16
Forכִּיlike a stubbornסֹרֵרָהheiferכְּפָרָהIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלhas been stubborn;סָרַרnowעַתָּהwill YHWHיְהוָהpasture themיִרְעֵםlike a lambכְּכֶבֶשׂin a broad place?בַּמֶּרְחָב
Hosea 4:16
Study it in the app“For like a stubborn heifer Israel has been stubborn; now will YHWH pasture them like a lamb in a broad place?”
With the Hebrew beneath
Hosea 4:16, word by word
- like a stubbornסֹרֵרָהsorera
be stubborn
Be stubborn: turn away from what one is told, refuse to be led.
Where else “sorera” appears- heiferפָרָהfara
cow
Cow, heifer.
Where else “fara” appears- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael
Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
Where else “yisrael” appears- will YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- pasture themיִרְעֵyire
graze
To tend a flock, or eat grass.
Where else “yire” appears- like a lambכֶבֶשׂcheves
lamb
Lamb: a young sheep, male (a young ram).
Where else “cheves” appears- in a broad placeמֶּרְחָבmerchav
broad place
A spacious, wide, open place: the opposite of narrowness and distress. An image of freedom and relief.
Where else “merchav” appears
The context
15Though you, Israel, prostitute yourself, let not Judah become guilty; and do not come to Gilgal, and do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, “As YHWH lives.”
16 · This verse (above)
17Joined to idols is Ephraim; leave him alone.