Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

King James Version (1611 Edition)

Hosea 4:16

For Israel slideth backe, as a backe sliding heifer: now the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Heifer;   Idolatry;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Backsliding;   Lamb, the;   Ox, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Heifer;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Animals;   Lamb, Lamb of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cattle;   Heifer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Broad Place;   Hosea;   Meadow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gilgal;   Heifer;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Backslider;   Heifer;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Backsliding;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Heifer;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Israel;   Slide;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Brier;   Flies;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Backslide;   Heifer;   Teach;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow.Can the Lord now shepherd themlike a lamb in an open meadow?
Hebrew Names Version
For Yisra'el has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
King James Version
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
English Standard Version
Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
New American Standard Bible
Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn cow, Will the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
New Century Version
The people of Israel are stubborn like a stubborn young cow. Now the Lord will feed them like lambs in the open country.
Amplified Bible
For Israel is stubborn, Like a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
Geneva Bible (1587)
For Israel is rebellious as an vnruly heyfer. Nowe the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
Legacy Standard Bible
Since Israel is stubbornLike a stubborn heifer,Can Yahweh now feed themLike a lamb in a large field?
Berean Standard Bible
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
Contemporary English Version
You are nothing more than a stubborn cow— so stubborn that I, the Lord , cannot feed you like lambs in an open pasture.
Complete Jewish Bible
For Isra'el is stubborn as a stubborn cow; will Adonai now feed them like a lamb in a big pasture?
Darby Translation
For Israel is refractory as an untractable heifer; now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a wide [pasture].
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord has given many things to Israel. He is like a shepherd who takes his sheep to a large field with plenty of grass. But Israel is stubborn like a young cow that runs away again and again.
George Lamsa Translation
For as a heifer that slides back from the yoke, so Israel balks; now the LORD will feed them like lambs in a wide pasture.
Good News Translation
The people of Israel are as stubborn as mules. How can I feed them like lambs in a meadow?
Lexham English Bible
Indeed, like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; Now Yahweh will feed them, like a lamb in broad pasture.
Literal Translation
For Israel rebels, like a rebellious heifer. Now Jehovah will feed them as a lamb in a roomy place.
American Standard Version
For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Bible in Basic English
For Israel is uncontrolled, like a cow which may not be controlled; now will the Lord give them food like a lamb in a wide place.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For Israel is rebellious like an vnrulye heysfer: nowe the Lorde wyll feede them as a lambe in a large place.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For Israel was maddened like a mad heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a wide place.
English Revised Version
For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place.
World English Bible
For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For as a wielde cow Israel bowide awei; now the Lord schal fede hem as a lomb in broodnesse.
Update Bible Version
For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now Yahweh will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Webster's Bible Translation
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
New English Translation
Israel has rebelled like a stubborn heifer! Soon the Lord will put them out to pasture like a lamb in a broad field!
New King James Version
"For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.
New Living Translation
Israel is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. So should the Lord feed her like a lamb in a lush pasture?
New Life Bible
The people of Israel are strong-willed like a young cow. How then can the Lord feed them like a lamb in a large field?
New Revised Standard
Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, as a heifer that is stubborn, hath Israel, been stubborn, - Now, can Yahweh, turn them out to pasture, like a young ram in a wide place?
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Israel hath gone astray like a wanton heifer now will the Lord feed them, as a lamb in a spacious place.
Revised Standard Version
Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
Young's Literal Translation
For as a refractory heifer hath Israel turned aside, Now doth Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For Israel is gone backe, like a waton cowe. The LORDE therfore shal make hir fede, as ye labe yt goeth astraye.

Contextual Overview

12 My people aske counsel at their stocks, and their staffe declareth vnto them: for the spirit of whordomes hath caused them to erre, and they haue gone a whoring from vnder their God. 13 They sacrifice vpon the tops of the mountaines, and burne incense vpon the hilles vnder okes and poplars, and elmes, because the shadowe thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredome, and your spouses shall commit adulterie. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whordome, nor your spouses when they commit adulterie: for themselues are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therfore the people that doth not vnderstand, shall fall. 15 Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Iudah offend, and come not ye vnto Gilgal, neither goe ye vp to Beth-auen, nor sweare, The Lord liueth: 16 For Israel slideth backe, as a backe sliding heifer: now the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place. 17 Ephraim is ioyned to idoles: let him alone. 18 Their drinke is sowre: they haue committed whordome continually: her rulers with shame doe loue, Giue ye. 19 The wind hath bound her vp in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

slideth: Hosea 11:7, 1 Samuel 15:11, Jeremiah 3:6, Jeremiah 3:8, Jeremiah 3:11, Jeremiah 5:6, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 8:5, Jeremiah 14:7, Zechariah 7:11, *marg.

as a lamb: Leviticus 26:33, Isaiah 7:21-25, Isaiah 22:18

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 22:20 - brought Proverbs 14:14 - backslider Isaiah 30:23 - thy cattle Jeremiah 2:19 - and thy Jeremiah 15:6 - thou art Jeremiah 31:22 - backsliding Jeremiah 49:4 - O backsliding Hosea 10:11 - an heifer Zephaniah 1:6 - turned

