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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 7:8-16

Having seen how vicious and corrupt the court was, we now come to enquire how it is with the country, and we find that to be no better; and no marvel if the distemper that has so seized the head affect the whole body, so that there is no soundness in it; the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, as well as the sin of Samaria, of the people as well as the princes, of which here are divers instances. I. They were not peculiar and entire for God, as they should have been, Hos. 7:8. 1. They did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 7:15

Though I have bound and strengthened their arms ,.... As a surgeon sets a broken arm and swathes and binds it, and so restores it to its former strength, or at least to a good degree of strength again, so the Lord dealt with Israel; their arms were broken, and their strength weakened, and they greatly distressed and reduced by the Syrians in the times of Jehoahaz; but they were brought into a better state and condition in the times of Joash and Jeroboam the second; the former retook... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 7:16

They return, but not to the most High ,.... To Egypt, and not to Jerusalem, and the temple there, and the worship of it; to their idols, and not to him whose name alone is Jehovah, and is the most High all the earth, the God of gods, and Lord of lords, and King of kings; though they made some feint as if they would return, and did begin, and take some steps towards repentance and reformation; but then they presently fell back again, as in Jehu's time, and did not go on to make a thorough... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 7:15

Though I have bound and strengthened their arms - Whether I dealt with them in judgment or mercy, it was all one; in all circumstances they rebelled against me. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 7:16

They return, but not to the Most High - They go to their idols. They are like a deceitful bow - Which, when it is reflexed, in order to be strung, suddenly springs back into its quiescent curve; for the eastern bows stand in their quiescent state in a curve; and in order to be strung must be beaded back in the opposite direction. This bending of the bow requires both strength and skill; and if not properly done, it will fly back, and regain its former position; and in this recoil... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 7:15

Verse 15 God again reproaches the Israelites for having in a base manner abused his goodness and forbearance. Some consider the verb יסר, isar, as meaning, “to chastise,” because God had disciplined the Israelites; and, as I have said yesterday, it is often taken in this sense. But as it signifies sometimes “to bind,” it seems a fitter metaphor for this place. I have bound and strengthened their arms; as though God had said, that he had caused their arms not to be enervated. For we know that... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 16 The Prophet again assails the perverse wickedness of Israel, and also their fraud and perfidiousness. Hence he says that they feigned some sort of repentance, but it was nothing else than false; for they returned not to God. They return, he says, but not to God. Some however think that על, ol, is a preposition, and that something is understood, as if it were an elliptical phrase: “They return, but not for anything;” that is, when they return, were any one to inquire what is in their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:11-16

Ephraim's folly and falseness. In this passage the Lord threatens the northern kingdom for its unnatural and untheocratic policy of seeking support from the neighboring heathen powers. These verses, therefore, deal primarily with the sins of the court and the government. The nation is to be punished for— I. POLITICAL INFATUATION . ( Hosea 7:11 , Hosea 7:12 ) The true resting-place of the commonwealth was in God; but Ephraim had wandered from him, and was fluttering about... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:11-16

Ephraim's flight from God. Every sinner may read a warning in the words here addressed to Ephraim. I. FLEEING FROM GOD . ( Hosea 7:11 , Hosea 7:12 ) The wicked "say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways" ( Job 21:14 ). They themselves try, though vainly, to escape from God. They would fain put a great distance between him and them (Jonah; the prodigal). 1. Fleeing from God is sin . It is an attempt on the part of the creature to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:15

Though I have bound (margin, chastened ) and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. The first clause of this verse is more accurately translated as follows: And yet I have instructed , have strengthened their arms . Here we have another instance of God's goodness and Israel's ingratitude. He had done much for them, and would fain have done more; and yet the return they made was devising mischief against him. The arms are the seat and symbol of strength,... read more

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