Hosea 1:5
And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֖ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֖ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 9
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בַּיּ֣וֹם
And it shall come to pass at that day
H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם
And it shall come to pass at that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 9
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֑וּא
H1931
הַה֑וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
3 of 9
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙
that I will break
H7665
וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙
that I will break
Strong's:
H7665
Word #:
4 of 9
to burst (literally or figuratively)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
קֶ֣שֶׁת
the bow
H7198
קֶ֣שֶׁת
the bow
Strong's:
H7198
Word #:
6 of 9
a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
7 of 9
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Cross References
Joshua 17:16And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.Judges 6:33Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
Historical Context
Jezreel valley's strategic importance made it a perpetual battlefield. Israel's bow was indeed broken there: Assyrian forces under Tiglath-Pileser III (734-732 BC) conquered the northern territories, and Shalmaneser V besieged Samaria (725-722 BC). Archaeological evidence shows widespread destruction from Assyrian campaigns. Israel's military collapse fulfilled Hosea's prophecy precisely. The nation that relied on chariots and horses (Hosea 14:3) rather than God experienced the humiliation of total defeat. This historical pattern recurs: nations trusting military power apart from righteousness inevitably fall (Psalm 20:7, 33:16-17).
Questions for Reflection
- What false securities (political, financial, relational) do I trust instead of God, and how might God 'break' them to restore dependence on Him?
- How does Israel's military defeat in their strongest region warn against presuming on past blessings while forsaking covenant faithfulness?
Analysis & Commentary
The prophecy 'And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel' predicts military defeat in Israel's heartland. The 'bow' symbolizes military power (Psalm 46:9, Jeremiah 49:35). Jezreel valley, site of Israel's past victories (Judges 7, Gideon's defeat of Midian; 1 Samuel 29, Saul's final battle), would witness their ultimate humiliation. God Himself becomes Israel's enemy, stripping away false securities. This fulfills Deuteronomy's covenant curses (28:25): 'The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies.' The irony is profound: the nation trusting in military alliances (Egypt, Assyria) rather than YHWH loses all military capacity. Spiritual unfaithfulness produces practical powerlessness. Only Christ overcomes our enemies—sin, death, Satan—not through military might but through self-sacrificing love (Colossians 2:14-15).