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Hosea 5:13

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Hosea 5:13

Verse 13 of 15

Scripture focus

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

Hosea 5:13 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Hosea 5:13

Theological / Devotional

His sickness. Both Israel and Judah sensed their national decline. However, instead of turning to God for help, Ephraim turned to Assyria. Ephraim alone is mentioned as seeking this assistance because the northern kingdom was the first to become involved with Assyria (2 Kings 15-18).

Jareb. Heb. yareb. We do not know to what Assyrian king, if any, this name applied. Some suggest that yareb, instead of being a proper name, is a descriptive term, possibly from the root rib, “to contend.” Hence they suggest the phrase, “the king who contends.”

Others assume that the root is rabab, “to be great,” and suggest the title “the great king.” The latter meaning is given support by the common title used by the kings of Assyria, sharm rabu, “the great king” (compare the Ugaritic mlk rb, “the great king.” Compare also the origin of the title “rabbi,” see on Isa. 19:20). The LXX reading, Iarim, suggests the title malki mm, “the exalted king.”

Not heal you. Hosea reminds his people that whatever help they would seek outside of God would be in vain.

By SdaBc