Hosea 11:8

God’s Love for Israel · Hosea 11:8–12
Read Hosea 11

Translations

Modern
How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
Traditional
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.
Literal
How can I give you up, O Ephraim? Can I deliver you up, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? Can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, together My compassions are kindled.
Latin
Quomodo dabo te, Ephraim? protegam te, Israël? Quomodo dabo te sicut Adama, ponam te ut Seboim? Conversum est in me cor meum, pariter conturbata est pœnitudo mea.

Original

Hebrew
English
How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

Notes

  • Although justice required Israel's death, the Lord hesitated to give up Israel, let them go, or destroy his son.

  • Admah and Zeboiim were cities near Sodom and Gomorrah that God completely destroyed (Deuteronomy 29:23).

  • In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of intellect and will.

God grieved over Israel’s unfaithfulness. Even after all he had done for them, Israel had turned into a rebellious people. Justice required serious punishment, but the final decision about Israel’s future would come from God’s tender compassion for his people, not from an abstract rule.

Events

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Admah: One of the cities destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah Zeboiim: One of the cities of the plain destroyed with Sodom

Glossary

Hosea, Book of Mercy Zeboiim Zeboim

Topics

Admah: A City in the Vale of Siddim Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Zeboim: Also Called Zeboiim: One of the Cities in the Valley of Siddim