CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hosea 7:9 Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/7-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/28_Hos_07_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 7:9 - Ephraim's Iniquity" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/hosea/7-9.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/hosea/7-9.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/hosea/">Hosea</a> > <a href="/hosea/7.htm">Chapter 7</a> > Verse 9</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hosea/7-8.htm" title="Hosea 7:8">◄</a> Hosea 7:9 <a href="/hosea/7-10.htm" title="Hosea 7:10">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/hosea/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/hosea/7.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/7.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/7.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/7.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth <i>it</i> not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/7.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Aliens have devoured his strength, But he does not know <i>it;</i> Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, Yet he does not know <i>it.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know <i>it;</i> Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know <i>it.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know <i>it;</i> Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know <i>it.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Strangers devour his power, Yet he does not know <i>it</i>; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know <i>it</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not notice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not notice. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />They don't seem to realize how weak and feeble they are; their hair has turned gray, while foreigners rule. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Foreigners are using up your strength, but you don't realize it. You have become a gray-haired, old man, but you don't realize it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and do not realize that this reliance on foreigners has robbed them of their strength. Their days are numbered, but they don't even know it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Foreigners have consumed his strength, and he hasn't noticed. Furthermore, his head is sprinkled with gray hair, but he doesn't realize it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced, but he does not recognize it! His head is filled with gray hair, but he does not realize it! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realize it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yes, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn’t realize it. Indeed, gray hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn’t realize it. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his power, "" And he has not known, "" Also old age has sprinkled [itself] on him, "" And he has not known.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Devoured have strangers his power, And he hath not known, Also old age hath sprinkled itself on him, And he hath not known.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Strangers consumed his strength, and he knew not: also grayness of hair was sprinkled upon him, and he knew not.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knew it not: yea, grey hairs also are spread about upon him, and he is ignorant of it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, and he did not know it. And grey hairs also have spread across him, and he is ignorant of it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Strangers have consumed his strength, but he does not know it; Gray hairs are strewn on his head, but he takes no notice of it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Foreigners devour his strength, but he does not know it; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, but he does not know it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Thus strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yea, gray hairs have grown upon him, yet he knows it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/7.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />In this way foreigners have consumed his power, and he did not know, and white hairs have come out on him and he did not know it<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/7.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Strangers have devoured his strength, And he knoweth it not; Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, And he knoweth it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/7.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Strangers devoured his strength, and he knew <i>it</i> not; and grey hairs came upon him, and he knew <i>it</i> not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/7-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=1029" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/hosea/7.htm">Ephraim's Iniquity</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">8</span>Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake. <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2114.htm" title="2114: zā·rîm (Adj-mp) -- A primitive root; to turn aside; hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically to commit adultery.">Foreigners</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ’ā·ḵə·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">consume</a> <a href="/hebrew/3581.htm" title="3581: kō·ḥōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Or kowach; from an unused root meaning to be firm; vigor, literally or figuratively; also a large lizard.">his strength,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: wə·hū (Conj-w:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">but he</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">does not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏā‘ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">notice.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: gam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. ">Even</a> <a href="/hebrew/2236.htm" title="2236: zā·rə·qāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- Be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew. A primitive root; to sprinkle.">his hair is streaked</a> <a href="/hebrew/bōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/7872.htm" title="7872: śê·ḇāh (N-fs) -- Hoary head, old age. Feminine of seyb; old age.">with gray,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: wə·hū (Conj-w:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">but he</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">does not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏā‘ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">know.</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-7.htm">Isaiah 1:7</a></span><br />Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-19.htm">Jeremiah 2:19</a></span><br />Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/5-2.htm">Lamentations 5:2</a></span><br />Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-25.htm">Isaiah 42:25</a></span><br />So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-28.htm">Jeremiah 5:28</a></span><br />They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-30.htm">Ezekiel 16:30</a></span><br />How weak-willed is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/28-1.htm">Isaiah 28:1</a></span><br />Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-22.htm">Jeremiah 4:22</a></span><br />“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Ezekiel 23:35</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/17-10.htm">Isaiah 17:10</a></span><br />For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge. Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots and set out cuttings from exotic vines—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/30-14.htm">Jeremiah 30:14</a></span><br />All your lovers have forgotten you; they no longer seek you, for I have struck you as an enemy would, with the discipline of someone cruel, because of your great iniquity and your numerous sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-18.htm">Ezekiel 23:18</a></span><br />When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-9.htm">Isaiah 29:9-10</a></span><br />Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink. / For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-21.htm">Jeremiah 3:21</a></span><br />A voice is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, because they have perverted their ways and forgotten the LORD their God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Ezekiel 16:15</a></span><br />But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he knows not.</p><p class="hdg">devoured.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Hosea 8:7</a></b></br> For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/13-3.htm">2 Kings 13:3-7,22</a></b></br> And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all <i>their</i> days… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/15-19.htm">2 Kings 15:19</a></b></br> <i>And</i> Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.</p><p class="hdg">here and there.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/2-19.htm">Age</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-22.htm">Aliens</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-26.htm">Conscious</a> <a href="/hosea/7-7.htm">Devour</a> <a href="/hosea/7-7.htm">Devoured</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm">Foreigners</a> <a href="/isaiah/46-4.htm">Gray</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-29.htm">Grey</a> <a href="/daniel/7-9.htm">Hair</a> <a href="/daniel/4-33.htm">Hairs</a> <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/hosea/6-10.htm">Itself</a> <a href="/daniel/11-42.htm">Lands</a> <a href="/daniel/12-7.htm">Power</a> <a href="/hosea/7-2.htm">Realize</a> <a href="/psalms/104-16.htm">Sap</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-25.htm">Sprinkled</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-22.htm">Strangers</a> <a href="/daniel/11-32.htm">Strength</a> <a href="/hosea/5-15.htm">Waste</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joel/2-26.htm">Age</a> <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Aliens</a> <a href="/hosea/11-3.htm">Conscious</a> <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Devour</a> <a href="/joel/1-19.htm">Devoured</a> <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Foreigners</a> <a href="/zechariah/6-3.htm">Gray</a> <a href="/genesis/42-38.htm">Grey</a> <a href="/micah/1-16.htm">Hair</a> <a href="/matthew/10-30.htm">Hairs</a> <a href="/hosea/7-15.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/hosea/10-6.htm">Itself</a> <a href="/matthew/19-29.htm">Lands</a> <a href="/hosea/12-3.htm">Power</a> <a href="/hosea/11-3.htm">Realize</a> <a href="/romans/11-17.htm">Sap</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-13.htm">Sprinkled</a> <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Strangers</a> <a href="/hosea/7-15.htm">Strength</a> <a href="/hosea/8-10.htm">Waste</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/7-1.htm">A reproof of manifold sins.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/7-11.htm">God's wrath against them for their hypocrisy.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hosea/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Foreigners consume his strength</b><br>This phrase highlights the consequences of Israel's alliances with foreign nations, which often led to spiritual and political compromise. Historically, Israel sought help from surrounding nations like Assyria and Egypt, which weakened their reliance on God. This is reminiscent of the warnings in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, where God cautions Israel about the dangers of turning to other nations instead of trusting Him. The consumption of strength symbolizes the gradual erosion of Israel's power and vitality due to these alliances, reflecting a spiritual decline as well.<p><b>but he does not notice</b><br>This indicates Israel's spiritual blindness and lack of awareness regarding their deteriorating condition. The nation was oblivious to the fact that their strength was being sapped by their reliance on foreign powers. This mirrors the spiritual complacency warned against in <a href="/revelation/3-17.htm">Revelation 3:17</a>, where the church in Laodicea is described as being unaware of its true spiritual state. The lack of awareness is a call to self-examination and repentance, urging believers to recognize their dependence on God.<p><b>Even his hair is streaked with gray</b><br>Gray hair in biblical times was often associated with wisdom and experience, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/16-31.htm">Proverbs 16:31</a>. However, in this context, it symbolizes the unnoticed aging and decline of the nation. The imagery suggests that Israel is past its prime, yet remains unaware of its vulnerability and impending judgment. This serves as a metaphor for spiritual decline, where outward signs of decay are ignored, leading to further deterioration.<p><b>but he does not know</b><br>This phrase underscores the theme of ignorance and denial. Israel's failure to recognize its weakened state is a result of spiritual insensitivity and pride. This ignorance is a recurring theme in the prophets, where the people are often described as having eyes but not seeing, and ears but not hearing, as in <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a>. The call is for awareness and repentance, urging the nation to return to God before it's too late.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC, Hosea's ministry focused on calling Israel back to faithfulness to God amidst widespread idolatry and moral decay.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, often referred to as Ephraim in Hosea, which was experiencing political instability and spiritual decline during Hosea's time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreigners.htm">Foreigners</a></b><br>Refers to the surrounding nations and influences that were leading Israel away from their covenant with God, both politically and spiritually.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gray_hair.htm">Gray Hair</a></b><br>Symbolic of aging and decline, representing Israel's unnoticed spiritual and moral decay.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_judgment.htm">God's Judgment</a></b><br>The overarching theme of Hosea, where God warns Israel of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness and calls them to repentance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_awareness.htm">Spiritual Awareness</a></b><br>Just as Israel was unaware of its decline, Christians must remain vigilant and aware of their spiritual health to avoid gradual decay.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/influence_of_the_world.htm">Influence of the World</a></b><br>The "foreigners" consuming Israel's strength can be likened to worldly influences that can erode a believer's faith if not guarded against.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/signs_of_decline.htm">Signs of Decline</a></b><br>The gray hair symbolizes unnoticed decline. Believers should regularly examine their lives for signs of spiritual weariness or compromise.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Hosea's message is a call to return to God. Christians are encouraged to repent and seek renewal in their relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_god.htm">Dependence on God</a></b><br>Israel's reliance on foreign alliances rather than God led to their downfall. Believers are reminded to place their trust in God alone.