The big picture
Hosea 9 opens in verse 1 with “Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will…”, and closes in verse 17 with “My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be…” Repeated or prominent terms include Ephraim, LORD, days, house, Israel. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Hosea · King James Version · 17Hosea 9:1-6
1–6: Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a…
Hosea 9:1–6 opens with “Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou…” and reaches “For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hosea 9 develops its own movement around Ephraim, LORD, days, house, Israel, with particular weight carried by LORD, bread, Egypt.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Hosea 9:1-6
King James Version1Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
2The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
3They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
4They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD , neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD .
5What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD ?
6For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
Hosea 9:7-12
7–12: The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel…
Hosea 9:7–12 opens with “The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the…” and reaches “Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hosea 9 develops its own movement around Ephraim, LORD, days, house, Israel, with particular weight carried by days, Ephraim, hatred.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the…” Naming Ephraim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Hosea 9:7-12
King James Version7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
11As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
Hosea 9:13-17
13–17: Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim…
Hosea 9:13–17 opens with “Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his…” and reaches “My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hosea 9 develops its own movement around Ephraim, LORD, days, house, Israel, with particular weight carried by Ephraim, fruit, wickedness.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Hosea 9:13-17
King James Version13Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
14Give them, O LORD : what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
16Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
17My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Hosea 9:1 begins with “Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.”
Where the chapter turns
Hosea 9:5 forms a natural hinge: “What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD ?”
The final note
Hosea 9:17 leaves the reader with “My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Ephraim, LORD, days, house, Israel, womb help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is included in the covenant?
Noah, his descendants and every living creature. Trace the repeated wording in verses 8-17.
Why does verse 6 matter after the flood?
It grounds the protection of every human life in the continuing divine image.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.