating a willful ignorance or a profound spiritual insensitivity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Strangers have devoured his strength":** This clause indicts Israel for its self-destructive reliance on foreign powers (Assyria, Egypt) and foreign gods. These "strangers," rather than providing security, have consumed Israel's national vigor, resources, and covenantal integrity, leaving the nation weakened and vulnerable.
* **"and he knoweth [it] not":** This critical phrase highlights Israel's profound spiritual blindness and lack of discernment. Despite the clear evidence of their diminishing power and increasing vulnerability, the nation remained oblivious to the true cause and extent of their decline.
* **"yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him":** This vivid metaphor portrays Israel as an aging person, with the "gray hairs" symbolizing the visible, undeniable signs of decay, weakness, and the approaching end of their national existence. The phrase "here and there" (literally "sprinkled") suggests a gradual, insidious onset of this decline.
* **"yet he knoweth not":** The repetition of this phrase underscores the tragic depth of Israel's spiritual insensitivity. Even with the undeniable signs of impending judgment, they remained stubbornly ignorant, unwilling or unable to perceive the gravity of their situation or the divine warning.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 7:9 masterfully employs powerful **Metaphor** and **Personification** to convey Israel's spiritual and national decline. The nation is personified as an individual whose "strength" is being "devoured" and who is unknowingly aging, with "gray hairs" appearing. This imagery transforms an abstract national crisis into a relatable human experience of decay. The "gray hairs" serve as a potent **Symbolism** for the irreversible onset of old age, weakness, and impending death or judgment. The repetition of "he knoweth it not" is a form of **Emphasis** and **Anaphora** (though not at the beginning of clauses, it's a repeated phrase for emphasis), underscoring the tragic spiritual blindness of the people, highlighting their stubborn ignorance despite clear signs of their deteriorating condition. The entire verse functions as a **Prophetic Indictment**, delivering a severe warning through vivid, accessible imagery.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and the danger of spiritual blindness. When God's people turn away from Him for security and strength, seeking it from worldly sources or false gods, they inevitably lose their true vitality and become vulnerable to destructive influences. This highlights a core biblical truth: true strength, wisdom, and lasting security come from God alone, not from human alliances or self-reliance. Israel's failure to "know" their own condition underscores humanity's propensity for self-deception and spiritual insensitivity when estranged from divine truth, a condition that ultimately leads to ruin.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Matthew 15:14](/matthew/15-14 "Matthew 15:14 - Blind Guides")
* [Revelation 3:17](/revelation/3-17 "Revelation 3:17 - Laodicea's Self-Deception")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 7:9 serves as a stark and timeless warning for contemporary believers and communities. It compels us to honestly assess where our strength truly lies and whether we are inadvertently allowing "strangers"—worldly ideologies, cultural pressures, personal idols, or even seemingly benign distractions—to subtly devour our spiritual vitality and redirect our devotion. Just as gray hairs appear gradually, spiritual decline often begins imperceptibly, through gradual compromises, a slow drift from fervent devotion, or an increasing reliance on self rather than God. The call to "know" implies a profound need for constant self-examination, humility, and a willingness to heed the Holy Spirit's conviction and the Word's guidance. We must cultivate a discerning heart, lest we too become complacent in our faith, oblivious to the signs of spiritual weakening, and unprepared for the consequences of unaddressed sin or misplaced trust.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "strangers" (influences, ideologies, or pursuits) might be subtly devouring my spiritual strength or diverting my devotion from God?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually blind, failing to acknowledge signs of decline or compromise, even when they are "here and there"?**
* **Am I truly seeking my strength and security in God, or am I relying on worldly resources and human efforts instead?**

### FAQ
**Who are the "strangers" mentioned in Hosea 7:9?**

Answer: The "strangers" primarily refer to the foreign nations, particularly Assyria and Egypt, with whom the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) sought political and military alliances during a time of great instability. Instead of relying on God for protection and provision, Israel turned to these powerful empires, paying tribute and making treaties. Paradoxically, these alliances, meant to secure Israel, ultimately consumed their resources, independence, and spiritual integrity. The term "strangers" (Hebrew, _zûwr'_) also carries a broader connotation of anything alien or profane to God's covenant, implicitly including the foreign gods and idolatrous practices Israel adopted, which further "devoured" their devotion to Yahweh (see [Hosea 8:1](/hosea/8-1 "Hosea 8:1 - Transgression of the Covenant")).

**What does the metaphor of "gray hairs" signify in this verse?**

Answer: The "gray hairs" symbolize the undeniable signs of aging, decay, and the approach of death. In the context of Israel, it represents the nation's advanced state of spiritual and national decline. Just as a person ages gradually and often doesn't notice the first gray hairs, Israel was experiencing a slow but irreversible process of weakening, losing its vitality and nearing divine judgment and national collapse. This metaphor powerfully conveys the urgency and inevitability of their impending doom due to their persistent unfaithfulness, even though they remained oblivious to it (compare with [Isaiah 46:4](/isaiah/46-4 "Isaiah 46:4 - God's Steadfastness in Old Age") for a different use of aging imagery).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 7:9, with its lament over Israel's spiritual blindness and self-destruction, finds its ultimate answer and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Israel's strength was devoured by "strangers" because they rejected the true source of life and wisdom, failing to "know" their God. In contrast, Jesus is the embodiment of God's wisdom and strength, the one in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures of Wisdom in Christ")). He came to a people who, like ancient Israel, were spiritually blind, unable to discern the signs of the times or recognize their Messiah ([John 1:10-11](/john/1-10-11 "John 1:10-11 - He Came to His Own")). Through His redemptive work, Christ offers true spiritual vitality, rescuing humanity from the "devouring" power of sin and death. He is the one who grants spiritual sight to the blind ([John 9:39-41](/john/9-39-41 "John 9:39-41 - Jesus Heals the Blind Man")), enabling us to "know" God not merely intellectually, but experientially and intimately, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Him, the decay symbolized by "gray hairs" is overcome by the promise of eternal life and renewed strength, ensuring that those who trust in Him will never truly perish or lose their spiritual vigor ([John 10:28](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - Eternal Life in Christ")).

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

Hosea 8:7

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Isaiah 42:22

But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

Isaiah 42:25

Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart.

Proverbs 23:35

They have stricken me, [shalt thou say, and] I was not sick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

2 Kings 13:3

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all [their] days.

2 Kings 13:7

Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

2 Kings 13:22

But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.