Hosea 5:14

For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Ephraim and the house of Judah immediately after their failed diplomatic appeal to Assyria. He declares that His judgment will follow their political failure.

The words — The terms כֶּשֶׂר (kha./Sha.chal) and כְּפִיר (ke.Fir) denote a mature lion and a young lion, establishing a progressive threat. The doubled first-person pronouns אָנֹכִי and אֲנִי (a.no.Khi, a.Ni) emphasize that God alone will execute the tearing and removal.

The thread — The tearing motif with no rescuer appears in Psalms 7:2 and Psalms 50:22, while Micah 5:8 uses lion imagery for pervasive influence among the nations.

Why it lands — The text requires acknowledgment that human alliances cannot override divine judgment. It forces the reader to confront the reality that only God controls both the infliction of the wound and the conditions for restoration.

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

כִּ֣יkifor אָנֹכִ֤י'a.no.KhiI כַשַּׁ֙חַל֙kha./Sha.chal[will be] like <the>/ lion לְאֶפְרַ֔יִםle./'ef.Ra.yimto/ Ephraim וְכַכְּפִ֖ירve./kha./ke.Firand/ like <the>/ young lion לְבֵ֣יתle./Veitto/ [the] house of יְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahJudah אֲנִ֨י'a.NiI אֲנִ֤י'a.NiI אֶטְרֹף֙'et.RofI will tear to pieces וְאֵלֵ֔ךְve./'e.Lekhand/ I may go אֶשָּׂ֖א'e.Sa'I will carry off וְאֵ֥יןve./'Einand/ there not מַצִּֽיל׃ma.Tzil[will be] a deliverer

King James Version

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

Cross-references

Psalms 7:2 or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
Micah 5:8 Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them.
Psalms 50:22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Hosea 13:7 So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
Isaiah 5:29 Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it.
Amos 2:14 Escape will fail the swift, the strong will not prevail by his strength, and the mighty will not save his life.
Amos 3:4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?
Job 10:7 though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?
Job 10:16 Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.
Lamentations 3:10 He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.