Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Silly, Panicked Dove
Commentators explain that Israel is compared to a "silly dove" because, like a panicked bird, it flits between two dangers—Egypt and Assyria—instead of returning to its true refuge in God. This image highlights a foolishness that is not innocent, but a willful rejection of God's guidance in favor of unreliable and ultimately destructive human alliances. It's a picture of spiritual disorientation and misplaced trust.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Hosea
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
5
18th Century
Presbyterian
Ephraim is—that is, has become—like a silly dove. “There is nothing more simple than a dove,” says the Eastern proverb.
Simplicity is…
19th Century
Anglican
Silly dove.—No creature is less able to defend itself than the dove, which flies from the bird of prey to the net of the fowler. I…
16th Century
Protestant
The Prophet here first blames Israel for foolish credulity and compares them to a dove, for they had invited the Egyptians and sent to Assyria for …
Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart Or understanding; which comes and picks up the corns of grain, which lie…
Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were…