Hosea 11:4
2 But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
6 A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
- KJV
- I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
- WEB
- I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
- ASV
- I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.
- DARBY
- I drew them with bands of a man, with cords of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I gently caused them to eat.
- BLB
- With cords of humanity I drew them, with bands of love; and I was to them like those lifting the yoke up [from] their jaws, and I bent down to them to let [them] eat.
- ÅB
- Med menneskebånd dro jeg dem, med kjærlighets rep, og jeg var for dem som de som løfter opp åket over kjevene, og jeg gav ham føde.
- OTB
- Jeg ledet dem med menneskelige bånd,
med kjærlighetens bånd,
jeg lettet åket fra deres kjever;
og jeg bøyde meg ned og ga dem mat. - B1930
- Med menneskebånd drog jeg dem, med kjærlighets rep, og jeg var for dem som de som løfter op åket over kjevene, og jeg gav ham føde.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 12:32
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
Read in contextLeviticus 26:13
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk in uprightness.
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:14
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
Read in contextJeremiah 31:2–3
This is what the LORD says: “The people who survived the sword found favor in the wilderness when Israel went to find rest.”
Read in contextIsaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Read in contextPsalms 78:23–25
Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of the heavens.
Read in context2 Samuel 7:14
I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
Read in contextHosea 2:8
For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold— which they crafted for Baal.
Read in context