Hosea 11:3

I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

I taught {H8637} Ephraim {H669} also to go {H8637}, taking {H3947} them by their arms {H2220}; but they knew {H3045} not that I healed {H7495} them.

"Yet it was I who taught Efrayim to walk; I took them by their arms. But they did not know that it was I who was healing them,

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.

Yet I taught Ephraim to walk; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

Commentary

Commentary on Hosea 11:3 (KJV)

Hosea 11:3 beautifully illustrates the tender, parental love of God for Israel, specifically using "Ephraim" to represent the Northern Kingdom, and their tragic unresponsiveness to His unwavering care. This verse is part of a larger passage (Hosea 11:1-11) where God expresses His deep affection and sorrow over Israel's rebellion, contrasting His steadfast love with their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness.

Context of Hosea 11:3

The Book of Hosea is a powerful prophetic message delivered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) just before its fall to Assyria. God, through the prophet Hosea, laments Israel's spiritual adultery – their abandonment of Him for pagan gods and alliances. Chapter 11 particularly highlights God's profound, enduring love for Israel, recalling their early history as a nation. He recounts bringing them out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1) and nurturing them, much like a parent cares for a child. This verse focuses on the intimate, foundational care God provided from their infancy as a nation, even as they failed to acknowledge His hand.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Tender, Parental Love and Care: The imagery of "taking them by their arms" to teach them "to go" evokes the loving patience of a parent teaching a child to walk. This speaks to God's careful guidance, protection, and provision for Israel from its earliest days. It emphasizes the profound, intimate nature of God's relationship with His people, akin to a nurturing father or mother. This divine care is a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament, showcasing God's active involvement in the lives of His chosen nation, leading them through the wilderness and establishing them in the land.
  • Divine Healing and Sustenance: The phrase "I healed them" (Hebrew: רפא, rapha) signifies God's continuous work of restoration, deliverance from physical and spiritual afflictions, and provision for their well-being. This wasn't merely physical healing but encompassed their deliverance from slavery, protection from enemies, and spiritual restoration when they turned to Him. God consistently provided for their needs and rescued them from their troubles. For more on God as healer, see Exodus 15:26.
  • Israel's Spiritual Blindness and Ingratitude: Despite God's profound and undeniable care, Israel "knew not." This highlights their profound spiritual blindness, forgetfulness, and ingratitude. They failed to recognize God's constant hand in their lives, attributing their blessings to idols or their own strength. This spiritual amnesia led to their persistent rebellion and ultimately, their downfall. This theme of forgetfulness is echoed in other prophetic books, such as Jeremiah 2:32.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "taught Ephraim also to go" (וַאֲנִי תִרְגַּלְתִּי לְאֶפְרַיִם) uses a verb (תִרְגַּלְתִּי, tirgal-ti) that literally means "I taught them to walk" or "I led them by the feet." This vivid imagery reinforces the idea of God acting as a tender parent guiding a toddler, taking them by their arms to stabilize and support them. The word for "healed them" (רְפָאתִים, repha'tim) is a comprehensive term for making whole, restoring, and bringing relief, not just from illness but from all forms of brokenness and distress.

Practical Application

Hosea 11:3 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. God's tender, parental care is not limited to ancient Israel but extends to all who are His children. We are often like Ephraim, oblivious to the countless ways God guides, provides for, and heals us, both physically and spiritually. This verse calls us to:

  • Recognize God's Unseen Hand: Cultivate an awareness of God's constant presence and provision in our daily lives, even in seemingly small details.
  • Cultivate Gratitude: Express thankfulness for His steadfast love and care, acknowledging that every good gift comes from Him (James 1:17).
  • Respond to His Love: Allow His patient love to draw us closer to Him, rather than taking it for granted or turning away in spiritual indifference. God's enduring compassion, even in the face of our unfaithfulness, is a testament to His nature (Hosea 11:8-9).
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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 30:17 (6 votes)

    For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

  • Deuteronomy 1:31 (6 votes)

    And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

  • Exodus 15:26 (5 votes)

    And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.

  • Hosea 7:15 (4 votes)

    Though I have bound [and] strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

  • Isaiah 46:3 (3 votes)

    Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

  • Acts 13:18 (3 votes)

    And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

  • Hosea 14:4 (3 votes)

    ¶ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.