Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. New Living Translation “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the LORD. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. English Standard Version What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Berean Standard Bible What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes. King James Bible O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. New King James Version “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away. New American Standard Bible What shall I do with you, Ephraim? What shall I do with you, Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, And like the dew which goes away early. NASB 1995 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. NASB 1977 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, And like the dew which goes away early. Legacy Standard Bible What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your lovingkindness is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. Amplified Bible O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? O Judah, what shall I do with you? For your [wavering] loyalty and kindness are [transient] like the morning cloud And like the dew that goes away early. Christian Standard Bible What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. Holman Christian Standard Bible What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. American Standard Version O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth early away. Contemporary English Version People of Israel and Judah, what can I do with you? Your love for me disappears more quickly than mist or dew at sunrise. English Revised Version O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth early away. GOD'S WORD® Translation "What should I do with you, Ephraim? What should I do with you, Judah? Your love is like fog in the morning. It disappears as quickly as the morning dew. Good News Translation But the LORD says, "Israel and Judah, what am I going to do with you? Your love for me disappears as quickly as morning mist; it is like dew, that vanishes early in the day. International Standard Version "What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your love is like a morning rain cloud— it passes away like the morning dew. NET Bible What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, O Judah? For your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist; it disappears as quickly as dawn's dew! New Heart English Bible "Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. Webster's Bible Translation O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? for your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhat shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes. World English Bible “Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“What do I do to you, O Ephraim? What do I do to you, O Judah? Your goodness [is] as a cloud of the morning, "" And as dew rising early—going. Young's Literal Translation What do I do to thee, O Ephraim? What do I do to thee, O Judah? Your goodness is as a cloud of the morning, And as dew rising early -- going. Smith's Literal Translation What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, O Judah? and your kindness as the cloud of the morning, and as the dew being early went away. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhat shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? what shall I do to thee, O Juda? your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth away in the morning. Catholic Public Domain Version What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning. New American Bible What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like morning mist, like the dew that disappears early. New Revised Standard Version What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleO Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated What shall I do to you, Aphreim, and what shall I do to you, Yehuda? Your goodness is as a cloud of the morning and like the early dew, and it passes away OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, And as the dew that early passeth away. Brenton Septuagint Translation What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do to thee, Juda? whereas your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that goes away. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Israel and Judah are Unrepentant…3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth. 4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes. 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.… Cross References Isaiah 1:18-20 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. / If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Jeremiah 3:6-10 Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ... Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Isaiah 5:3-7 “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. / What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit? / Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled. ... Jeremiah 2:2-3 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. / Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her were found guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD. Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Isaiah 57:15-16 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. / For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made. Jeremiah 31:20 Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD. Matthew 15:8-9 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’” Isaiah 40:6-8 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. / The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Jeremiah 4:14 Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you? John 5:39-40 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, / yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. Isaiah 30:9-11 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!” Jeremiah 7:23-24 but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. / Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. Romans 10:21 But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Treasury of Scripture O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away. what. Hosea 11:8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. Isaiah 5:3,4 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard… Jeremiah 3:19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me. for. Judges 2:18,19 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them… Psalm 78:34-37 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God… Psalm 106:12,13 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise… goodness. Hosea 13:3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. Jump to Previous Cloud Dew Disappears Early Ephraim E'phraim Goes Goodness Judah Love Mist Morning Passeth RisingJump to Next Cloud Dew Disappears Early Ephraim E'phraim Goes Goodness Judah Love Mist Morning Passeth RisingHosea 6 1. Exhortations to repent and hope in God.4. A lamentation over those who had sinned after conviction. 