Hosea 9:11 Study Bible: As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, none with child, and no conception.

◄ Hosea 9:11 ►

Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

Ephraim’s glory
The term "Ephraim" refers to one of the tribes of Israel, often used to represent the Northern Kingdom as a whole. "Glory" in Hebrew is "kavod," which signifies honor, abundance, and splendor. Historically, Ephraim was a leading tribe, known for its strength and prominence. The use of "glory" here indicates the tribe's former status and blessings, which are now at risk of being lost due to their disobedience and idolatry.

will fly away like a bird
The imagery of "flying away like a bird" suggests a swift and irreversible departure. In Hebrew culture, birds often symbolize freedom and transience. This phrase indicates the sudden loss of Ephraim's prosperity and blessings. The metaphor underscores the fragility of human achievements when they are not grounded in faithfulness to God.

with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception
This triplet of terms—"birth," "pregnancy," and "conception"—emphasizes a complete cessation of growth and future generations. In the Hebrew context, children were seen as a blessing and a sign of God's favor. The absence of these stages of life signifies a curse and a profound judgment on Ephraim. It reflects the consequences of turning away from God, resulting in barrenness and the end of lineage, which was a devastating prospect for any tribe in ancient Israel.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ephraim
A prominent tribe in Israel, often used to represent the Northern Kingdom as a whole. Known for its strength and influence, Ephraim's name is frequently used in prophetic literature to symbolize the collective identity and fate of Israel.

2. Hosea
A prophet in the 8th century BC, Hosea's ministry was primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His messages often focused on Israel's unfaithfulness to God and the resulting consequences.

3. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, which fell into idolatry and was warned by prophets like Hosea about impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness to God.

4. Judgment
The event or process of divine retribution that Hosea warns will come upon Israel due to their sins, particularly idolatry and turning away from God.

5. Glory
In this context, it refers to the prosperity, strength, and blessings that Ephraim once enjoyed, which will be lost due to their disobedience.

Teaching Points

The Consequences of Sin
Just as Ephraim's glory was to "fly away," sin leads to the loss of God's blessings and favor. We must be vigilant in our walk with God to avoid similar consequences.

The Importance of Faithfulness
Hosea's message underscores the need for faithfulness to God. Our relationship with Him should be marked by loyalty and obedience.

God's Warnings are Acts of Mercy
Prophetic warnings, like those given by Hosea, are opportunities for repentance. We should heed God's warnings in our lives as acts of His mercy.

The Transience of Earthly Glory
Ephraim's lost glory reminds us that earthly success and prosperity are fleeting. Our true glory should be found in our relationship with God.

The Role of Prophets
Hosea's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers. We should be open to receiving and acting upon godly counsel and correction.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the loss of "glory" in Hosea 9:11 relate to the blessings and curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our "glory" or blessings from God do not "fly away" due to disobedience?

3. How does the message of Hosea 9:11 challenge us to examine our own faithfulness to God?

4. What are some modern-day "idols" that might lead us away from God, similar to the idolatry of Ephraim?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Hosea's warnings to our personal and communal spiritual lives today?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 28
This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, providing a backdrop for understanding the consequences Hosea describes.

Isaiah 17
Similar themes of judgment against Ephraim and the Northern Kingdom are found here, emphasizing the loss of glory and prosperity due to sin.

Jeremiah 7
This passage discusses the consequences of turning away from God, paralleling the themes of judgment and loss found in Hosea.

Sermons

Bereavement, Barrenness, and Banishment	C. Jerdan	Hosea 9:10-17
Ephraim's Woe	J. Orr	Hosea 9:11-17

People

Baalpeor, Hosea

Places

Assyria, Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, Gibeah, Gilgal, Memphis

Topics

Bird, Birth, Child, Conception, Ephraim, E'phraim's, Flight, Fly, Fowl, Giving, Glory, Honour, None, Pregnancy, Womb

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Hosea 9:11

5199 womb
5733 pregnancy

Library

Of Councils and their Authority.
1. The true nature of Councils. 2. Whence the authority of Councils is derived. What meant by assembling in the name of Christ. 3. Objection, that no truth remains in the Church if it be not in Pastors and Councils. Answer, showing by passages from the Old Testament that Pastors were often devoid of the spirit of knowledge and truth. 4. Passages from the New Testament showing that our times were to be subject to the same evil. This confirmed by the example of almost all ages. 5. All not Pastors who …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Earliest Chapters in Divine Revelation
[Sidenote: The nature of inspiration] Since the days of the Greek philosophers the subject of inspiration and revelation has been fertile theme for discussion and dispute among scholars and theologians. Many different theories have been advanced, and ultimately abandoned as untenable. In its simplest meaning and use, inspiration describes the personal influence of one individual upon the mind and spirit of another. Thus we often say, "That man inspired me." What we are or do under the influence …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

John's Introduction.
^D John I. 1-18. ^d 1 In the beginning was the Word [a title for Jesus peculiar to the apostle John], and the Word was with God [not going before nor coming after God, but with Him at the beginning], and the Word was God. [Not more, not less.] 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him [the New Testament often speaks of Christ as the Creator--see ver. 10; I. Cor. viii. 6; Col. i. 13, 17; Heb. i. 2]; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. [This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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

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