Hosea 9:3

Authorized King James Version

PDF

They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

Original Language Analysis

לֹ֥א H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 1 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵשְׁב֖וּ They shall not dwell H3427
יֵשְׁב֖וּ They shall not dwell
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 2 of 10
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ land H776
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 3 of 10
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
יְהוָ֑ה in the LORD'S H3068
יְהוָ֑ה in the LORD'S
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְשָׁ֤ב shall return H7725
וְשָׁ֤ב shall return
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 5 of 10
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ but Ephraim H669
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ but Ephraim
Strong's: H669
Word #: 6 of 10
ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
מִצְרַ֔יִם to Egypt H4714
מִצְרַ֔יִם to Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 7 of 10
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
וּבְאַשּׁ֖וּר things in Assyria H804
וּבְאַשּׁ֖וּר things in Assyria
Strong's: H804
Word #: 8 of 10
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
טָמֵ֥א unclean H2931
טָמֵ֥א unclean
Strong's: H2931
Word #: 9 of 10
foul in a religious sense
יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ and they shall eat H398
יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ and they shall eat
Strong's: H398
Word #: 10 of 10
to eat (literally or figuratively)

Cross References

Ezekiel 4:13And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.Hosea 8:13They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.Leviticus 25:23The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.Jeremiah 2:7And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.Jeremiah 16:18And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.Deuteronomy 4:26I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.Deuteronomy 28:63And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.1 Kings 9:7Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:Hosea 7:11Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.2 Kings 17:6In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Analysis & Commentary

Land forfeited: 'They shall not dwell in the LORD's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.' The אֶרֶץ יְהוָה (erets YHWH, LORD's land)—promised land forfeited. Result: return to Egypt (bondage) and eating unclean (טָמֵא, tame) in Assyria. This reverses Exodus deliverance and Torah provision. Covenant violation results in covenant blessings lost. Deuteronomy warned this consequence (Deuteronomy 28:64-68). Only through Christ do we inherit eternal land—new creation that cannot be forfeited (Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:1-4).

Historical Context

The land was YHWH's possession (Leviticus 25:23), granted to Israel conditionally (Deuteronomy 4:25-26). Exile from land represented ultimate covenant curse. 'Return to Egypt' occurred both literally (refugees fleeing to Egypt) and symbolically (Assyrian bondage resembling Egyptian slavery). Eating unclean in Assyria means loss of dietary laws governing covenant holiness—unable to maintain Torah observance in pagan lands. Archaeological evidence shows northern Israelite deportees resettled throughout Assyrian empire, losing cultural/religious distinctiveness. This demonstrated that land was gift, not entitlement—conditional on faithfulness. Israel's presumption on unconditional possession proved false.

Questions for Reflection