Hosea 14:3
in Hosea 14Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods; for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
KJV
Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
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This verse in Hosea 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWe are in the last chapter of the book of the Prophet Hosea. Throughout the book there has been thunder— sometimes a low rumbling, as of a distant tempest—sometimes peal on peal, as of a storm immediately overhead. And now the tempest has gathered all its force. Here it culminates. You expect the bolt of Heaven to destroy. Lo, instead thereof, a silver shower of mercy! The gentle drops come down plenteously and you hear them fall upon the tender herb like soft and low music. God does not say, "O Israel, depart accursed!"
This site's exposition
return unto the Lord thy God
on Hosea 14:1-3
O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity, opens the book's closing appeal, and verse 2 gives Israel the very words to bring, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render the calves of our lips. Henry and Gill both read that last phrase as praise offered in place of animal sacrifice, the lips doing what the altar once did, an idea the writer of Hebrews later takes up as the fruit of our lips (Heb 13:15). Verse 3 renounces the three false securities named across the book in one breath, Assyria's army, Egypt's horses, and the idols called our gods, closing with the plain reason, for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Turn back, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, 'Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.'" LXX: "Convert, O Israel, to the Lord your God, because you have been weakened by your iniquities: Take with you words, and return to the Lord, say to him, 'Take away all iniquity, and receive what is good, and we will render the calves of our lips. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses, neither will we say any more: you are our gods; for the fatherless finds mercy in you.'" As Samaria was perishing. "And men, women, and children having been killed, slaughtered, and torn apart, Israel as a whole is provoked to repentance so that he who is sick or has fallen in his iniquities may return to the doctor and receive health, or he who has fallen may begin to stand up again; and it is taught how one should do penance. 'Take with you words,' that is to say, prayers and confession of sins, and turn to the Lord both in words and in works; and say to Him: 'Take away all iniquity,' leave nothing of our weakness and former ruin, lest again the evil seed bring forth live plants. And He says, 'Accept the good': For if You do not take away our evils, we cannot have anything good to offer You, according to what is written elsewhere: 'Turn away from evil and do good, and we will offer You the calves of our lips.'" (Psalm 36:27) For the calves which in Hebrew are called Pharim, the Septuagint translated "fruit" as Pheri, by a similarity of false speech. But the calves of our lips are praises to God and thanksgiving: "For a contrite spirit is a sacrifice to God" (Ps. L, 19). […]
A commentator
John ChrysostomDISCOURSES AGAINST JUDAIZING CHRISTIANS 1:2.1 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Do not be surprised that I view the people of the old covenant as pitiable and woeful. When so many blessings from heaven came into their hands, they thrust them aside and were at great pains to reject them. The morning Sun of justice arose for them, but they thrust aside its rays and still sit in darkness. We [the Gentiles], who were nurtured by darkness, drew the light to ourselves and were freed from the gloom of error. They were the branches of that holy root, but those branches were broken. We had no share in the root, but we did reap the fruit of godliness. From their childhood they read the prophets, but they crucified him whom the prophets had foretold. We did not hear the divine prophecies, but we did worship him of whom they prophesied. And so they are pitiful because they rejected the blessings that were sent to them, while others seized hold of these blessings and drew them to themselves. Although they had been called to the adoption of sons, they fell to kinship with dogs; we who were dogs received the strength, through God's grace, to put aside the irrational nature that was ours and to rise to the honor of sons.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
(2.) See the benefit of sanctified afflictions. Ephraim had smarted for his idolatry; it had brought one judgment after another upon him, and this at length is the fruit, even the taking away of his sin, Isa. xxvii. (3.) See the nature of repentance; it is a firm and fixed resolution to have no more to do with sin.
The fatherless - All that are destitute of strength in themselves, and destitute of help from others; all that being sensible of their own helpless condition, look for it from God, who hath power, mercy, and wisdom to help. Mercy - Both the fountain and streams of goodness too, free grace, and rich bounty.
Ashur shall not save us,....
5 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
THE Lord God of Israel, the one only living and true God, has this for a special mark of His Character, that in Him the fatherless finds mercy. "A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation." False gods of the heathen are usually notable for their supposed power or cunning, or even for their wickedness, falsehood, lustfulness and cruelty. But our God, who made the heavens, is the Thrice Holy One. He is the Holy God and He is also full of love.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Three besetting sins of Israel are here renounced, trust in Assyria, application to Egypt for its cavalry (forbidden, De 17:16; compare Ho 7:11; 31:1), and idolatry. fatherless--descriptive of the destitute state of Israel, when severed from God, their true Father.
