Hosea 13:8
New International Version
Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them— a wild animal will tear them apart.

New Living Translation
Like a bear whose cubs have been taken away, I will tear out your heart. I will devour you like a hungry lioness and mangle you like a wild animal.

English Standard Version
I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.

Berean Standard Bible
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.

King James Bible
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

New King James Version
I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.

New American Standard Bible
I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; I will also devour them there like a lioness, As a wild animal would tear them to pieces.

NASB 1995
I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them.

NASB 1977
I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open the chest enclosing their heart; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a beast of the field would rip them open.

Amplified Bible
I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them.

Christian Standard Bible
I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs and tear open the rib cage over their hearts. I will devour them there like a lioness, like a wild beast that would rip them open.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs and tear open the rib cage over their hearts. I will devour them there like a lioness, like a wild beast that would rip them open.

American Standard Version
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them.

Contemporary English Version
and rip you apart like a bear robbed of her cubs. I will gnaw on your bones, as though I were a lion or some other wild animal.

English Revised Version
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart: and there will I devour them like a lion; the wild beast shall tear them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Like a bear that has lost her cubs, I will attack you. I will rip you open. Like a lion I will devour you. Like a wild animal I will tear you apart.

Good News Translation
I will attack you like a bear that has lost her cubs, and I will tear you open. Like a lion I will devour you on the spot, and will tear you to pieces like a wild animal.

International Standard Version
I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their ribs. I will devour them like a lion— the wild beasts will rip them apart.

Majority Standard Bible
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.

NET Bible
I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs--I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion--like a wild animal would tear them apart.

New Heart English Bible
I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

World English Bible
I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I meet them as a bereaved bear, "" And I tear the enclosure of their heart, "" And I consume them there as a lioness, "" A beast of the field tears them.

Young's Literal Translation
I do meet them as a bereaved bear, And I rend the enclosure of their heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
I will fall upon them as a bear bereaved, and I will rend the enclosure of their heart, and devour them there as a lion: the beast of the field shall cleave them asunder.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will run to meet them like a bear that has been robbed of her young, and I will split open the middle of their liver. And I will devour them there like a lion; the beast of the field will tear them apart.

New American Bible
I will attack them like a bear robbed of its young, and tear their hearts from their breasts; I will devour them on the spot like a lion, as a wild animal would rip them open.

New Revised Standard Version
I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and will tear open the covering of their heart; there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild animal would mangle them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will meet them like a bear that tears its prey in pieces, and I will pierce the crust of their heart; and there a lion shall devour them; the wild beast shall tear them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I shall meet with them like a bear that is wounded and I shall seek the membrane of their heart, and a lion will eat them there, and a wild beast shall tear them to pieces
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, And will rend the enclosure of their heart; And there will I devour them like a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will meet them by the way of the Assyrians, as a she-bear excited, and I will rend the caul of their heart, and the lions' whelps of the thicket shall devour them there; the wild beasts of the field shall rend them in pieces.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Anger
7So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. 8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart.

Cross References
Amos 5:19
It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake.

2 Kings 17:25
Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

Lamentations 3:10
He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.

Proverbs 17:12
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

2 Samuel 17:8
He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

Deuteronomy 32:24
They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.

Isaiah 31:4
For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.

Jeremiah 5:6
Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

Job 10:16
Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.

Psalm 7:2
or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

Revelation 13:2
The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.


Treasury of Scripture

I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the lobe of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

as a.

2 Samuel 17:8
For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Proverbs 17:12
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Amos 9:1-3
I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered…

wild beast.

Psalm 80:13
The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.

Isaiah 5:29
Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.

Isaiah 56:9
All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

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Hosea 13
1. Ephraim's glory vanishes.
4. God's anger.
9. God's mercy.
15. The judgment of Samaria.














Like a bear robbed of her cubs
This phrase evokes the image of a mother bear, known for her fierce protectiveness and aggression when her cubs are threatened. In the biblical context, this metaphor illustrates God's intense anger and protective nature over His people, Israel. The imagery of a bear is used elsewhere in Scripture to depict ferocity and strength (2 Samuel 17:8). The cultural understanding of bears in ancient Near Eastern societies would have been one of respect and fear, emphasizing the seriousness of God's impending judgment.

I will attack them
This phrase signifies God's active role in bringing judgment upon Israel. Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel faced numerous threats from surrounding nations, and this divine intervention is portrayed as a direct consequence of their idolatry and unfaithfulness. The use of the first person "I" underscores God's personal involvement and the certainty of the coming judgment.

and I will tear open their chests
The graphic imagery here highlights the severity of the punishment. In ancient warfare, such brutal actions were not uncommon, and this serves as a metaphor for the complete devastation that would befall Israel. The tearing open of chests can also symbolize the exposure of the heart, revealing the true nature and sinfulness of the people.

