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Ephraim [was] a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler`s snare is in all his ways, [and] enmity in the house of his God.
Verse Takeaways
1
When Shepherds Become Snares
The commentaries unanimously agree that this verse describes a tragic reversal. The spiritual leaders of Israel (the 'watchman' or 'prophet'), who were meant to protect and guide the people, had become like a hunter's trap ('a fowler's snare'). Instead of leading people to God, they were actively entangling them in sin and leading them to ruin. As one scholar notes, no one does more harm than a corrupt religious leader.
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Hosea
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5
18th Century
Presbyterian
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God - These words may well contrast the office of the true prophet with the false. For Israel had had ma…
19th Century
Anglican
Prophet. Many hold that here (as in the previous verse) this word is used in a bad sense (false prophet), and is contrasted with “…
16th Century
Protestant
Interpreters obscure this verse by their various opinions. Almost all suppose a verb is to be understood, namely that Ephraim “had set” a watchman.…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God Formerly the watchmen of Ephraim, or the prophets of Israel, were with the…
There was a time when the spiritual watchmen of Israel were with the Lord, but now they were like the snare of a fowler to entangle people to their…