Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim [the doubly fruitful tribe] spoke, there was [a state of] trembling [fear, terror]; he was exalted [lifted up, highly respected] in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob’s descendants]. But he incurred guilt [became responsible, sinned] through [worship of] Baal [the Phoenician deity, a false god], and he died [passed away, was punished]. word study 2 Now [at this time, in this era] they sin [miss the mark, go wrong] more and more [increasingly, with growing frequency] and make [create, fashion] for themselves cast images [molten idols, silver statues], idols [false gods, objects of worship] skillfully made [crafted with expertise] from their silver [wealth, treasure], all of them [everything, the whole] the work [deed, creation] of craftsmen [artisans, skilled workers]. People say [declare, proclaim] of them, “They offer [present, sacrifice] human sacrifice [a man, a life] and kiss [show devotion, worship] the calves [young bulls, idols]!” word study 3 Therefore they will be like the morning [cloud, as the break of day] mist, like the early dew [dew that rises, moisture covering plants] that vanishes, like chaff [loose outer covering of grain] blown from a threshing floor [open area for separating grain], like smoke [rising vapor] through an open window [lattice or ventilation]. word study 4 Yet I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] ever since the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]; you know [to ascertain by seeing, to learn] no God [no other deity] but Me, for there is no Savior [no one to deliver] besides [except, other than] Me. word study 5 I knew [to know, to ascertain by seeing, to learn] you in the wilderness [a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in], in the land [the soil or ground, a country, territory, or region] of drought [a severe lack of water, desiccation]. word study 6 When they had pasture [according to their feedings, in their pastures], they became satisfied [filled, satiated]; when they were satisfied [filled to excess], their hearts [mind, will, and emotions] became proud [exalted, lifted up], and as a result [therefore] they forgot [were oblivious to, neglected] Me. word study 7 So like [as or similar to] a lion [a powerful and fierce predator] I will pounce [attack suddenly and forcefully] on them; like [comparable to] a leopard [a stealthy and agile hunter] I will lurk [lie in wait, observe secretly] by the path [the way or road, a journey or course of life]. word study 8 Like a bear [bereaved of her whelps] robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open [rend the caul of, rip out] their chests [the enclosure of their heart, their inmost being]. There [in that place, at that time] I will devour them like a lion [lioness, a fierce and powerful beast], like a wild beast [the wild animal, a savage creature] would tear them apart [break them open, tear them to pieces]. word study 9 You are destroyed [utterly ruined, brought to nothing], O Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], because you are against Me [in opposition to your helper, against your own best interest]— against your helper [the one who provides aid, your only support, in Me]. word study 10 Where [in what location, at what point] is your king [ruler, monarch] now to save [rescue, deliver] you in all [every, entire] your cities [towns, settlements], and the rulers [judges, leaders] to whom you said [spoken, uttered], “Give [grant, bestow] me a king [monarch, sovereign] and princes [nobles, officials]”? word study 11 So in My anger [fury, wrath, intense displeasure] I gave [bestowed, appointed, set] you a king [ruler, monarch, sovereign], and in My wrath [indignation, outrage, fierce anger] I took [removed, eliminated, abolished] him away [completely, utterly, without remainder]. word study 12 The iniquity [moral evil, sin] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son and the tribe] is bound up [confined, stored away]; his sin [guilt, punishment for sin] is stored up [treasured, laid up in store, hid]. word study 13 Labor pains [sorrows of a travailing woman, birth pangs] come upon him, but he is an unwise [foolish] son. When the time [now, at this moment] arrives, he fails [does not stand, is not present] to present himself at the opening [birthplace, womb] of the womb [place of birth, birth canal]. word study 14 I will ransom [pay the price to set free, redeem] them from the power [strength, authority] of Sheol [the underworld, grave]; I will redeem [buy back, rescue] them from Death [mortality, the state of being dead]. Where [in what place], O Death, are your plagues [afflictions, diseases]? Where, O Sheol [the place of no return], is your sting [destruction, pain]? Compassion [pity, mercy] is hidden [concealed, withheld] from My eyes [sight, gaze]. word study 15 Although he flourishes [is fruitful, prospers] among his brothers [relatives, kin], an east [hot and dry] wind will come— a wind [a blast of air] from the LORD [Yehovah] rising up from the desert [wilderness, dry land]. His fountain [source of water, satisfaction] will fail [become dry, run out], and his spring [source of refreshment, joy] will run dry [be desolate, empty]. The wind will plunder [take by force, spoil] his treasury [storehouse, depository] of every precious [desirable, pleasing] article [utensil, vessel]. word study 16 Samaria will bear her guilt [iniquity, punishment] because she has rebelled [defied, turned away] against her God. They will fall by the sword [be cut down, be slaughtered]; their little ones [infants, children] will be dashed to pieces [broken, crushed], and their pregnant women [women with child, expectant mothers] ripped open [cut open, mutilated]. word study