Evening after harvest on a hillside threshing floor near a village: heaps of grain and straw, wooden forks left leaning, no one there.

Sowing the wind

Hosea 9

Can you be celebrating and still be far from God?

17 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Hosea’s marriageA wife, three names, and love bought back
4–6:3The LORD’s caseNo knowledge of God in the land
6–11Sowing the windMist, kings, calves, and a love that won’t let goChapter 9
11–14Return, O IsraelJacob’s story, death undone, and the last call

Israel’s Punishment

Hosea

Do not rejoice, O Israel,

with exultation like the nations,

for you have played the harlot against your God;

you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Hosea

A rock-cut winepress on a vineyard hillside at the end of harvest, its treading floor dry and stained, a few shriveled grapes, a cracked empty jar lying at the outlet.

The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,

and the new wine will fail them.

They will not remain

in the land of the LORD;

Ephraim will return to Egypt

and eat unclean food in Assyria.

0:12

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Hosea

They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD,

and their sacrifices will not please Him,

but will be to them like the bread of mourners;

all who eat will be defiled.

For their bread will be for themselves;

it will not enter the house of the LORD.

Hosea

A deserted homestead in the hills at midday: a fallen tent cloth on its poles and a broken stone wall overgrown with tall thistles and thorn bushes, a small clay jar half buried in the weeds.

For even if they flee destruction,

Egypt will gather them

and Memphis will bury them.

Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles,

and thorns will overrun their tents.

Hosea

The days of punishment have come;

the days of retribution have arrived—

let Israel know it.

Hosea

A stony path below a town wall at morning, a fowler’s cord snare set on it half hidden among the stones; far off on the flat wall top, one watchman seen from behind.

The prophet is called a fool,

and the inspired man insane,

because of the greatness

of your iniquity and hostility.

The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman,

along with my God,

yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.

Hostility is in the house of his God!

Hosea

They have deeply corrupted themselves

as in the days of Gibeah;

He will remember their guilt;

He will punish their sins.

Question

Quick question

Hosea was the watchman God set over Ephraim. Read verses 7 and 8 again before you answer.

What did Israel call the prophet in 9:7?

God

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.

Hosea 9:10

God

God

I saw your fathers as the firstfruits

of the fig tree in its first season.

God

At dusk, far off on a bare hilltop beyond the acacias, a rough stone altar and a standing stone with smoke rising and tiny figures gathered, while the Israelite tents below stand quiet and empty.

But they went to Baal-peor,

and consecrated themselves to Shame;

so they became as detestable

as the thing they loved.

God

Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird,

with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

Even if they raise their children,

I will bereave them of each one.

Yes, woe be to them

when I turn away from them!

God

I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,

planted in a meadow.

But Ephraim will bring out

his children for slaughter.

Hosea

Give them, O LORD—

what will You give?

Give them wombs that miscarry

and breasts that dry up!

Pray

LORD, every harvest I have ever had came from You. Give me ears to hear a warning while there is still time. Remember a people who have forgotten who gave them everything, and teach me to love You more than Your gifts.

God

All their evil appears at Gilgal,

for there I hated them.

I will drive them from My house

for the wickedness of their deeds.

I will no longer love them;

all their leaders are rebellious.

God

Ephraim is struck down;

their root is withered;

they cannot bear fruit.

Even if they bear children,

I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

Hosea

Hosea

My God will reject them

because they have not obeyed Him;

and they shall be wanderers

among the nations.

You’ve experienced

Hosea 9

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A verse to carry with you

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.

Hosea 9:10

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