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Friday, May 16th, 2025
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Hosea 4:16

"For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.

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?
King James Version (1611)
For Israel slideth backe, as a backe sliding heifer: now the Lord will feede them as a lambe 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 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 ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God. 13 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery. 14 "I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,Nor your brides when they commit adultery;For the men themselves go apart with harlots,And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Deuteronomy 23:18 ">[fn] Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled. 15 "Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Nor swear an oath, saying, "As the LORD lives'-- 16 "For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country. 17 "Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. 18 Their drink is rebellion,They commit harlotry continually.Her rulers dearly love dishonor. [fn] 19 The wind has wrapped her up in its 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 sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 4:14
Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me."
Exodus 20:18
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.
2 Kings 13:23
But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.
2 Kings 24:20
For because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Job 1:12
And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job 2:7
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Job 20:17
He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
Psalms 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.
Psalms 68:2
As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts 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.


 
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