New International Version Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them— a wild animal will tear them apart. New Living Translation Like a bear whose cubs have been taken away, I will tear out your heart. I will devour you like a hungry lioness and mangle you like a wild animal. English Standard Version I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open. Berean Standard Bible Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart. Berean Literal Bible I will encounter them like a bear bereaved, and I will tear open the enclosure of their heart; there I will devour them like a lion; a beast of the field will tear them apart. King James Bible I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. New King James Version I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them. New American Standard Bible I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; I will also devour them there like a lioness, As a wild animal would tear them to pieces. NASB 1995 I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them. NASB 1977 I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them. Legacy Standard Bible I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open the chest enclosing their heart; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a beast of the field would rip them open. Amplified Bible I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them. Berean Annotated Bible Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart. Christian Standard Bible I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs and tear open the rib cage over their hearts. I will devour them there like a lioness, like a wild beast that would rip them open. Holman Christian Standard Bible I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs and tear open the rib cage over their hearts. I will devour them there like a lioness, like a wild beast that would rip them open. American Standard Version I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them. Contemporary English Version and rip you apart like a bear robbed of her cubs. I will gnaw on your bones, as though I were a lion or some other wild animal. English Revised Version I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart: and there will I devour them like a lion; the wild beast shall tear them. GOD'S WORD® Translation Like a bear that has lost her cubs, I will attack you. I will rip you open. Like a lion I will devour you. Like a wild animal I will tear you apart. Good News Translation I will attack you like a bear that has lost her cubs, and I will tear you open. Like a lion I will devour you on the spot, and will tear you to pieces like a wild animal. International Standard Version I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their ribs. I will devour them like a lion— the wild beasts will rip them apart. NET Bible I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs--I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion--like a wild animal would tear them apart. New Heart English Bible I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them. Webster's Bible Translation I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleLike a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart. World English Bible I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI meet them as a bereaved bear, "" And I tear the enclosure of their heart, "" And I consume them there as a lioness, "" A beast of the field tears them. Berean Literal Bible I will encounter them like a bear bereaved, and I will tear open the enclosure of their heart; there I will devour them like a lion; a beast of the field will tear them apart. Young's Literal Translation I do meet them as a bereaved bear, And I rend the enclosure of their heart. Smith's Literal Translation I will fall upon them as a bear bereaved, and I will rend the enclosure of their heart, and devour them there as a lion: the beast of the field shall cleave them asunder. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them. Catholic Public Domain Version I will run to meet them like a bear that has been robbed of her young, and I will split open the middle of their liver. And I will devour them there like a lion; the beast of the field will tear them apart. New American Bible I will attack them like a bear robbed of its young, and tear their hearts from their breasts; I will devour them on the spot like a lion, as a wild animal would rip them open. New Revised Standard Version I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and will tear open the covering of their heart; there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild animal would mangle them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI will meet them like a bear that tears its prey in pieces, and I will pierce the crust of their heart; and there a lion shall devour them; the wild beast shall tear them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I shall meet with them like a bear that is wounded and I shall seek the membrane of their heart, and a lion will eat them there, and a wild beast shall tear them to pieces OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, And will rend the enclosure of their heart; And there will I devour them like a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them. Brenton Septuagint Translation I will meet them by the way of the Assyrians, as a she-bear excited, and I will rend the caul of their heart, and the lions' whelps of the thicket shall devour them there; the wild beasts of the field shall rend them in pieces. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context God's Anger…7So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. 8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart. Cross References Like a bear robbed of her cubs 2 Samuel 17:8 He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. Proverbs 17:12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. I will attack them, Deuteronomy 32:41-42 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me. / I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh—the blood of the slain and captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.” Isaiah 42:13 The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies: Psalm 7:12-13 If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow. / He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire. and I will tear open their chests. Psalm 50:22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Psalm 17:12 like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush. Amos 1:13 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. There I will devour them like a lion, 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. Isaiah 31:4 For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights. Jeremiah 25:38 He has left His den like a lion, for their land has been made a desolation by the sword of the oppressor, and because of the fierce anger of the LORD. like a wild beast tearing them apart. Jeremiah 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous. Ezekiel 22:27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Amos 5:19 It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. 2 Kings 17:25 Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. Treasury of Scripture I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the lobe of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. as a. 2 Samuel 17:8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Amos 9:1-3 I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered… wild beast. Psalm 80:13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Isaiah 5:29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. Isaiah 56:9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. Jump to Previous Animal Attack Bear Beast Beasts Bereaved Breast Broken Caul Chests Covering Cubs Devour Dogs Enclosure Encounter Face Fall Field Heart Hearts Inmost Lioness Meal Meet Ones Open Rend Rip Robbed Tear Whelps Wild Wounded YoungJump to Next Animal Attack Bear Beast Beasts Bereaved Breast Broken Caul Chests Covering Cubs Devour Dogs Enclosure Encounter Face Fall Field Heart Hearts Inmost Lioness Meal Meet Ones Open Rend Rip Robbed Tear Whelps Wild Wounded YoungHosea 13 1. Ephraim's glory vanishes.4. God's anger. 