There I will devour them like a lion
Lions are often used in the Bible to represent power and majesty, as well as destruction (Amos 3:8). This phrase suggests the inevitability and thoroughness of God's judgment. The lion's role as a predator in the natural world parallels the unstoppable nature of divine retribution against those who have turned away from God.

like a wild beast tearing them apart
The repetition of animal imagery reinforces the theme of unavoidable and violent judgment. Wild beasts in the ancient world were seen as uncontrollable and dangerous, much like the consequences of Israel's disobedience. This phrase serves as a stark warning of the chaos and destruction that result from forsaking the covenant with God. The tearing apart signifies not just physical destruction but also the disintegration of the social and spiritual fabric of the nation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hosea
A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC, Hosea's ministry focused on calling Israel to repentance and warning of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness to God.

2. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, often referred to as Ephraim in Hosea, which had turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and alliances with foreign nations.

3. God
The sovereign Lord who, through Hosea, expresses His righteous anger and impending judgment on Israel for their spiritual adultery and rebellion.

4. Bear and Lioness
Metaphors used to describe God's fierce and protective nature, emphasizing the intensity of His judgment against Israel's sin.

5. Wild Beasts
Symbolic of the destructive forces that God will unleash as a consequence of Israel's persistent disobedience.
Teaching Points
God's Righteous Anger
God's anger is not arbitrary but a response to persistent sin and rebellion. Understanding His righteous nature helps us appreciate His justice and mercy.

The Consequences of Idolatry
Idolatry leads to spiritual and physical destruction. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism and self-reliance.

The Protective Nature of God
Like a bear or lioness protecting her young, God fiercely protects His covenant relationship. This should encourage us to remain faithful and trust in His protection.

Repentance and Restoration
While judgment is severe, God's ultimate desire is for repentance and restoration. We should seek to turn back to God in areas where we have strayed.

The Certainty of God's Word
The fulfillment of prophetic warnings in Scripture assures us of the reliability of God's Word. We should live in light of His promises and warnings.(8) The same imagery is continued to describe the destructive wrath of the Lord. "The caul of the heart" means here the covering of the heart, not the pericardium, but the breast in which the claws of the beast are fastened.

Verse 8. - I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart. The noun דֹב is epicene, that is, the one form serves for both genders, as here the masculine includes the feminine, and is used as such. Of all animals, Jerome says, the she-bear is the fiercest, either when robbed of her whelps or in want of food. Seghor being that which encloses the heart, is either the pericardium, the immediate and proper enclosure of the heart, or the breast itself. The reference is to a beast of prey which seizes its victim by the breast and tears it open, so that the heart is exposed. The verb פגש is akin to פגע, the meaning of the root-syllable פג, to meet, strike, being the same in both. Such is the continuation of the picture of the threatened punishment. The picture of the severity of the Divine judgment here presented is very terrible. Kimchi remarks on this picture: "A bear robbed, whose young ones they have slain, which is bereft and bitter in spirit, if it find man or beast rends it speedily." Some understand the verse figuratively, as though it meant "'I will rend their obstinate heart,' the enclosure of the heart being equivalent to a shut or obstinate heart, as, in ver. 5 of this same chapter, 'a land of drought' is pretty much the same as 'a dry or parched land.' Thus the Chaldee translates, 'I have broken the wickedness of their heart.'" And there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. Sham there refers

(1) to 'al-derekh of the preceding verse; or,

(2) as Kimchi explains it, as referring to their cities: "There in their cities shall I destroy them by pestilence and by the sword of the enemy, like the lion that teareth without pity;" or,

(3) more simply still, "there on the spot." The ֵשחִת, equivalent to אתָּה, is the wild beast as opposed to בִי, domestic animals. While some were to be destroyed by famine and pestilence, others would perish by the wild beast of the field. "Also," says Kimchi, "shall the wild beast of the field rend them outside (i.e. outside their cities), as, ' I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number.'"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Like a bear
כְּדֹ֣ב (kə·ḏōḇ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1677: The bear

robbed of her cubs,
שַׁכּ֔וּל (šak·kūl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7909: Childless

I will attack them,
אֶפְגְּשֵׁם֙ (’ep̄·gə·šêm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6298: To come in contact with, to concur

and I will tear
וְאֶקְרַ֖ע (wə·’eq·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7167: To rend

open their chests.
סְג֣וֹר (sə·ḡō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5458: Shut up, the breast, gold

There
שָׁם֙ (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

I will devour them
וְאֹכְלֵ֥ם (wə·’ō·ḵə·lêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

like a lion,
כְּלָבִ֔יא (kə·lā·ḇî)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3833: To roar, a lion,

like a wild
הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

beast
חַיַּ֥ת (ḥay·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

would tear them apart.
תְּבַקְּעֵֽם׃ (tə·ḇaq·qə·‘êm)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1234: To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open


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OT Prophets: Hosea 13:8 I will meet them like a bear (Ho Hs Hos.)
Hosea 13:7
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