Hosea 13:4

Authorized King James Version

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Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

Original Language Analysis

וְאָנֹכִ֛י H595
וְאָנֹכִ֛י
Strong's: H595
Word #: 1 of 12
i
יְהוָ֥ה Yet I am the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה Yet I am the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וֵאלֹהִ֤ים no god H430
וֵאלֹהִ֤ים no god
Strong's: H430
Word #: 3 of 12
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ from the land H776
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ from the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 4 of 12
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מִצְרָ֑יִם of Egypt H4714
מִצְרָ֑יִם of Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 5 of 12
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
וֵאלֹהִ֤ים no god H430
וֵאלֹהִ֤ים no god
Strong's: H430
Word #: 6 of 12
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
זֽוּלָתִי֙ but me H2108
זֽוּלָתִי֙ but me
Strong's: H2108
Word #: 7 of 12
probably scattering, i.e., removal; used adverbially, except
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 8 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֵדָ֔ע and thou shalt know H3045
תֵדָ֔ע and thou shalt know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 9 of 12
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וּמוֹשִׁ֥יעַ for there is no saviour H3467
וּמוֹשִׁ֥יעַ for there is no saviour
Strong's: H3467
Word #: 10 of 12
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
אַ֖יִן H369
אַ֖יִן
Strong's: H369
Word #: 11 of 12
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
בִּלְתִּֽי׃ beside me H1115
בִּלְתִּֽי׃ beside me
Strong's: H1115
Word #: 12 of 12
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n

Analysis & Commentary

Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. God's self-identification: LORD who redeemed from Egypt. Command: know no other god. Reason: no other savior exists. This establishes exclusive salvation - YHWH alone saves, all alternatives fail. Acts 4:12 declares: No other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Christ is the name - God incarnate, only Savior. All religious alternatives prove powerless. Only Jesus saves from sin, death, and judgment through His substitutionary atonement.

Historical Context

The Exodus established God's saving character - delivering from bondage through power and grace. Yet Israel sought other saviors: Baal for crops, Egypt/Assyria for security, idols for blessings. All failed. The exclusive claim no savior beside me eliminated alternatives. Modern parallel: pluralistic claims that many paths lead to God contradict Scripture's exclusive gospel. Christ alone saves; other religions offer false hope. Peter declared: Neither is there salvation in any other (Acts 4:12). Eternal destinies depend on recognizing Christ as only Savior.

Questions for Reflection