Hosea 7:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hosea 7:11

Ephraim 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 explaining it away; in which way it is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hosea 7:11-12

Hosea 7:11-12. Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart Which has neither courage to defend itself, nor cunning to prevent its falling into the snares that are laid for it. They call to Egypt, &c. Sometimes they seek the alliance of one nation, and sometimes of another, all equally unserviceable to them; but are under no concern to seek the favour and protection of God, which alone can be of real and lasting benefit to them. When they shall go When they shall do every thing their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hosea 7:8-16

Alliances with other nations (7:8-16)Israel is useless, like a cake that is burnt on one side but uncooked on the other. It has ruined itself by relying too much on other nations and too little on God. As a result Israel has, without realizing it, come under the power of these nations. God has allowed this to happen as a punishment on his people, but because of their arrogance they refuse to acknowledge the fact and will not return to God (8-10). Foolishly they make alliances, first with one... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hosea 7:11

silly = harmless, innocent. Ang. -Sax., saelig, happy they call, &c. See 2 Kings 15:19 ; 2 Kings 17:4-6 . Compare Hosea 5:13 ; Hosea 9:3 ; Hosea 12:1 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hosea 7:11

"And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria."Neither Egypt nor Assyria had any interest whatever in Israel, except in the sense of being ready to invade and plunder it at any time the opportunity presented itself; but such was the perverse blindness and stupidity of God's people that, in their extremity, they did not return to the Lord, but sought help from their very worst enemies. They must have been the laughing-stock of the whole... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hosea 7:11

Hosea 7:11. Ephraim—is like a silly dove— Or, one which the fowler easily intercepts by his snares. Ephraim was deceived by the foolish counsels of those men, who are just before said to have their heads besprinkled with grey hairs; who now advised to go to the Egyptians, and now to the Assyrians; in the following of whose counsels Ephraim could not avoid falling into snares; because these nations were at enmity together; so that he could not unite with one, without incurring the opposition of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hosea 7:11

11. 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 the overthrow of Hoshea and the deportation... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 7:8-16

Reliance on foreigners 7:8-16This pericope condemns Israel’s foreign policy. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 7:11

Ephraim was behaving like a dove, a bird known for its silliness and naiveté (cf. Matthew 10:16). Expediency and human wisdom marked by vacillation had guided Israel’s foreign policy for years rather than the will of God. This was "bird-brained" diplomacy. Emissaries had fluttered off to Egypt (2 Kings 17:3-4) and Assyria (2 Kings 15:29) seeking aid without realizing the danger that these nations posed (cf. Hosea 11:11). Finally, because Israel turned from Assyria to Egypt for help against... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 7:1-16

Corruption of the CourtIn this chapter the tone again becomes despondent. How can Israel be saved when her iniquity is so deep, so glaring, so obstinate? Samaria is especially instanced as the centre of a wicked and corrupt government sustained by a lawless people and false teachers. Hosea dwells chiefly on some plot which ended in regicide and the reliance on foreign powers which meant want of faith in God.2. They fail to realise how patent in God’s sight their iniquity is, while they attempt... read more

Group of Brands