9. God's mercy. 15. The judgment of Samaria. Like a bear robbed of her cubs God portrays His wrath against Israel as fierce and unstoppable. Having rejected the Lord who delivered and sustained them, the nation faced judgment for persistent idolatry and covenant rebellion. 2Sa 17:8 He continued, “You know your father and his men.… I will attack them, The coming invasion was not merely a political disaster but God’s judgment upon the Northern Kingdom. Assyria would become the instrument of this judgment. Deu 32:41-42 When I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it… and I will tear open their chests. The violent image emphasizes the total devastation awaiting a people who had hardened themselves against God. Their outward religion could not conceal their corruption. Psa 50:22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you… There I will devour them like a lion, Israel would find no refuge from the Lord’s judgment. Like a lion overtaking its prey, God’s sentence against the nation would be certain and decisive. Hos 5:14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion… like a wild beast tearing them apart. The nation’s rebellion would bring ruin to its land, cities, leadership, and people, culminating in the collapse of Israel before its enemies. Jer 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down,… Persons / Places / Events 1. HoseaA prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC, Hosea's ministry focused on calling Israel to repentance and warning of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness to God. 2. Israel The Northern Kingdom, often referred to as Ephraim in Hosea, which had turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. 3. God The sovereign Lord who, through Hosea, expresses His righteous anger and impending judgment on Israel for their spiritual adultery and rebellion. 4. Bear and Lioness Metaphors used to describe God's fierce and protective nature, emphasizing the intensity of His judgment against Israel's sin. 5. Wild Beasts Symbolic of the destructive forces that God will unleash as a consequence of Israel's persistent disobedience. Teaching Points God's Righteous AngerGod's anger is not arbitrary but a response to persistent sin and rebellion. Understanding His righteous nature helps us appreciate His justice and mercy. The Consequences of Idolatry Idolatry leads to spiritual and physical destruction. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism and self-reliance. The Protective Nature of God Like a bear or lioness protecting her young, God fiercely protects His covenant relationship. This should encourage us to remain faithful and trust in His protection. Repentance and Restoration While judgment is severe, God's ultimate desire is for repentance and restoration. We should seek to turn back to God in areas where we have strayed. The Certainty of God's Word The fulfillment of prophetic warnings in Scripture assures us of the reliability of God's Word. We should live in light of His promises and warnings. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Hosea 13:8?2. How does Hosea 13:8 illustrate God's protective nature towards His people? 3. What does the imagery of a "bear robbed of her cubs" convey? 4. How can Hosea 13:8 deepen our understanding of God's judgment and mercy? 5. Compare Hosea 13:8 with Deuteronomy 32:39. How do they relate? 6. How should Hosea 13:8 influence our view of God's discipline today? 7. What does Hosea 13:8 reveal about God's nature and judgment? 8. How does Hosea 13:8 reflect God's relationship with Israel? 9. Why is the imagery of a bear used in Hosea 13:8? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Hosea 13? (8) The same imagery is continued to describe the destructive wrath of the Lord. "The caul of the heart" means here the covering of the heart, not the pericardium, but the breast in which the claws of the beast are fastened.Verse 8. - I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart. The noun דֹב is epicene, that is, the one form serves for both genders, as here the masculine includes the feminine, and is used as such. Of all animals, Jerome says, the she-bear is the fiercest, either when robbed of her whelps or in want of food. Seghor being that which encloses the heart, is either the pericardium, the immediate and proper enclosure of the heart, or the breast itself. The reference is to a beast of prey which seizes its victim by the breast and tears it open, so that the heart is exposed. The verb פגש is akin to פגע, the meaning of the root-syllable פג, to meet, strike, being the same in both. Such is the continuation of the picture of the threatened punishment. The picture of the severity of the Divine judgment here presented is very terrible. Kimchi remarks on this picture: "A bear robbed, whose young ones they have slain, which is bereft and bitter in spirit, if it find man or beast rends it speedily." Some understand the verse figuratively, as though it meant "'I will rend their obstinate heart,' the enclosure of the heart being equivalent to a shut or obstinate heart, as, in ver. 5 of this same chapter, 'a land of drought' is pretty much the same as 'a dry or parched land.' Thus the Chaldee translates, 'I have broken the wickedness of their heart.'" And there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. Sham there refers (1) to 'al-derekh of the preceding verse; or, (2) as Kimchi explains it, as referring to their cities: "There in their cities shall I destroy them by pestilence and by the sword of the enemy, like the lion that teareth without pity;" or, (3) more simply still, "there on the spot." The ֵשחִת, equivalent to אתָּה, is the wild beast as opposed to בִי, domestic animals. While some were to be destroyed by famine and pestilence, others would perish by the wild beast of the field. "Also," says Kimchi, "shall the wild beast of the field rend them outside (i.e. outside their cities), as, ' I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number.'" Hosea 13:8 employs fierce animal imagery to convey God’s righteous anger against covenant infidelity. Like a mother bear, He is fiercely protective; like a lion, He is decisive and consuming; like any wild beast, His judgment is unstoppable. Each picture underscores the seriousness of sin, the certainty of divine discipline, and the urgent need for repentance. At the same time, earlier and later passages in Hosea remind us that the God who tears also longs to heal all who return to Him.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Like a bearכְּדֹ֣ב (kə·ḏōḇ) Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1677: The bear robbed of her cubs, שַׁכּ֔וּל (šak·kūl) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7909: Childless I will attack them, אֶפְגְּשֵׁם֙ (’ep̄·gə·šêm) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 6298: To come in contact with, to concur and I will tear וְאֶקְרַ֖ע (wə·’eq·ra‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 7167: To rend open their chests. סְג֣וֹר (sə·ḡō·wr) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5458: Shut up, the breast, gold There שָׁם֙ (šām) Adverb Strong's 8033: There, then, thither I will devour them וְאֹכְלֵ֥ם (wə·’ō·ḵə·lêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 398: To eat like a lion, כְּלָבִ֔יא (kə·lā·ḇî) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3833: To roar, a lion, like a wild הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (haś·śā·ḏeh) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7704: Field, land beast חַיַּ֥ת (ḥay·yaṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life would tear them apart. תְּבַקְּעֵֽם׃ (tə·ḇaq·qə·‘êm) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 1234: To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open Additonal Resources Hosea 13:8 Blue Letter BibleHosea 13:8 Bible Gateway Hosea 13:8 Bible.com Hosea 13:8 NIV |
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