Hosea 11, "How Can I Give You Up?"

Hosea continues his prophecies about the northern kingdom, Israel/Ephraim. There is also a warning to Judah and, some tender hints of a future hope.

Hosea 11:1-2, Out of Egypt

 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, 

and out of Egypt I called my son.  

But the more I called Israel, 

the further they went from me. 

They sacrificed to the Baals 

and they burned incense to images.  

God looks back on Israel like a parent recalling a child's early days. In Exodus 4:22-23, God tells Pharaoh to release his firstborn son, Israel. In the New Testament, Matthew will quote this verse (Matthew 2:13-15) identifying Jesus as this son.

Hosea 11:3-4, Teaching him, holding him

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, 

taking them by the arms; 

but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 

I led them with cords of human kindness, 

with ties of love; 

I lifted the yoke from their neck 

and bent down to feed them.  

God called Israel out of Egypt in the Exodus; He taught them to walk, fed them and held them in His arms. This kindness and love had nothing to do with some intrinsic value in Israel but simply dependent on God's choice. (See Deuteronomy 7:7-8.) But despite all that love and tenderness, Israel has ignored YHWH.

Hosea 11:5-7, Return to Egypt? Or Assyria?

"Will they not return to Egypt 

and will not Assyria rule over them 

because they refuse to repent?

Swords will flash in their cities, 

will destroy the bars of their gates 

and put an end to their plans. 

My people are determined to turn from me. 

Even if they call to the Most High, 

he will by no means exalt them.  

Egypt on the west, Assyria on the east -- Israel is threatened on both sides. It has flitted back and forth between those two kingdoms (Hosea 7:11) and yet received no benefit from it dalliances.

Hosea 11:8-9, Compassion aroused

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? 

How can I hand you over, Israel? 

How can I treat you like Admah? 

How can I make you like Zeboiim? 

My heart is changed within me; 

all my compassion is aroused.   

I will not carry out my fierce anger, 

nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. 

For I am God, and not man

-- the Holy One among you. 

I will not come in wrath.

Still, despite Israel's unfaithfulness, YHWH focuses on compassion.

Admah and Zeboiim were towns close to Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 14: 8) and were presumably part of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19.) Those additional towns are only mentioned in Genesis, here, and in Deuteronomy 29: 23, always in relation to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Hosea 11:10-11, Trembling back to Zion

They will follow the LORD;

he will roar like a lion. 

When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. 

They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, 

like doves from Assyria. 

I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD.  

As emphasized by Isaiah and other prophets, there is a remnant that will follow YHWH and come back to him, from Egypt in the west and Assyria in the east (and presumably from even further away.)

Hosea 11:12, Judah and Israel against the Holy One

Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, 

the house of Israel with deceit. 

And Judah is unruly against God, 

even against the faithful Holy One.    

Yet despite all He has done, His children are rebellious, dealing in lies and deceit. This verse goes best with the next chapter; the Hebrew manuscript chapter division has this verse as part of chapter 12.

First published June 18, 2025; updated June 18, 2025