It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them. It was I who taught Ephraim to walkThis phrase highlights God's intimate involvement in the nurturing and development of Israel, represented by "Ephraim," the largest tribe of the Northern Kingdom. The Hebrew root for "taught" (לָמַד, lamad) implies instruction and guidance, akin to a parent teaching a child to walk. This imagery underscores God's patience and care, emphasizing His role as a loving Father. Historically, this reflects God's guidance of Israel from their infancy as a nation, particularly during the Exodus and their journey through the wilderness. taking them in My arms
The image of God "taking them in My arms" conveys tenderness and protection. The Hebrew word for "arms" (זְרוֹעַ, zeroa) often symbolizes strength and support. This phrase suggests a nurturing relationship, where God not only guides but also carries and supports His people. It evokes the image of a parent lifting a child, providing both comfort and security. This reflects God's ongoing provision and care throughout Israel's history, despite their frequent rebellion. but they never realized
This phrase indicates a lack of awareness or acknowledgment on the part of Israel. The Hebrew root for "realized" (יָדַע, yada) means to know or perceive. Despite God's evident care and intervention, Israel failed to recognize His hand in their lives. This highlights a recurring theme in the prophetic books: the spiritual blindness and ingratitude of God's people, which often led to their downfall. that it was I who healed them
The final phrase emphasizes God's role as a healer. The Hebrew root for "healed" (רָפָא, rapha) signifies restoration and wholeness. This not only refers to physical healing but also spiritual and national restoration. Throughout Israel's history, God repeatedly intervened to heal and restore them, whether from physical ailments, spiritual waywardness, or national crises. This underscores God's desire for His people's well-being and His willingness to restore them despite their unfaithfulness. Persons / Places / Events 1. EphraimRepresents the northern kingdom of Israel, often used as a symbol for the entire nation due to its prominence among the tribes. 2. God (Yahweh)The speaker in this verse, expressing His nurturing and caring relationship with Israel. 3. HoseaThe prophet through whom God delivers His message, calling Israel to repentance and illustrating God's enduring love. Teaching Points God's Parental CareJust as a parent teaches a child to walk, God guides and supports His people. Reflect on how God has guided you in your spiritual journey. Unrecognized BlessingsOften, we fail to see God's hand in our lives. Consider the ways God has healed and supported you, even when you were unaware. Divine Patience and LoveDespite Israel's ignorance, God continues to love and care for them. This is a reminder of God's patience and enduring love for us, even when we stray. Call to AwarenessWe are encouraged to be more aware of God's presence and actions in our lives, recognizing His work and responding with gratitude and obedience. Healing Beyond the PhysicalGod's healing encompasses spiritual and emotional restoration. Reflect on areas in your life where you need God's healing touch. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of God teaching Ephraim to walk enhance your understanding of His relationship with Israel? 2. In what ways have you experienced God's guidance and support in your life, similar to how He guided Ephraim? 3. Reflect on a time when you failed to recognize God's work in your life. How can you become more aware of His presence and actions? 4. How does understanding God's patience and love in Hosea 11:3 encourage you in your personal walk with Him? 5. What steps can you take to acknowledge and respond to God's healing and guidance in your daily life, drawing from other scriptures that speak of His care and provision? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 1:31This verse describes God carrying Israel as a father carries his son, similar to the imagery in Hosea 11:3 of God teaching Ephraim to walk. Isaiah 1:2-3Highlights Israel's failure to recognize God's care and provision, paralleling the lack of recognition mentioned in Hosea 11:3. Psalm 103:3Speaks of God as the healer, connecting to the healing mentioned in Hosea 11:3. People HoseaPlaces Admah, Assyria, Egypt, ZeboiimTopics Arms, Caused, Conscious, Didn't, Ephraim, E'phraim, Ephraim's, Foot, Footsteps, Guiding, Healed, Ready, Realize, Strengthened, Taking, Taught, Walk, YetDictionary of Bible Themes Hosea 11:3 5126 arm Hosea 11:1-4 1085 God, love of
5682 family, significance
5888 inferiority
6688 mercy, demonstration of God's
8122 friendship, with God
8205 childlikeness Hosea 11:2-3 5973 unreliability Hosea 11:3-4 8129 guidance, examples Library Heaven's Nurse Children
The next sweet word in the chapter is sonship; "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt." We are, according to the inspired apostle, "predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Ephesians 1:5. Adoption follows hard upon the heels of election, and is another messenger of good tidings. Innumerable blessings come to us by this door. "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers. …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Flight into Egypt and Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children.
(Bethlehem and Road Thence to Egypt, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 13-18. ^a 13 Now when they were departed [The text favors the idea that the arrival and departure of the magi and the departure of Joseph for Egypt, all occurred in one night. If so, the people of Bethlehem knew nothing of these matters], behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise [this command calls for immediate departure] and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [This land was ever the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Eleventh Day. The Holy one of Israel.
I am the Lord that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. I the Lord which make you holy, am holy.'--Lev. xi. 45, xxi. 8. 'I am the Lord Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, Thy Saviour. Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.'--Isa. xliii. 3, 14, 15. In the book of Exodus we found God making provision for the Holiness of His people. In the holy …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ Quotations from the Old Testament in the New.
1. As it respects inspiration, and consequent infallible authority, the quotations of the New Testament stand on a level with the rest of the apostolic writings. The Saviour's promise was: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth;" literally, "into all the truth," that is, as immediately explained, all the truth pertaining to the Redeemer's person and work. When, therefore, after the fulfilment of this promise, Peter and the other apostles expounded to their brethren …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Perseverance Proved.
2. I REMARK, that God is able to preserve and keep the true saints from apostacy, in consistency with their liberty: 2 Tim. i. 12: "For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Here the apostle expresses the fullest confidence in the ability of Christ to keep him: and indeed, as has been said, it is most manifest that the apostles expected …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology Spiritual Hunger Shall be Satisfied
They shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 I proceed now to the second part of the text. A promise annexed. They shall be filled'. A Christian fighting with sin is not like one that beats the air' (1 Corinthians 9:26), and his hungering after righteousness is not like one that sucks in only air, Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled.' Those that hunger after righteousness shall be filled. God never bids us seek him in vain' (Isaiah 45:19). Here is an honeycomb dropping into the mouths of …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 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 11:3 NIVHosea 11:3 NLTHosea 11:3 ESVHosea 11:3 NASBHosea 11:3 KJV
Hosea 11:3 Commentaries
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