5. Reproofs of obstinate sinners, and threats against them. What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? Ephraim represents the northern kingdom of Israel, often used as a synonym for the entire nation due to its prominence. This rhetorical question reflects God's frustration and sorrow over Israel's persistent unfaithfulness. Historically, Ephraim was a leading tribe, and its actions often set the tone for the rest of the northern kingdom. The question underscores God's desire for repentance and change, highlighting the tension between divine justice and mercy. What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes. Persons / Places / Events 1. EphraimRepresents the northern kingdom of Israel. Ephraim was the largest tribe and often used to refer to the entire northern kingdom. In this context, it symbolizes the unfaithfulness of Israel. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel. Judah, like Ephraim, is being addressed for its lack of steadfastness in loyalty to God. 3. Hosea A prophet in the 8th century BC, called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to Israel. His life and marriage were symbolic of God's relationship with Israel. 4. Morning Mist and Early Dew These natural phenomena are used metaphorically to describe the fleeting and insubstantial nature of Israel's loyalty to God. Teaching Points The Nature of True LoyaltyTrue loyalty to God is steadfast and enduring, not fleeting like the morning mist. Believers are called to cultivate a deep, consistent relationship with God. Self-Examination Just as God questioned Ephraim and Judah, we should regularly examine our own faithfulness to God. Are our commitments to Him genuine and lasting? The Danger of Superficial Faith Superficial faith, like the early dew, quickly disappears. We must strive for a faith that is deeply rooted and resilient in the face of trials. God's Desire for Relationship Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God's questioning reveals His desire for a genuine relationship with His people. He longs for our hearts, not just our rituals. Repentance and Renewal The passage calls us to repentance and renewal of our commitment to God. We should seek His strength to transform our fleeting loyalty into enduring faithfulness. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 6Who was Ephraim in the Bible? Does the broader historical and archeological record support Hosea 6’s depiction of Israel’s quick rebellion and restoration, or does it lack evidence? What are the different names for Israel? In Hosea 6:7, is the reference to “Adam” a historical anachronism, and can it be confirmed or disproven archeologically? (4) Here ends the supposed language of the penitents. If it were genuine, and accompanied by a deep sense of sin, it would not be in vain. But the prophet utters the heartrending response and expostulation of Jehovah, who bewails the transitory nature of their repentance. Your goodness . . .--Better rendered, Your love (to me) is like the morning cloud (which promises rain, and does not give it; like the dew (or, "morning mist;" see Note, Hosea 14:5), which early goeth away, vanishing in the blaze of summer day--your tears leaving you parched and dried as before. Verse 4. - For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. A new section here commences. God, having tried various expedients and many ways to restore Israel to faithfulness, finds all those methods unavailing; and now he asks what further means of reclamation he can resort to; what further punishment he is to inflict. Thus in Isaiah 1:5, "Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more!" or what additional privileges can be vouchsafed? Thus in Isaiah 5:4, "What could have been done more to my vineyard, than I have not done in it?" The reason is then assigned for such questioning; it was the brief duration of Israel's piety. It was evanescent as the early cloud which floats across a summer's sky and which the sun soon scatters for ever, or which pro-raises a refreshing shower, but which is exhaled by the sun's heat; it was transient as the dew which lies in pearly drops of beauty upon the grass, but which the foot of the passing traveler brushes away in a moment. The prophet had, in the opening verses, referred to real repentance; but now, turning to Israel, he reminds them of their repentance by way of con-trust, showing them that it was neither of the consistency nor permanent character required. Proofs of their deficiency lay on the pages of their national history. Hezekiah had done "that which was right in the sight of the Lord;" but his son and successor, Manasseh, "wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to auger." Josiah, again, was eminent for piety, so that "like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might;" but his successors degenerated, for it is added, "neither after him arose there any like him." The connection and meaning are well given by Kimchi: "How shall I heal you, and how shall I bind you up, as your repentance is by no means perfect? For if the kings of Israel did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, so have they soon turned to do evil, like Jehu. And likewise the kings of Judah, who in the days of Josiah did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, turned again to do evil in the days of his son and son's son." Thus he reproves them for the superficial and fleeting character of their goodness. The participles mashkim and holek are either co-ordinated asynde-tously, thus: "coming in the morning, going away;" or the latter is subordinated to the former: "in the morning passing away." Kimchi takes the former word as a noun after the form of makbir, equivalent to "abundance" (Job 36:31); the right rendering is, "as the dew early going away." A somewhat different rendering is proposed by Wunsche, viz. "Your goodness goeth away like a morning cloud, and like the dew in the morning;" "goodness" being the subject, "goeth away" the predicate, "like morning cloud and dew" nearer definitions.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whatמָ֤ה (māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what shall I do אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ (’e·‘ĕ·śeh-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 6213: To do, make with you, לְּךָ֙ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew O Ephraim? אֶפְרַ֔יִם (’ep̄·ra·yim) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory What מָ֥ה (māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what shall I do אֶעֱשֶׂה־ (’e·‘ĕ·śeh-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 6213: To do, make with you, לְּךָ֖ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew O Judah? יְהוּדָ֑ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites For your loyalty וְחַסְדְּכֶם֙ (wə·ḥas·də·ḵem) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty is like a morning בֹּ֔קֶר (bō·qer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning mist, כַּֽעֲנַן־ (ka·‘ă·nan-) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud like the early מַשְׁכִּ֥ים (maš·kîm) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7925: To load up, to start early in the morning dew וְכַטַּ֖ל (wə·ḵaṭ·ṭal) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew that vanishes. הֹלֵֽךְ׃ (hō·lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk Links Hosea 6:4 NIVHosea 6:4 NLT Hosea 6:4 ESV Hosea 6:4 NASB Hosea 6:4 KJV Hosea 6:4 BibleApps.com Hosea 6:4 Biblia Paralela Hosea 6:4 Chinese Bible Hosea 6:4 French Bible Hosea 6:4 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Hosea 6:4 Ephraim what shall I do to you? 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