Hosea 9:17

My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

My God {H430} will cast them away {H3988}, because they did not hearken {H8085} unto him: and they shall be wanderers {H5074} among the nations {H1471}.

My God will cast them aside, because they wouldn't listen to him, and they will become wanderers among the Goyim.

My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Commentary

Hosea 9:17 delivers a solemn pronouncement of divine judgment against unfaithful Israel, highlighting the severe consequences of their persistent disobedience and rejection of God.

Context

The prophet Hosea ministered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) during a period of profound spiritual decline, political instability, and impending Assyrian invasion. Chapters 9 and 10 of Hosea specifically detail the dire consequences of Israel's widespread idolatry, Baal worship, and reliance on foreign alliances rather than on God. This verse summarizes God's ultimate verdict against a people who continually broke their covenant with Him, despite His relentless love and calls to repentance. It foreshadows the historical reality of the Assyrian conquest and the subsequent dispersion of the ten northern tribes.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The phrase "My God will cast them away" underscores the Lord's righteous indignation and the inevitability of His judgment against persistent sin. It is not an arbitrary act but a just response to Israel's deliberate rebellion and unfaithfulness.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The core reason for this severe judgment is explicitly stated: "because they did not hearken unto him." Israel's refusal to listen to God's warnings, obey His laws, and return to Him led directly to their downfall. This principle is consistent throughout biblical narrative, where disobedience brings severe curses.
  • Exile and Dispersion: The prophecy "and they shall be wanderers among the nations" predicts the tragic fate of the Northern Kingdom. They would lose their land, their national identity, and be scattered among foreign peoples, a direct fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in the Torah. This scattering signifies a loss of divine protection and blessing, resulting in spiritual and physical homelessness.

Linguistic Insights

The word "hearken" in the King James Version translates the Hebrew verb shama (שָׁמַע), which means more than just to hear. It implies to *listen attentively*, to *understand*, and most importantly, to *obey*. Israel's failure was not merely an inability to perceive God's voice, but a deliberate refusal to comply with His commands and covenant stipulations, leading to their tragic fate.

Practical Application

Hosea 9:17 serves as a timeless warning about the profound consequences of spiritual apathy and deliberate disobedience to God's revealed will. It reminds us that while God is merciful and loving, He is also just and holds His people accountable. Our relationship with God thrives on attentive listening and faithful obedience to His Word. When we ignore His commands or choose our own path, we risk spiritual wandering, losing the blessings of His presence, and experiencing the natural consequences of our choices. It encourages all believers to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, actively integrating God's truth into daily life.

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:64 (6 votes)

    And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, [even] wood and stone.

  • Deuteronomy 28:65 (6 votes)

    And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

  • Hosea 7:13 (6 votes)

    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.

  • Isaiah 48:18 (4 votes)

    O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

  • Acts 3:23 (4 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

  • Zechariah 7:11 (4 votes)

    But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

  • Zechariah 7:14 (4 votes)

    But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.