KJV King James Version
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Hosea 4:16
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
WEB World English Bible
For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
ASV American Standard Version
For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
For as a refractory heifer hath Israel turned aside, Now doth Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Surrounding context — Hosea 4
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof [is] good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people [that] doth not understand shall fall.
15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers [with] shame do love, Give ye.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
כִּ֚יH3588 · kiforכְּפָרָ֣הH6510 · pa.rahheiferסֹֽרֵרָ֔הH5637 · sa.rarto rebelסָרַ֖רH5637 · sa.rarto rebelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478 · yis.ra.elIsraelעַתָּה֙H6258 · at.tahnowיִרְעֵ֣םH7462 · bet-e.qed ha.ro.imHouse of Shepherdsיְהוָ֔הH3068 · ye.ho.vahLORDכְּכֶ֖בֶשׂH3532 · ke.ve.slambבַּמֶּרְחָֽב׃H4800 · mer.chavbroad
Cross-references
1 Samuel 15:11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.Hosea 11:7And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt [him].Jeremiah 3:6The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.Isaiah 5:17Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.Isaiah 22:18He will surely violently turn and toss thee [like] a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory [shall be] the shame of thy lord’s house.Jeremiah 7:24But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.Jeremiah 5:6Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, [and] a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, [and] their backslidings are increased.Zechariah 7:11But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.Leviticus 26:33And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.Jeremiah 3:11And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.Isaiah 7:21-25And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;Jeremiah 14:7O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.Jeremiah 3:8And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.Jeremiah 8:5Why [then] is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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