Hosea 13:9

"I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them."

Key Reflection

In this passage, God uses imagery to convey His fierce judgment on Israel. He likens Himself to a bear bereaved of her cubs, indicating both maternal protection and wrathful vengeance, and a lioness who will destroy their hearts and souls, symbolizing the severity of divine retribution.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in Me is thy help -This is one of the concise sayings of Hosea, which is capable of many shades of meaning. The five words, one by one, are literally, “Israel, thy destruction, for” or “that, in” or “against Me, in” or “against thy help.” Something must be supplied any way; the simplest seems; “O Israel, thy destruction” is, “that” thou hast been, hast rebelled “against Me, against thy help” .

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