We are in the last chapter of the book of the Prophet Hosea. Throughout the book there has been thunder— sometimes a low rumbling, as of a distant tempest—sometimes peal on peal, as of a storm immediately overhead. And now the tempest has gathered all its force. Here it culminates. You expect the bolt of Heaven to destroy. Lo, instead thereof, a silver shower of mercy! The gentle drops come down plenteously and you hear them fall upon the tender herb like soft and low music. God does not say, "O Israel, depart accursed!" But instead thereof, in dulcet tones He cries, "O Israel, return unto the Lord your God." In the midst of wrath He remembers mercy— "When God's right arm is bared for war, And thunders clothe His cloudy car," even then He stays His uplifted hand, reins in the steeds of vengeance, and holds communion with Grace—"for His mercy endures forever," and, "judgment is His strange work." To use another figure—the whole book of Hosea is like a great trial wherein witnesses have appeared against the accused and the arguments and excuses of the guilty have been answered and baffled. All has been heard for them and much, very much, against them—and the convicted stand at the bar to hear their sentence. Behold the Judge, instead of putting on the black cap to pronounce doom of death, stretches out His hands to the condemned and, in tones of pity, cries, "O Israel, return"! This is a wonderful chapter to be at the end of such a book.
THE Lord God of Israel, the one only living and true God, has this for a special mark of His Character, that in Him the fatherless finds mercy. "A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation." False gods of the heathen are usually notable for their supposed power or cunning, or even for their wickedness, falsehood, lustfulness and cruelty. But our God, who made the heavens, is the Thrice Holy One. He is the Holy God and He is also full of love. Indeed, it is not only His name and His character, but His very Nature, for "God is Love." Among the acts which exhibit His love is this—that He executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed and, especially takes under His wings the defenseless ones—such as the widow and the fatherless. This is very notable if you look into the subject in connection with Holy Scripture. We see this soon after the giving of the Law. We have the Law in the 20th chapter of Exodus—and in the 22nd chapter of the same book, close upon the heels of the Law—you have God's Word concerning the fatherless. Listen to Jehovah's words—they are strong and forceful—there is a thunder about their sound. "You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If you afflict them in anywise, and they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." These are the words of that Jehovah who spoke the Ten Commandments on Sinai! See how very near to the heart of our God lies the cause of the widow and the fatherless. The Lord gave the Law a second time in the book of Deuteronomy.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Asshur shall not save us - After prayer for pardon and for acceptance of themselves, and thanksgiving for acceptance, comes the promise not to fall back into their former sins. Trust in man, in their own strength, in their idols, had been their besetting sins. Now, one by one, they disavow them. First, they disclaim trust in man, and making “flesh their arm” Jer 17:
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Return, O Israel You, who are in the land of Judah, lest what happens to Samaria happens to you. Therefore, the topics are juxtaposed. This can be compared to a king against whom a province rebelled. The king sent a general and commanded him to destroy it.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Assyria shall not save us Say this also before Him, “We no longer seek the aid of man, neither from Assyria nor from Egypt.”
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַשּׁ֣וּר׀ | ʾashur | Assyria | H804 → | 151 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נוּ | yoshienu | it will save us | H3467 → | 206 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| סוּס֙ | sus | horse[s] | H5483 → | |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נִרְכָּ֔ב | nirkav | we will ride | H7392 → | |
| וְלֹא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נֹ֥אמַר | nomar | we will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| ע֛וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ | ʾeloheinu | gods our | H430 → | 2601 times |
| לְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה | lemaaseh | to [the] work of | H4639 → | |
| יָדֵ֑ינוּ | yadeinu | hands our | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בְּךָ֖ | bekha | by you | ||
| יְרֻחַ֥ם | yerucham | he is shown compassion | H7355 → | 47 times |
| יָתֽוֹם׃ | yatom | [the] fatherless | H3490 → |
אַשּׁ֣וּר׀Assyria
ʾashurH804 →151 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נוּit will save us
yoshienuH3467 →206 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
סוּס֙horse[s]
susH5483 →
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
נִרְכָּ֔בwe will ride
nirkavH7392 →
וְלֹא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
נֹ֥אמַרwe will say
nomarH559 →5305 times
ע֛וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּgods our
ʾeloheinuH430 →2601 times
לְמַעֲשֵׂ֣הto [the] work of
lemaasehH4639 →
יָדֵ֑ינוּhands our
yadeinuH3027 →1618 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
בְּךָ֖by you
bekha
יְרֻחַ֥םhe is shown compassion
yeruchamH7355 →47 times
יָתֽוֹם׃[the] fatherless
yatomH3490 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 14:18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
it leads to
- Psalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
- Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
- Psalms 23:4
Through
Psalms 68:5A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 146:9
The LORD protects foreigners; He sustains the fatherless and the widow, but the ways of the wicked He frustrates.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 10:14
But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
- Jeremiah 49:11
Abandon your orphans; I will preserve their lives. Let your widows trust in Me.”
- Deuteronomy 10:18
Through
Isaiah 31:1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy…
it leads to
- Psalms 20:7
Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
- Psalms 20:7
About Hosea
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2192: “The Joyous Return” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1695: “The Orphan's Father” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Hosea 14:2-4; John Chrysostom, DISCOURSES AGAINST JUDAIZING CHRISTIANS 1:2.1; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.