Hosea 10

King James Version

Full text for Hosea Chapter 10

1¶ Israel [is] an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

3For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

6It shall be also carried unto Assyria [for] a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

7[As for] Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

9¶ O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

10[It is] in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

11And Ephraim [is as] an heifer [that is] taught, [and] loveth to tread out [the corn]; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, [and] Jacob shall break his clods.

12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

13Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

14Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon [her] children.

15So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Hosea 10 opens by likening Israel to an empty vine, whose prosperity led to increased idolatry and a divided heart. The LORD declares that He will break down their altars and spoil their images, leading to the loss of their king and national shame. The chapter calls Israel to sow righteousness and break up their fallow ground, warning that their continued wickedness will result in utter destruction and the cutting off of their king.

Medium Summary

Israel is depicted as an empty vine, whose abundance of fruit only led to a proliferation of altars and goodly images, demonstrating a heart divided from the LORD. Consequently, divine judgment is pronounced, foretelling the destruction of their idolatrous sites and the removal of their king. The inhabitants of Samaria will mourn over the calves of Bethaven, which will be carried away to Assyria, bringing shame upon Ephraim and Israel. The chapter recalls Israel's persistent sin from the days of Gibeah and warns of impending chastisement. A call is issued to sow righteousness and seek the LORD, contrasting with their past actions of plowing wickedness and reaping iniquity, which will culminate in national tumult and the complete cutting off of the king of Israel.

Long Summary

Hosea 10 begins by portraying Israel as an empty vine that, despite its fruitfulness, brought forth fruit unto itself, leading to an increase in altars and goodly images. Their heart is described as divided, making them faulty in the LORD's sight, who promises to break down their altars and spoil their images. This judgment will lead them to declare they have no king, having not feared the LORD, and their false covenants will cause judgment to spring up like hemlock. The inhabitants of Samaria are prophesied to fear for the calves of Bethaven, as their glory will depart, and the idols will be carried to Assyria as a present, bringing shame upon Ephraim and Israel. Samaria's king will be cut off like foam upon the water, and the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed, prompting the people to wish for mountains and hills to cover them. The LORD reminds Israel of their persistent sin from the days of Gibeah and expresses His desire to chastise them, gathering people against them. Using an agricultural metaphor, Ephraim is likened to a trained heifer, but the LORD will make her ride, and Judah shall plow, and Jacob break his clods. A divine exhortation is given to sow in righteousness, reap in mercy, and break up their fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD. However, Israel has plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity, trusting in their own ways and mighty men. Therefore, a tumult will arise, and their fortresses will be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel. This great wickedness will lead to the king of Israel being utterly cut off in a single morning.

Core Concepts

  • Idolatry and Divided HeartIsrael's prosperity led them to multiply altars and images for false gods, indicating a heart that was not fully devoted to the LORD but was divided between Him and idols.
  • Impending Judgment and DestructionThe LORD declares His intention to break down Israel's altars and spoil their images, signifying a comprehensive divine judgment against their idolatrous practices and unfaithfulness.
  • Loss of Kingship and National ShameAs a direct consequence of their disobedience, Israel will lose their king, and their cherished idols, such as the calves of Bethaven, will be carried away to Assyria, bringing profound shame upon the nation.
  • Persistent Sin from GibeahThe chapter references the historical sin from the days of Gibeah, highlighting Israel's long-standing pattern of iniquity and their failure to learn from past judgments.
  • Sowing and Reaping MetaphorIsrael is urged to 'sow to yourselves in righteousness' to 'reap in mercy,' contrasting with their past actions of 'plowed wickedness' and 'reaped iniquity,' illustrating the principle of consequences for one's actions.
  • False Covenants and Bitter FruitIsrael's practice of speaking words and swearing falsely in making covenants is condemned, leading to judgment springing up like poisonous hemlock in the fields.