They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land. They have dealt treacherously against the LORDThe phrase "dealt treacherously" comes from the Hebrew root "בָּגַד" (bagad), which implies betrayal or faithlessness. In the context of Hosea, this treachery is a spiritual adultery, as Israel has turned away from their covenant with God to pursue idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. Historically, this reflects a period when Israel was politically unstable and spiritually corrupt, often seeking security in alliances rather than in God. The treachery is not just a breach of trust but a profound violation of the relationship between God and His people, akin to marital unfaithfulness. for they have borne illegitimate children
The term "illegitimate children" in Hebrew is "בָּנִים זָרִים" (banim zarim), literally "strange children." This phrase can be understood both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to children born out of unfaithful unions, possibly with foreign nations or through idolatrous practices. Metaphorically, it signifies the spiritual offspring of Israel's unfaithfulness—practices, beliefs, and values that are alien to the covenant with God. This reflects the broader theme in Hosea of Israel's infidelity leading to a generation that does not know the LORD, highlighting the consequences of spiritual adultery. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land
The "New Moon" was a significant time in the Hebrew calendar, marking the beginning of a new month and often associated with religious festivals and offerings. However, in this context, it symbolizes impending judgment. The Hebrew word "יֹאכְלֵם" (yochlem) means "will devour," indicating a consuming judgment. The New Moon, which should have been a time of renewal and celebration, becomes a time of destruction due to Israel's unfaithfulness. This inversion of expectation underscores the severity of their spiritual state. The phrase "along with their land" emphasizes that the consequences of their treachery are not just personal but national, affecting the entire community and their inheritance. Historically, this foreshadows the Assyrian invasion and exile, a devastating consequence of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness. Persons / Places / Events 1. HoseaA prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is portrayed as being betrayed by His people. 3. IsraelThe Northern Kingdom, often depicted as unfaithful to God, engaging in idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. 4. Illegitimate ChildrenSymbolic of Israel's spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness, resulting in offspring that do not belong to God. 5. New MoonA time of religious observance in Israel, here representing a period of judgment rather than celebration. Teaching Points Spiritual AdulteryJust as Israel was unfaithful to God, believers today must guard against idolatry and spiritual compromise. Consequences of SinThe judgment described in Hosea serves as a warning that sin has real and devastating consequences. True WorshipGod desires genuine worship and obedience, not mere ritualistic observance. Covenant FaithfulnessBelievers are called to remain faithful to their covenant relationship with God, reflecting His faithfulness to us. Repentance and RestorationDespite judgment, God's ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him and be restored. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of "illegitimate children" in Hosea 5:7 relate to the spiritual state of Israel, and what parallels can we draw to the church today? 2. In what ways might modern believers be guilty of "dealing treacherously against the LORD," and how can we address these issues in our lives? 3. How does the theme of judgment during the New Moon in Hosea 5:7 challenge our understanding of religious observances and their significance? 4. What lessons can we learn from Israel's unfaithfulness that can help us maintain a faithful relationship with God? 5. How do the additional scriptures connected to Hosea 5:7 deepen our understanding of God's expectations for His people and the consequences of failing to meet them? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 32:20This verse speaks of God's hidden face due to the faithlessness of His children, paralleling Israel's treachery in Hosea. Isaiah 1:13-14These verses discuss God's disdain for empty religious rituals, similar to the New Moon observance in Hosea 5:7. Jeremiah 3:20This verse compares Israel's unfaithfulness to a wife who betrays her husband, echoing the theme of spiritual adultery in Hosea. Psalm 106:39-40These verses describe Israel's defilement through idolatry, leading to God's anger, akin to the treachery mentioned in Hosea. Matthew 7:21-23Jesus warns against empty professions of faith without true obedience, reflecting the superficial religiosity criticized in Hosea. People Benjamin, Hosea, Israelites, JarebPlaces Assyria, Beth-aven, Gibeah, Mizpah, Ramah, TaborTopics FALSE, Allotted, Begotten, Birth, Borne, Consume, Dealt, Devour, Faithlessly, Festivals, Fields, Havebegotten, Illegitimate, Month, Moon, Portions, Possessions, Sons, Strange, Treacherously, Unfaithful, WasteDictionary of Bible Themes Hosea 5:7 6242 adultery
7233 Israel, northern kingdom
7355 feasts and festivals, nature of
7398 New Moon festival
8251 faithfulness, to God Library 'Physicians of no Value'
'When Ephralm saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither shall he cure you of your wound.'--HOSEA v. 13 (R.V.). The long tragedy which ended in the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyrian invasion was already beginning to develop in Hosea's time. The mistaken politics of the kings of Israel led them to seek an ally where they should have dreaded an enemy. As Hosea puts it in figurative fashion, Ephraim's …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureAn Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot The Call and Feast of Levi
"And He went forth again by the seaside; and all the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them. And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and He saith unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him. And it came to pass, that He was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and His disciples: for there were many, and they followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with the …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark That None Should Enter on a Place of Government who Practise not in Life what they have Learnt by Study.
There are some also who investigate spiritual precepts with cunning care, but what they penetrate with their understanding they trample on in their lives: all at once they teach the things which not by practice but by study they have learnt; and what in words they preach by their manners they impugn. Whence it comes to pass that when the shepherd walks through steep places, the flock follows to the precipice. Hence it is that the Lord through the prophet complains of the contemptible knowledge …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah.
There was a certain Ramah, in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and that within sight of Jerusalem, as it seems, Judges 19:13; where it is named with Gibeah:--and elsewhere, Hosea 5:8; which towns were not much distant. See 1 Samuel 22:6; "Saul sat in Gibeah, under a grove in Ramah." Here the Gemarists trifle: "Whence is it (say they) that Ramah is placed near Gibea? To hint to you, that the speech of Samuel of Ramah was the cause, why Saul remained two years and a half in Gibeah." They blindly …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Ripe for Gathering
'Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. 2. And He said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the Lord unto me, The end is come upon My people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. 3. And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence. 4. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Of Civil Government.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT. This chapter consists of two principal heads,--I. General discourse on the necessity, dignity, and use of Civil Government, in opposition to the frantic proceedings of the Anabaptists, sec. 1-3. II. A special exposition of the three leading parts of which Civil Government consists, sec. 4-32. The first part treats of the function of Magistrates, whose authority and calling is proved, sec. 4-7. Next, the three Forms of civil government are added, sec. 8. Thirdly, Consideration …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted.
1. Absurd fictions of opponents first refuted, and then certain passages of Scripture explained. Answer by a negative. Confirmation of the answer. 2. Another absurdity of Aristotle and Pelagius. Answer by a distinction. Answer fortified by passages from Augustine, and supported by the authority of an Apostle. 3. Third absurdity borrowed from the words of Chrysostom. Answer by a negative. 4. Fourth absurdity urged of old by the Pelagians. Answer from the works of Augustine. Illustrated by the testimony …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Hosea
The book of Hosea divides naturally into two parts: i.-iii. and iv.-xiv., the former relatively clear and connected, the latter unusually disjointed and obscure. The difference is so unmistakable that i.-iii. have usually been assigned to the period before the death of Jeroboam II, and iv.-xiv. to the anarchic period which succeeded. Certainly Hosea's prophetic career began before the end of Jeroboam's reign, as he predicts the fall of the reigning dynasty, i. 4, which practically ended with Jeroboam's …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Hosea 5:7 NIVHosea 5:7 NLTHosea 5:7 ESVHosea 5:7 NASBHosea 5:7 KJV
Hosea 5:7 Commentaries
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