Hosea 5:3

I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God speaks to Ephraim and Israel, declaring His complete awareness of their current spiritual condition. This declaration occurs immediately after His warning to chastise the rebels in Hosea 5:2 and directly introduces the diagnosis of their inability to return in Hosea 5:4.

The words — The Hebrew יָדַ֣עְתִּי (ya.Da'.ti) translates literally as "I know," while נִכְחַ֣ד (nikh.Chad) means "it is hidden." These terms anchor the verse by contrasting God's full perception with Israel's exposed defilement.

The thread — The pattern of divine knowledge preceding judgment appears in Amos 3:2, where God's exclusive knowledge of Israel triggers punishment for iniquity. Hebrews 4:13 later universalizes this principle, stating nothing in creation remains hidden from God's sight.

Why it lands — The text first states that Ephraim's prostitution and Israel's defilement are fully known to God. It then requires the reader to accept that spiritual rebellion cannot be concealed, making return impossible without acknowledging this exposed reality.

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

אֲנִי֙'a.NiI יָדַ֣עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI know אֶפְרַ֔יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraim וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve./Yis.ra.'Eland/ Israel לֹֽא־lo'-not נִכְחַ֣דnikh.Chadit is hidden מִמֶּ֑נִּיmi.Me./nifrom/ me כִּ֤יkifor עַתָּה֙'a.Tahnow הִזְנֵ֣יתָhiz.Nei.tayou have prostituted yourself אֶפְרַ֔יִם'ef.Ra.yimO Ephraim נִטְמָ֖אnit.Ma'it has made itself unclean יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

Cross-references

Amos 3:2 “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Genesis 48:19 But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”
Deuteronomy 33:17 His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
1 Kings 12:26 Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David.
1 Kings 14:14 Moreover, the LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day—yes, even today!
Isaiah 7:5 For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:
Isaiah 7:8 For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.
Isaiah 7:17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”
Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors