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<!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 1:5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/1-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/28_Hos_01_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 1:5 - Hosea's Wife and Children" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.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/1-4.htm" title="Hosea 1:4">◄</a> Hosea 1:5 <a href="/hosea/1-6.htm" title="Hosea 1:6">►</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/1.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/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />In that day I will break Israel&#8217s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />It shall come to pass in that day That I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And it will come about on that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And it will be in that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will break the bow [of the military power] of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will break the bow of Israel in Jezreel Valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and in Jezreel Valley I will break the power of Israel." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />On that day I will break Israel's bows and arrows in the valley of Jezreel."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />And in Jezreel Valley I will at that time destroy Israel's military power." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />At that time I'll shatter the military strength of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It will happen in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />It will happen in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and it has come to pass in that day that I have broken the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and it hath come to pass in that day that I have broken the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it was in that day and I broke the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And in that day I will break in pieces the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezrahel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And in that day, I will crush the stronghold of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass on that day, I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />In that day I shall break the bow of Israel in the valley of Yezreel’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it shall be, in that day, <i>that</i> I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezrael.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/1-5.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=53" 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/1.htm">Hosea's Wife and Children</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">4</span>Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">And</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hū (Art:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">on that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bay·yō·wm (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day</a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: wə·šā·ḇar·tî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst.">I will break</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7198.htm" title="7198: qe·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- A bow. From qashah in the original sense of bending: a bow, for shooting or the iris.">the bow</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/6010.htm" title="6010: bə·‘ê·meq (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- A vale. From amaq; a vale.">in the Valley</a> <a href="/hebrew/3157.htm" title="3157: yiz·rə·‘el (N-proper-fs) -- From zara' and 'el; God will sow; Jizreel, the name of two places in Palestine and of two Israelites.">of Jezreel.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them.…<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="/2_kings/17-6.htm">2 Kings 17:6</a></span><br />In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/18-11.htm">2 Kings 18:11</a></span><br />The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/18-34.htm">2 Kings 18:34</a></span><br />Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-37.htm">2 Kings 19:37</a></span><br />One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/7-8.htm">Isaiah 7:8</a></span><br />For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-4.htm">Isaiah 8:4</a></span><br />For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/9-11.htm">Isaiah 9:11-12</a></span><br />The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together. / Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-5.htm">Isaiah 10:5-6</a></span><br />Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/17-3.htm">Isaiah 17:3</a></span><br />The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the sovereignty from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites,” declares the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Jeremiah 31:18</a></span><br />I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-17.htm">Jeremiah 50:17</a></span><br />Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/1-3.htm">Amos 1:3-5</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron. / So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad. / I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-27.htm">Amos 5:27</a></span><br />Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/1-6.htm">Micah 1:6</a></span><br />Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/10-11.htm">Zechariah 10:11</a></span><br />They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.</p><p class="hdg">I will.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/2-18.htm">Hosea 2:18</a></b></br> And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and <i>with</i> the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/37-15.htm">Psalm 37:15</a></b></br> Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/46-9.htm">Psalm 46:9</a></b></br> He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.</p><p class="hdg">in.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/17-16.htm">Joshua 17:16</a></b></br> And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, <i>both they</i> who <i>are</i> of Bethshean and her towns, and <i>they</i> who <i>are</i> of the valley of Jezreel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/6-33.htm">Judges 6:33</a></b></br> Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/39-3.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/daniel/11-26.htm">Break</a> <a href="/daniel/11-22.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/hosea/1-4.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-49.htm">Israel's</a> <a href="/hosea/1-4.htm">Jezreel</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/4-3.htm">Jizreel</a> <a href="/daniel/3-1.htm">Valley</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/1-7.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/hosea/2-18.htm">Break</a> <a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/hosea/1-6.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/hosea/5-5.htm">Israel's</a> <a href="/hosea/1-11.htm">Jezreel</a> <a href="/hosea/1-11.htm">Jizreel</a> <a href="/hosea/2-15.htm">Valley</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/1-1.htm">Hosea, to show God's judgment for spiritual unfaithfulness, takes Gomer,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/1-4.htm">and has by her Jezreel;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/1-6.htm">Loruhamah;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/1-8.htm">and Lo-Ammi.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/1-10.htm">The restoration of Judah and Israel under one head.</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/1.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/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And on that day</b><br>This phrase indicates a specific time of divine intervention. In biblical prophecy, "that day" often refers to a time of judgment or fulfillment of God's plans. It suggests a future event that is certain to occur, emphasizing God's control over history.<p><b>I will break the bow of Israel</b><br>The "bow" symbolizes military strength and power. Breaking the bow signifies the end of Israel's military might and autonomy. This is a prophetic declaration of judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, indicating their defeat and subjugation. Historically, this was fulfilled when the Assyrians conquered Israel in 722 BC. The imagery of breaking the bow is also found in other scriptures, such as <a href="/psalms/46-9.htm">Psalm 46:9</a>, where God makes wars cease by breaking the bow.<p><b>in the Valley of Jezreel</b><br>The Valley of Jezreel is a significant geographical location in Israel, known for its fertile land and strategic military importance. It was the site of many battles in Israel's history, including those involving Gideon and the Midianites (Judges 6-7) and King Saul's defeat by the Philistines (1 Samuel 29-31). The name "Jezreel" means "God sows," which is ironic given the prophecy of destruction. This valley becomes a symbol of both judgment and hope, as it is also associated with future restoration (<a href="/hosea/2-22.htm">Hosea 2:22</a>). The prophecy in <a href="/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5</a> foreshadows the Assyrian invasion, which would lead to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet called by God to deliver His message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Hosea's life and marriage serve as a symbolic representation of God's relationship with Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, often characterized by its unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with foreign nations.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/v/valley_of_jezreel.htm">Valley of Jezreel</a></b><br>A fertile valley in the Northern Kingdom, significant for its historical battles and as a symbol of God's impending judgment on Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_bow.htm">The Bow</a></b><br>Represents military strength and power. The breaking of the bow symbolizes the end of Israel's military might and self-reliance.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_judgment.htm">God's Judgment</a></b><br>The event where God declares His intention to bring judgment upon Israel for their unfaithfulness and reliance on military power instead of Him.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a></b><br>God is in control of the rise and fall of nations. Our trust should be in Him, not in military or political power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_unfaithfulness.htm">The Consequences of Unfaithfulness</a></b><br>Israel's unfaithfulness led to their downfall. We must remain faithful to God, avoiding idolatry and misplaced trust.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_symbolism_of_the_bow.htm">The Symbolism of the Bow</a></b><br>The bow represents human strength and self-reliance. God calls us to rely on His strength rather than our own.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_repentance.htm">The Importance of Repentance</a></b><br>God's judgment is a call to repentance. We should examine our lives and turn back to God when we stray.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/historical_context_and_prophetic_fulfillment.htm">Historical Context and Prophetic Fulfillment</a></b><br>Understanding the historical context of Hosea's prophecy helps us see the fulfillment of God's word and His faithfulness to His promises.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 1</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_jehu_praised_yet_condemned.htm">How do we reconcile Hosea 1:4–5 with 2 Kings 10:30, where Jehu is commended, yet here his dynasty is condemned? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_hosea_1_4-9_conflict_with_god's_mercy.htm">Does the symbolic naming in Hosea 1:4-9 conflict with the broader biblical emphasis on God's mercy and redemption?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_proof_sacrifices_failed_in_hosea_5_6.htm">Hosea 5:6 - Is there external historical documentation showing that sacrifices stopped working for Israel during this period?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_proof_of_beth-aven's_calf_idol.htm">Hosea 10:5: Do we have any archaeological proof of the calf idol in Beth-Aven, or is there a lack of external evidence supporting its existence?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.</span>--Jehu was to be punished for the assassination of Ahab's descendants. Though the destruction of the house of Ahab was divinely appointed, its value was neutralised by Jehu's tolerance of the calf-worship.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And it shall some to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel</span>. Here we have a prediction of a most momentous event, with express statement of the place where it should occur, as also the time of its occurrence. The event itself was more than the downfall of a dynasty; it was the destruction of a kingdom. The date of that destruction is defined simply as the period when God would punish the sins of both the princes and people of Israel The close of Jehu's dynasty was at once the preparation for and the commencement of the cessation of the kingdom of Israel. The place of this calamity was the Valley of Jezreel. This famous valley was the cockpit of Palestine. There Israel conquered the host of King Jabin; there Gideon overthrew the Midianites; there Saul was defeated by the Philistines, when driven up the slopes of Gilbea "<span class="accented">the</span> beauty of Israel was slain in thy high places;" there a defeat equally sorrowful and not less disastrous was aggravated by the death of