Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Hosea 7:14

Next

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Hosea 7:14, from the King James Version, powerfully critiques the spiritual state of Israel during a period of deep national decline and moral decay. The prophet Hosea, speaking on behalf of God, exposes the superficiality of their cries for help, revealing a people whose hearts were far from the Lord even in their distress.

Context of Hosea 7:14

The Book of Hosea primarily addresses the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim) in the 8th century BC, leading up to its eventual exile by Assyria. Chapters 7 and 8 specifically detail Israel's political instability, alliances with foreign powers, and widespread idolatry. God's judgment is imminent due to their persistent unfaithfulness to the covenant. This verse highlights the core issue: their outward expressions of suffering were not accompanied by a sincere return to God. They sought help from human alliances or pagan deities, or simply lamented their physical woes, without addressing the spiritual root of their problems, which was their rebellion against God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Superficial Piety vs. Heartfelt Repentance: The verse sharply contrasts their "howling upon their beds" with not having "cried unto me with their heart." This signifies a lack of genuine sorrow for sin or true repentance. Their distress was for personal suffering, not for offending God.
  • Misplaced Priorities: Israel's primary concern was "corn and wine"—material sustenance and prosperity. They "assemble themselves" not to seek God's forgiveness and guidance, but to secure their physical needs, perhaps through pagan rituals or political maneuvers. This illustrates a profound spiritual blindness where physical comfort superseded their relationship with the Almighty.
  • Persistent Rebellion: Despite their outward displays of distress, the underlying attitude was "they rebel against me." This rebellion wasn't just passive neglect but an active turning away from God's commands and His covenant relationship. Their actions, even their cries, demonstrated a fundamental disobedience to God's will. Disobedience brought severe consequences.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cried unto me with their heart" is crucial. The Hebrew word for "heart" (lev or levav) often signifies the totality of a person's inner being—their mind, will, and emotions. Thus, God is lamenting that their outward "howling" (a cry of physical pain or distress, possibly mimicking pagan lamentations or simply a lament for their own suffering) was not matched by a sincere, internal turning to Him. Their prayers were not from a place of true spiritual brokenness or a desire for reconciliation, but rather a self-pitying lament focused on their own discomfort and desire for material relief.

Practical Application

Hosea 7:14 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual hypocrisy and superficiality in our relationship with God. It challenges believers to examine the depth of their prayers and the true motivations behind their actions, especially in times of trouble. Do we cry out to God with our whole heart, seeking His will and forgiveness, or do we merely lament our circumstances and focus solely on material desires? The verse reminds us that God desires worship in spirit and in truth, a genuine connection that prioritizes Him above all earthly concerns. Our prayers should be rooted in sincere repentance and a desire for His glory, not just for personal gain.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • James 4:3 (7 votes)

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

  • Job 35:9 (7 votes)

    ¶ 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 (7 votes)

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

  • Jeremiah 3:10 (6 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

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

  • Zechariah 7:5 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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.