English Standard Version
Hosea 7:11
11Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.
Hosea 7:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
- New International Version (NIV)“Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense— They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves, first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help.
Context of Hosea 7:11
9Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not. 10The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this. Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria. 12As they go, I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens; I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation. 13Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.
Read all of Hosea 7Hosea 7:11 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם כְּיוֹנָ֥ה פוֹתָ֖ה אֵ֣ין לֵ֑ב מִצְרַ֥יִם קָרָ֖אוּ אַשּׁ֥וּר הָלָֽכוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
- also is like a sillyפָּתָהpâthâh · to enticeH6601
- doveיוֹנָהyônâh · doveH3123
- without heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- they callקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- to Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- they goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- to Assyriaאַשּׁוּר'ashshûr 'ashshûr · AssyriaH804
Cross-references for Hosea 7:11
- Hosea 11:11they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.
- Hosea 4:11whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.
- Proverbs 6:32He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
- Proverbs 15:32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
- Proverbs 17:16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
- Hosea 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to the great king. But he is not able to cure you or heal your wound.
- Hosea 8:8Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel.
- Hosea 9:3They shall not remain in the land of the Lord, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.
- Hosea 12:1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.
- Hosea 14:3Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy."
- 2 Kings 15:19Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power.
- 2 Kings 17:3Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.
- Isaiah 30:1"Ah, stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
- Isaiah 31:1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!
- Jeremiah 2:18And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
- Ezekiel 23:4Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
Commentaries on Hosea 7:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart - A bird that has little understanding; that is easily snared and taken; that is careless about its own young, and seems to live without any kind of thought. It has been made, by those who, like itself, are without heart, the symbol of conjugal affection. Nothing worse could have been chosen, for the dove and its mate are continually quarrelling. They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria - They strive to make…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Ephraim is - (become) like a silly dove “There is nothing more simple than a dove,” says the Eastern proverb. Simplicity is good or bad, not in itself, but according to some other qualities of the soul, good or evil, with which it is united, to which it opens the mind, and which lead it to good or mislead it to evil. The word describes one, easily persuaded, open, and so, one who takes God‘s word simply, obeys His will, without refinement or subtlety or…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-16Verses 8-16 Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Though they may howl forth their terrors in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11When Assyria invaded, Israel asked Egypt for help. When Egypt could not help, Israel tried to please Assyria by becoming its vassal (a kingdom that serves a stronger power).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. like a silly dove--a bird proverbial for simplicity: easily deceived. without heart--that is, understanding. call to Egypt--Israel lying between the two great rival empires Egypt and Assyria, sought each by turns to help her against the other. As this prophecy was written in the reign of Hoshea, the allusion is probably to the alliance with So or Sabacho II (of which a record has been found on the clay cylindrical seals in Koyunjik), which ended in…Read the comment
Topics related to Hosea 7:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hosea 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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