Hosea 7:16

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 7:16

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 7:16

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 7:16

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 7:16

They return, but not to the Most High. This verse is closely connected in sense with the preceding. Their God-defying attitude, as described in Hosea 7:15 , is represented in Hosea 7:16 allegorically as a deceitful bow, which fails to scud the arrow to the mark; also their unsuccess is represented as exposing them to the derision of Egypt; while the princes who spake so exceeding proudly, and who instigated their ungodliness and consequent wretchedness, would be slain with the sword.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hosea 7:16

They return, but not to the most High - God exhorts by Jeremiah, “If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto Me” Jeremiah 4:1. They changed, whenever they did change, with a feigned, hypocritical conversion, but not to God, nor acknowledging His Majesty. Man, until truly converted, turns to and fro, unstably, hither and thither, changing from one evil to another, from the sins of youth to the sins of age, from the sins of prosperity to the sin of adversity; but he remains... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hosea 7:15-16

Hosea 7:15-16 . Though I have bound, &c. Though, after bringing them low, I have given them new strength and vigour; yet do they imagine mischief against me Yet they are continually devising some new idolatrous inventions, whereby they may dishonour me. The word יסרתי , rendered I have bound them, more properly signifies, I have chastised them, and is so rendered by Archbishop Newcome, Bishop Horsley, and others. The general sense of the verse is, Whether I inflict punishment on... 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

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