Hosea 12:9

But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses the northern kingdom in response to Ephraim’s boastful self-reliance in Hosea 12:8, immediately preceding His declaration of speaking through prophets in verse 10.

The words — The phrase מֵ/אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם (me./'E.retz mitz.Ra.yim) literally means "from Egypt," anchoring Yahweh’s identity to the Exodus event. The verb עֹ֛ד אוֹשִֽׁיבְ/ךָ (‘od ’o.shi.ve./Kha) translates "I will again cause you to dwell," indicating a deliberate reversal of their current state.

The thread — The opening declaration "I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt" repeats verbatim in Hosea 13:4 to reinforce covenant memory. The tent imagery recalls the wilderness period and stands in contrast to the settled permanence described in 2 Samuel 7:2.

Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh will withdraw Israel’s false security and return them to a condition of dependence. It requires the reader to acknowledge that lasting stability is granted by God alone, not earned through wealth or permanent structures.

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

וְאָנֹכִ֛יve./'a.no.Khiand/ I יְהוָ֥הYah.weh[have been] Yahweh אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your מֵאֶ֣רֶץme./'E.retzfrom/ [the] land of מִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt עֹ֛ד'odagain אוֹשִֽׁיבְךָ֥'o.shi.ve./KhaI will cause to dwell/ you בָאֳהָלִ֖יםvo./'o.ha.Limin/ tents כִּימֵ֥יki./Meilike/ [the] days of מוֹעֵֽד׃mo.'Edan appointed feast

King James Version

And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

Cross-references

Leviticus 23:40 On the first day you are to gather the fruit of majestic trees, the branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees and of willows of the brook. And you are to rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
Hosea 13:4 Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.
2 Samuel 7:2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
Nehemiah 8:15 and that they should proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”
Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
Zechariah 14:16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Genesis 25:27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
Exodus 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Leviticus 19:36 You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 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.