Cross-References

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voyce of the LORD God, walking in the garden in the coole of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselues from the presence of the LORD God, amongst the trees of the garden.
Genesis 4:14
Behold, thou hast driuen me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face shall I be hid, and I shall be a fugitiue, and a vagabond in the earth: and it shall come to passe, that euery one that findeth me, shall slay me.
Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thundrings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountaine smoking: and when the people saw it, they remooued, and stood a farre off.
2 Kings 13:23
And the Lord was gracious vnto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect vnto them, because of his couenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast hee them from his presence as yet.
2 Kings 24:20
For through the anger of the Lord it came to passe in Ierusalem and Iudah, vntill he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Job 1:12
And the Lord said vnto Satan, Behold, all that hee hath is in thy power, onely vpon himselfe put not foorth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
Job 2:7
So went Satan foorth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Iob with sore biles, from the sole of his foote vnto his crowne.
Job 20:17
Hee shall not see the riuers, the floods, the brookes of hony and butter.
Psalms 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee, reioyce: let them euer shout for ioy; because thou defendest them: let them also that loue thy name, be ioyfull in thee.
Psalms 68:2
As smoke is driuen away, so driue them away: as waxe melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer,.... A heifer or young cow Israel is compared unto; the rather, because of the object of their idolatrous worship, the calves at Dan and Bethel: the Septuagint calls them "heifers": which they are hereby put in mind of, and upbraided with; as also to express their brutish stupidity in worshipping such idols, in which they obstinately persisted: and so were like a "refractory" and "untamed" heifer, as some w render it, which will not be kept within bounds, either within doors or without, but breaks through, and passes over, all fences and enclosures; as they did, who transgressed the laws of God, and would not be restrained by them: or like a heifer unaccustomed to the yoke, which will not submit to it, but wriggles its neck from under it: so the Israelites would not be subject to the yoke of the law of God, were sons of Belial, children without a yoke; or like one, though yoked, yet would not draw the plough, but slid back in the furrows, even though goaded; so they, though stimulated by the prophets, whose words were as goads and pricks to push them on, yet would not hearken to them, but pulled away the shoulder, and slid back from the ways and worship of God; hence called backsliding Israel, Jeremiah 3:6, and this is either a reason why Judah should not follow their example, because backsliders, or why they should be punished, as follows:

now, or "therefore" x,

the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place: not that they were like lambs for the good properties of them, innocence, harmlessness, meekness, and patience; nor fed as the Lord feeds his lambs, and gathers them in his arms; but either as a heifer in sheep pasture, in short commons, for that creature cannot live where sheep and lambs can; or rather as a lamb that is alone, separate from the flock, not under the care of any shepherd; but exposed to every beast of prey upon a large common, on a wild desert and uncultivated place; afraid of every thing it hears and sees; bleating after its dam, of whose sustenance and nourishment it is destitute; and so is expressive of the state and condition of Israel in captivity, in the large Assyrian empire; and dispersed among the nations, where they were weak and helpless, destitute of all good things, and exposed to all dangers, and to every enemy. Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand the words in a good sense, that the Lord would have fed them as lambs in a large place, in an affluent manner, but that they rebelled and backslided: and to this sense the Targum seems to incline, which paraphrases the whole verse thus,

"for as an ox which is fattened and kicks, so Israel rebels because of the multitude of good things; now the Lord will lead them as a choice lamb in a valley,''

or plain: and so Noldius, "though Israel is refractory", c.

notwithstanding the Lord will feed them, c. and indeed the phrase is used in a good sense in Isaiah 30:23, but there herds and flocks are spoken of, and not a single lamb, as here though Kimchi thinks the singular is put for the plural, lamb for lambs.

w סררה "refractaria", Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius, Schmidt "indomita", Calvin, Drusius. x ועתה "quare, ideo, nunc itaque", Schmidt; "igitur nunc", Coeceius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For Israel slideth back, as a backsliding heifer - The calves which Israel worshiped were pictures of itself. They represented natural, untamed, strength, which, when put to service, started back and shrank from the yoke. “Untractable, petulant, unruly, wanton, it withdrew from the yoke, when it could; if it could not, it drew aside or backward, instead of forward.” So is it rare, exceeding rare, for man to walk straight on in God’s ways; he jerks, writhes, twists, darts aside here and there, hating nothing so much as one straight, even, narrow tenor of his ways.

Now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place - The punishment of Israel was close at hand, “now.” It would not have the straitness of God’s commandments; it should have the wideness of a desert. God would withdraw His protecting providence from them: He would rule them, although unfelt in His mercy. At “large,” they wished to be; at large they should be; but it should be the largeness of a “wilderness where is no way.” There, like a lamb, they should go astray, wandering up and down, unprotected, a prey to wild beasts. Woe is it to that man, whom, when he withdraws from Christ’s easy yoke, God permits to take unhindered the broad road which leadeth to destruction. To Israel, this “wide place” was the wide realms of the Medes, where they were withdrawn from God’s worship and deprived of His protection.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hosea 4:16. Israel slideth back — They are untractable, like an unbroken heifer or steer, that pulls back, rather than draw in the yoke.

Will feed them as a lamb in a large place. — A species of irony. Ye shall go to Assyria, and be scattered among the nations; ye may sport yourselves in the extensive empire, wither ye shall be carried captives.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile