Hosea 11 · Verse 4

Hosea 11:4

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
Hosea 11:4, King James Version

Hosea 11:4 in other translations

BSBI led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
WEBI drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
ASVI drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.
YLTWith cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him--I feed him.
DARBYI drew them with bands of a man, with cords of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I gently caused them to eat.
BBEI made them come after me with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I was to them as one who took the yoke from off their mouths, putting meat before them.
WebsterI drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid food for them.

What does Hosea 11:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. cords of a man--parallel to "bands of love"; not such cords as oxen are led by, but humane methods, such as men employ when inducing others, as for instance, a father drawing his child, by leading-strings, teaching him to go (Ho 11:1). I was ... as they that take off the yoke on their jaws ... I laid meat--as the humane husbandman occasionally loosens the straps under the jaws by which the yoke is bound on the neck of oxen and lays food before them to eat. An appropriate image of God's deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian yoke, and of His feeding them in the wilderness.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 I drew them with cords of a man - This is a reference to leading strings, one end of which is held by the child, the other by the nurse, by which the little one, feeling some support, and gaining confidence, endeavors to walk. God, their heavenly Father, made use of every means and method to teach them to walk in the right and only safe path; for, as the Targum says, "As beloved children are drawn I drew them by the strength of love." That take of the yoke on their jaws - I did every thing that mercy could suggest, and justice permit, to make their duty their delight and profit. There appears to be here an illusion to the moving and pulling forward the collar or yoke of beasts which have been hard at work, to let in the cool air between it and their neck, so as to refresh them, and prevent that heat, which with the sweat would scald their necks, and take off not only the hair, but the skin. I have often done this at the land ends, in ploughing, when at the turnings the cattle were permitted a few moments to draw their breath after the hard pull that terminated the furrow at either end of the field: - And I laid meat unto them - Giving them at the same time a bite of grass or hay, to encourage them to go on afresh. The metaphor is strong and expressive; and he who ever had or saw the management of cattle in the plough or cart must admire it. Thus God acted with the people on whose necks was the yoke of his law. How many privileges, advantages, and comforts did he mingle with his precepts, to make them at once a righteous and happy people!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 11:1-7

God's regard for Israel; their ingratitude. (Hos. 11:1-7) The Divine mercy yet in store. (Hos. 11:8-12) Verses 1-7 When Israel were weak and helpless as children, foolish and froward as children, then God loved them; he bore them as the nurse does the sucking child, nourished them, and suffered their manners. All who are grown up, ought often to reflect upon the goodness of God to them in their childhood. He took…

Read the full comment on Hosea 11:1-7 →

Hosea 11:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּחַבְלֵ֨יbe.chav.Leiwith cords ofH2256
אָדָ֤ם'a.DamhumankindH120
אֶמְשְׁכֵם֙'em.she.KhemI drew themH4900
בַּעֲבֹת֣וֹתba.'a.vo.Totwith ropes ofH5688
אַהֲבָ֔ה'a.ha.VahloveH160
וָאֶהְיֶ֥הva.'eh.Yehand I wasH1961
לָהֶ֛םla.Hemto them
כִּמְרִ֥ימֵיkim.Ri.meilike [those who] liftH7311
עֹ֖ל'ol<of> a yokeH5923
עַ֣ל'alonH5921
לְחֵיהֶ֑םle.chei.Hemjaws theirH3895
וְאַ֥טve.'Atand I inclineH5186
אֵלָ֖יו'e.Lavto himH413
אוֹכִֽיל\׃'o.KhilI feed [him]H398

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 11:4

  • John 12:32

    And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

  • Leviticus 26:13

    I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

  • Jeremiah 31:2-3

    Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

  • Isaiah 63:9

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Psalms 78:23-25

    Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.

  • 2 Samuel 7:14

    I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

  • Hosea 2:8

    For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

  • Psalms 105:40

    The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

  • John 6:32-58

    Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. …

  • Song of Solomon 1:4

    Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

  • Exodus 16:32

    And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
drew.
So 1:4; Isa 63:9; Joh 6:44; 12:32; 2Co 5:14
of a.
2Sa 7:14
I was.
Le 26:13
take off. Heb. lift up. and I laid.
2:8; Ps 78:23-25; 105:40; Joh 6:32-58

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hosea 11:3

    I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

  • Hosea 11:4

    I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

  • Hosea 11:5

    He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

Read all of Hosea 11

Hosea 11:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Con cuerdas humanas los traje, con cuerdas de amor: y fuí para ellos como los que alzan el yugo de sobre sus mejillas, y llegué hacia él la comida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je les tirais avec des cordes d’homme, avec des liens d’amour, et j’étais pour eux comme ceux qui ôteraient le joug de dessus leurs mâchoires et leur donneraient doucement à manger.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mit Menschenbanden zog ich sie, mit Seilen der Liebe; und ich ward ihnen wie solche, die das Joch auf ihren Kinnbacken emporheben und sanft gegen sie, gab ich ihnen Speise.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In funiculis Adam traham eos, in vinculis caritatis; et ero eis quasi exaltans jugum super maxillas eorum, et declinavi ad eum ut vesceretur.