Hosea 11:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 11:1-7

Here we find, I. God very gracious to Israel. They were a people for whom he had done more than for any people under heaven, and to whom he had given more, which they are here, I will not say upbraided with (for God gives, and upbraids not), but put in mind of, as an aggravation of their sin and an encouragement to repentance. 1. He had a kindness for them when they were young (Hos. 11:1): When Israel was a child then I loved him; when they first began to multiply into a nation in Egypt God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:4

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love ,.... As Ephraim is compared to a heifer in the preceding chapter, here he is said to be drawn; but not with such cords and bands as cattle are, but with such as men are; in a rational and gentle way, in a kind, loving, tender, humane, friendly, and fatherly way and manner; so the Lord drew Israel on in the wilderness, till he was brought to Canaan's land, by bestowing kind favours upon them, and by making precious promises to them. So the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 11:4

I drew them with cords of a man - This is a reference to leading strings, one end of which is held by the child, the other by the nurse, by which the little one, feeling some support, and gaining confidence, endeavors to walk. God, their heavenly Father, made use of every means and method to teach them to walk in the right and only safe path; for, as the Targum says, "As beloved children are drawn I drew them by the strength of love." That take of the yoke on their jaws - I did every... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 11:4

Verse 4 The Prophet states, first, that this people had not been severely dealt with, as either slaves, or oxen, or asses, are wont to be treated. He had said before, that the people of Israel were like a heifer, which shakes off the yoke, and in wantonness loves only the treading of corn. But though the perverseness of the people was so great, yet God shows here that he had not used extreme rigour: I have drawn him, he says, with human cords and lovely bands By the cords of man, he means... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-4

A rich display of God's mercy, love, and long-suffering. One chief design of Scripture is to recommend to sinners the goodness and grace of God "The whole Scripture," says Luther, "aims especially at this, that we doubt not, but certainly hope, trust, and believe that God is gracious, merciful, and long-suffering." I. GOD 'S LOVE IS UNMERITED . This is evident from the condition of Israel when he became the object of this love. That condition was one of childhood, and so of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-4

Crowned with tender mercies. This is an extremely beautiful passage. It recalls, in a few most touching expressions, Jehovah's love and condescension and tenderness towards his ancient people. But, alas! the very record of God's kindness becomes the means of throwing into deeper relief the blackness of Israel's sin. I. GOD 'S KINDLY DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL . These had been manifested continually—in the infancy of the nation, during its childhood, and throughout its youth and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-4

God's early love for Israel. The mind, pained by ingratitude, naturally reverts to the kindnesses formerly showered on the unworthy recipient. God hero reminds Israel of his early love to the nation—how he had adopted it as his son, called it out of Egypt, taught it to go alone, drawn it with love, and bountifully provided for it. No sin is so odious as filial ingratitude ( Isaiah 1:3 ). None is so grievous to the heart of a parent. It is this sin which God here charges on Israel. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-7

A typical portrait of a people. "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. He shall not return into the land of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:4

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love. This verse contains a further representation of Jehovah's fatherly guidance of Israel. The cords of a man are such as parents use in leading weak or young children. Bands of lore qualify more closely the preceding expression, "cords of a man," and are the opposite of those which men employ in taming or breaking wild and unmanageable animals. The explanation of Rashi is similar: "I have always led them with tender cords such as these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:4

The magnet of love. "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." These words refer, in the first instance, to ancient Israel, and remind us how kindly and tender had been the Lord's dealings with them. In applying the text to ourselves, we shall consider it under two aspects. We have here— I. A REPRESENTATION OF GOD 'S WAY OF DEALING WITH MEN . The supreme power over the world of mankind is not the relentless power of natural law. The forces of nature dominate... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 11:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 11:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 11:4

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