Hosea 11:1-4

The Lord's Love for Israel

1 u When Israel was a child, v I loved him,
and out of Egypt I w called x my son.
 2 y The more they were called,
the more they went away;
z they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.

3 Yet it was a I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that b I healed them.
 4 c I led them with cords of kindness, 1
with the bands of love,
and d I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and e I bent down to them and fed them.

  1. Cross References
    Hosea 2:15
    And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:8
    But it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
    Hosea 14:4
    I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 2:15
    And remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 4:22
    Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son.
    Malachi 1:6
    "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'
  5. Cross References
    Hosea 11:7
    My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.
  6. Cross References
    Hosea 2:13
    And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the Lord.
    Hosea 13:1 - 2
    When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
  7. Cross References
    Hosea 7:15
    Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against me.
    Deuteronomy 1:31
    And in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 15:26
    Saying, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:3
    The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
    John 6:44
    No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
    John 12:32
    And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
  10. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:13
    I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 78:24 - 29
    And he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.