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_a_gay_person_be_a_pastor.htm">What is the biblical perspective on gray hair?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/should_ezra_abandon_foreign_families.htm">Should Ezra have ordered abandoning foreign wives and children?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_bible_say_about_gray_hair.htm">What is the biblical perspective on gray hair?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_intermarriage_severe_in_ezra_9_3-4.htm">Considering Ezra 9:3-4, why does the text portray intermarriage so severely, when similar unions elsewhere in the Bible are treated with less alarm?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">Have devoured.--</span>The past tense may refer to the invasions of Tiglath-pileser. Both Egypt and Assyria had come to regard Israel as the earthen pipkin between iron pots. These strangers have devoured his strength--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> he has less power to resist aggression, less treasure, less land, smaller population. The signs of senility are upon him. "Grey hairs are his passing bell." He is under sentence of death, and knoweth it not.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not.</span> Israel's intercourse with other nationalities could not but issue in disaster; a specimen of that disaster is here given. As the Greeks called all who did not speak the Greek language, whether they were savage or civilized, barbarians, so Israel called all foreigners, whether near or far off, strangers. The foreign nations here meant were those with which Israel had entered into treaties or formed alliances, in contravention of the constitution which God had given them. These nations, moreover, devoured their national resources by the imposition of taxes and hostile incursions; thus the King of Syria left "of the people to Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the King of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing;" again, when "Pul, the King of Assyria, came against the laud," we read that Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the King of Assyria;" then, "in the days of Pekah King of Israel came Tiglath-pileser King of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazer, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. "The <span class="accented">strength</span> here mentioned includes all those things which constitute the wealth and well-being of a country, the produce of the soil and the riches of its inhabitants. Thus Aben Ezra rightly explains this clause, referring it to "the tribute which the Israelites gave to Assyria and Egypt, as is written in the Book of Kings." <span class="cmt_word">Yea, grey hairs are here and there</span> (margin, <span class="accented">sprinkled</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>upon him</span>. What from foreign foes and internal feuds, the body politic was manifesting unmistakable symptoms of decay and decrepitude and approaching dissolution, just as grey hairs on the human body give indication of the advance of old age, with its decay of strength and nearness to the tomb. "The course of nature," says Aben Ezra, "has sprinkled grey hairs upon him, just as grey hair comes on men in consequence of the course of nature;" this corresponds to the sentiment of the preceding clause, for, according to the commentator just named," the grey hair denotes that their power is weakened and their possession perished." <span class="cmt_word">Yet he knoweth not is parallel to</span>. "And he knoweth (it) not," and repeats the same sentiment, of course with emphasis of what was Israel thus ignorant? Not, surely, of the declining state of the national strength and the decay of the national importance. After so many drains upon their resources and the unsatisfactory position of their foreign relations, they could not shut their eyes upon the steadily and even rapidly approaching decadence. But though they could not pretend ignorance of the fact, they remained in ignorance of the cause, its consequence, and the cure. Notwithstanding the already exhausted condition of their country, and the process of exhaustion still going on, they overlooked the lamentable cause of all, which was their sin, national and individual, in departing from the Lord; and at the same time the dangerous consequences that were neither remote nor capable of being staved off; as also the only possible cure to be found in direct and immediate return and application to that God from whom they had so revolted. The "it" supplied in the Authorized Version <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> had better be omitted; <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> the construction adopted by Rashi and others, who make the first part of each clause the object of the second, is erroneous, as we have shown in the preceding observations. "They took it not to heart that the kings of Syria consumed them in the days of Jehoahaz" is the exposition of Rashi just referred to; but that of Kimchi favors the first and correct construction, as may be inferred from the words, "And he (Israel) knows not that on account of his iniquity all this has come upon him, and yet he turns not from his wickedness." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/7-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Foreigners</span><br /><span class="heb">זָרִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(zā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2114.htm">Strong's 2114: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery</span><br /><br /><span class="word">consume</span><br /><span class="heb">אָכְל֤וּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḵə·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his strength,</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹּח֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(kō·ḥōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3581.htm">Strong's 3581: </a> </span><span class="str2">A small reptile (of unknown species)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but he</span><br /><span class="heb">וְה֖וּא</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">does not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">notice.</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדָ֑ע</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Even</span><br /><span class="heb">גַּם־</span> <span class="translit">(gam-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1571.htm">Strong's 1571: </a> </span><span class="str2">Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his hair is streaked</span><br /><span class="heb">זָ֣רְקָה</span> <span class="translit">(zā·rə·qāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2236.htm">Strong's 2236: </a> </span><span class="str2">Be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew </span><br /><br /><span class="word">with gray,</span><br /><span class="heb">שֵׂיבָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(śê·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7872.htm">Strong's 7872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hoary head, old age</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but he</span><br /><span class="heb">וְה֖וּא</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">does not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">realize.</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדָֽע׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/7-9.htm">Hosea 7:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/7-9.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength and he (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/7-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 7:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 7:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/7-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 7:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 7:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>