The Meaning of Hosea 11:4 Explained

Hosea 11:4

KJV: 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.

YLT: With 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.

Darby: I 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.

ASV: I 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Hosea 11:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The restraints that the Lord had placed on Israel in its youth were cords of love designed to protect and preserve the people rather than robbing them of freedom. The Lord freed them from oppressive bondage and made special provision to feed them. The image of a loving herdsman taking care of his animal is in view here. Often a cattleman would lift the yolk from an ox"s shoulders so when it bent over to eat it would not slide down over its face and impede its feeding. [1]

Context Summary

Hosea 11:1-11 - "bands Of Love"
This is a very tender chapter, full of moving appeals. God looks back on the happy, blessed past, as a fond parent on the innocent childhood of a son who is now causing endless pain and grief. He recapitulates the call from Egypt, and relates how, in obedience to His appeal, Israel came out of the idolatries of that country. He describes Israel as a tiny child beginning to walk, and says, I taught him to go. He compares the Israel of those days to horses or oxen, relieved of the yoke, before whom food is set. Let us remember that God is also willing to teach us to go, and to carry us when we are weary.
The blessed childhood of Israel had become like an overcast morning. They were bent on backsliding. But God's love is not easily repelled. What more pathetic words were ever uttered by broken-hearted parents than Hosea 11:8-9! That is the motive of our plea still. If we were dealing with man, we might despair. But we are dealing with One who forgives us according to the riches of His grace. If a back-slider should read these touching appeals, let him be encouraged to retrace His steps one by one, sure that the Father waits to welcome him where the by-path has broken off from the main road. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 11

1  The ingratitude of Israel unto God for his benefits
5  His judgment
8  God's mercy toward them
12  Israel's falsehood and Judah's fidelity

What do the individual words in Hosea 11:4 mean?

With cords gentle I drew them with bands of love and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck and I stooped them [and] fed
בְּחַבְלֵ֨י אָדָ֤ם אֶמְשְׁכֵם֙ בַּעֲבֹת֣וֹת אַהֲבָ֔ה וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם כִּמְרִ֥ימֵי עֹ֖ל עַ֣ל לְחֵיהֶ֑ם וְאַ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו אוֹכִֽיל

בְּחַבְלֵ֨י  With  cords 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
אָדָ֤ם  gentle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
אֶמְשְׁכֵם֙  I  drew  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: מָשַׁךְ  
Sense: to draw, drag, seize.
בַּעֲבֹת֣וֹת  with  bands 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct
Root: עָבֹות 
Sense: cord, rope, cordage, foliage, interwoven foliage.
אַהֲבָ֔ה  of  love 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַהֲבָה 
Sense: love.
וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה  and  I  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לָהֶ֛ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
כִּמְרִ֥ימֵי  as  those  who  take 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
עֹ֖ל  the  yoke 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹל  
Sense: yoke.
לְחֵיהֶ֑ם  their  neck 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לְחִי  
Sense: jaw, cheek.
וְאַ֥ט  and  I  stooped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, first person common singular
Root: אַט 
Sense: gentleness, softness.
אוֹכִֽיל  [and]  fed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.