Hosea 10:11

Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Hosea to the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically addressing Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob at the moment foreign nations are gathered to enforce bondage for their transgressions.

The words — The text highlights עֶגְלָה ('eglah), meaning "heifer," and מְלֻמָּדָה (melummadah), meaning "trained," describing an animal accustomed to the threshing floor.

The thread — This agricultural metaphor for Israel appears in Hosea 4:16 as a stubborn heifer, echoes Deuteronomy 25:4 regarding oxen, and is reversed in Jeremiah 50:11 to describe triumphant plunderers.

Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that God will replace Israel's self-reliance with imposed discipline, forcing the nation to confront its hardened state before seeking His righteousness.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאֶפְרַ֜יִםve./'ef.Ra.yimand/ Ephraim עֶגְלָ֤ה'eg.Lah[was] a heifer מְלֻמָּדָה֙me.lu.ma.Dahtrained אֹהַ֣בְתִּי'o.Hav.ti[which] loved לָד֔וּשׁla./Dushto/ thresh וַאֲנִ֣יva./'a.Niand/ I עָבַ֔רְתִּי'a.Var.tiI passed עַל־'al-over ט֖וּבtuv[the] goodness of צַוָּארָ֑הּtza.va.Ra/hneck/ its אַרְכִּ֤יב'ar.KivI will cause to draw אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimEphraim יַחֲר֣וֹשׁya.cha.Ro.oshit will plow יְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahJudah יְשַׂדֶּד־ye.sa.ded-it will harrowל֖וֹl/o<for>/ itselfיַעֲקֹֽב׃ya.'a.KoJacob

King James Version

And 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.

Cross-references

Hosea 4:16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
Deuteronomy 25:4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
Jeremiah 50:11 “Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph—you who plunder My inheritance—because you frolic like a heifer treading grain and neigh like stallions,
2 Chronicles 28:5 So the LORD his God delivered Ahaz into the hand of the king of Aram, who attacked him and took many captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force.
Isaiah 28:24 Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil?
Hosea 2:5 For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
Hosea 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”
Hosea 9:1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.
Hosea 11:4 I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.