Text -- Hosea 7:8-10 (NET)

Israel Lacks Discernment and Refuses to Repent

7:8 Ephraim has mixed itself like flour among the nations; Ephraim is like a ruined cake of bread that is scorched on one side. 7:9 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! 7:10 The arrogance of Israel testifies against him, yet they refuse to return to the Lord their God! In spite of all this they refuse to seek him!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Hos 7:8

¹ tn The words “like flour” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied by the imagery.

² tn Heb “a cake of bread not turned.” This metaphor compares Ephraim to a ruined cake of bread that was not turned over in time to avoid being scorched and burned (see BDB 728 s.v. עֻגָה). Cf. NLT “as worthless as a half-baked cake.”

NET Notes: Hos 7:9

¹ tn Heb “foreigners consume his strength”; NRSV “devour (sap NIV) his strength.”