good King Josiah, and proved fatal to the kingdom of Judah; there, too, in later times, the last conflict took place between the Crusaders and the Moslems, in which victory crowned the arms of Saladin; there, also, was fought the battle, as we learn from this passage, which decided the fate of the kingdom of Israel. The situation of this valley was admirably suited for such scenes. This plain, or valley, broad as it is beautiful, begins where the maritime plain, interrupted by the ridge of Carmel, turns aside and extends across the center of the country from the Mediterranean Sea on the west to the Jordan valley on the east, and from the hills of Galilee on the north to those of Ephraim or Samaria on the south. The form of this plain is triangular; its eastern side or base is fifteen miles, reaching from Engannim, now <span class="accented">Jenin</span>, to the hills below Nazareth; the north side along the hills of Galilee is twelve miles; the southern, formed by the hills of Samaria, is eighteen miles; while the apex of this somewhat irregular triangle is a narrow pass through which the river Kishon - "<span class="accented">that</span> ancient river, the river Kishon" - with its winding stream makes its way to the sea. On the east there are three branches in the direction of the Jordan, which bear a remote resemblance to the fingers of a hand. The northern branch <span class="accented">passes</span> between Tabor and Little Hermon, or <span class="accented">Jebel ed-Duhy</span>; the central one, which is the Valley of Jezreel proper, runs between Shunem and Jezreel, now <span class="accented">Zerin</span>; the southern between Mount Gilboa and En-gannim, now <span class="accented">Jenia - this</span> branch, having no outlet, loses itself among the eastern hills. The name of this plain was derived from the city of Jezreel, situated near its eastern extremity on a spur of Mount Gilboa, which Ahab chose as a royal residence, and which remained so for three successive reigns, though in the time of Jeroboam II. Samaria had again, as in the days of Omri, become the royal city. In this great plain, called by the Greeks Esdraelon, the bow of Israel was to be broken. The bow (<span class="accented">qesheth, tad</span>. <span class="accented">qashah</span>, hard, stiff, unbending) was the warrior's weapon of offence and defense - strong and powerful; the breaking of his bow deprived him of his chief weapon, and left him at the mercy of the enemy to conquer or to kill; thus we read, "His bow abode in strength;" and again, "My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand." But while such general references prove the bow to have been an emblem of strength and power, as Kimchi explains it, still there is something very special and suitable in the expression of the prophet here. "In one important respect," says the author of the 'Jewish Church,' "the ancient military glory of Israel was, if not confined to the northern kingdom yet regarded as eminently characteristic of it. Judah, with all its warlike qualities, had never been celebrated for its archery. The use of the bow was there a late acquisition (<a href="/2_samuel/1-18.htm">2 Samuel 1:18</a>). But in Benjamin and Ephraim it had been an habitual weapon. The bow of Jonathan was known far and wide. The children of Ephraim were characterized as 'carrying bows.' And so the chief weapon of the captain of the host of Israel was his bow. The King of Israel had always his bow and arrows with him. The sign of the fall of the kingdom was the breaking of the bow of Israel." The language employed by the prophet was thus singularly appropriate. An historical basis, though denied by some and pronounced precarious by others, is, we have little doubt, found for this prediction in <a href="/hosea/10-14.htm">Hosea 10:14</a> of this very book. The bow, that is, the archery in which Israel excelled so much, was broken in the Valley of Jezreel, when Shalmon, identified with Shalman-ezer, King of Assyria by Pusey and Stanley, spoiled Beth-Arbel, or Arbela, the city between Sepphoris and Tiberias, and near the middle of the valley, and thus crushed Israel in an overwhelming defeat. If the identification be sustained, that day of battle was most calamitous to Israel, and as cruel as calamitous, for neither the helplessness of infancy nor the tenderness of womanhood was spared; the infants were dashed to death against the stones, and the mothers then hurled in mortal agony upon the dead bodies of their little ones. Kimchi explains it generally: "On that day when I shall visit the blood of Jezreel, I shall break the bow of Israel, that is to <span class="accented">say</span>, their might and power." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/1-5.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">And</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָיָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on that</span><br /><span class="heb">הַה֑וּא</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | 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">day</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּיּ֣וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(bay·yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will break</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šā·ḇar·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7665.htm">Strong's 7665: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break, break in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the bow</span><br /><span class="heb">קֶ֣שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(qe·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7198.htm">Strong's 7198: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bow, for, shooting, the iris</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the Valley</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּעֵ֖מֶק</span> <span class="translit">(bə·‘ê·meq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6010.htm">Strong's 6010: </a> </span><span class="str2">A vale</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Jezreel.”</span><br /><span class="heb">יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiz·rə·‘el)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3157.htm">Strong's 3157: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jezreel -- 'God sows', two Israelites, also two cities in Israel, also a valley in Northern Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/1-5.htm">Hosea 1:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/1-5.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 1:5 It will happen in that day that (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/1-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 1:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 1:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/1-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 1:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 1:6" /></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>