Ephraim
In the context of Hosea, "Ephraim" is often used to represent the northern kingdom of Israel. Historically, Ephraim was one of the largest and most influential tribes, and its name became synonymous with the entire northern kingdom. Theologically, Ephraim's actions are a reflection of Israel's spiritual state. The tribe's name, meaning "fruitful," is ironic here, as their spiritual fruitfulness is compromised by their alliances and idolatry.

mixes with the nations
The Hebrew root for "mixes" suggests a blending or mingling that dilutes purity. In the historical context, Israel's alliances with surrounding pagan nations led to the adoption of foreign customs and idolatry, which were strictly forbidden by God. This phrase highlights the danger of compromising one's faith and identity by conforming to worldly practices. Spiritually, it serves as a warning against the dilution of Christian values through secular influences.

Ephraim is an unturned cake
The imagery of an "unturned cake" is vivid and illustrative. In ancient times, bread or cakes were cooked on hot stones, requiring turning to ensure even baking. An "unturned cake" would be burnt on one side and raw on the other, symbolizing incompleteness and imbalance. This metaphor reflects Ephraim's spiritual condition—externally, they may appear religious, but internally, they are spiritually immature and corrupt. Theologically, it warns against superficial faith that lacks depth and true transformation.

(8) Cake not turned.--Referring to the destructive effect of foreign influences. Ephraim was consumed by the unhallowed fire of Baal-worship, with all its passion and sensualism--a cake burnt on one side to a cinder, and on the other left in a condition utterly unfit for food. So the activity of foreign idolatries and foreign alliances, and the consequent unfaithfulness to Israel's God, are the nation's ruin.

Verse 8. - Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. The people of the northern kingdom had fallen away from Jehovah, and mixed themselves with the heathen nationalities. They resembled a cake which, through neglect of turning, was burnt on the one side and raw on the other. The best commentary on the first clause of this verse is found in Psalm 106:35, 36, and 39; they "were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.... Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a-whoring with their own inventions." The second clause is well explained by Bishop Horsley as follows: "One thing on one side, another on the other; burnt to a coal at bottom, raw dough at the top. An apt image of a character that is all inconsistencies. Such were the ten tribes of the prophet's day; worshippers of Jehovah in profession, but adopting all the idolatries of the neighboring nations, in addition to their own semi-idolatry of the calves." Similarly, the Geneva Bible has, "Baked on one side and raw on the ether, he is neither through hot nor through cold, but partly a Jew and partly a Gentile." Jehovah had chosen Israel out of the nations of the earth, and given them a special constitution. The object of this segregation was that Israel should be a peculiar people and a holy nation. Thus distinguished, they were to dwell alone; but, ungrateful for this high distinction, and unmindful of their high destiny, they mingled with the nations, learned their heathenish ways, and worshipped their hateful idols. Thus they forfeited their theocratic pre-eminence. While it was their privilege as well u duty to follow the precepts of Jehovah, and serve him with undivided affection, they fell away from his service and adopted the idolatries and habits of the heathen; it was only a just retribution, therefore, when God gave them ever into the hand of those heathen peoples to waste their resources and leave them shorn of their strength. The second clause is the counterpart of this; exactly like the peoples subsequently brought from Assyria, and planted in the lands of the dispossessed Israelites, they worshipped the Lord, but served their own gods - they were neither true worshippers of Jehovah nor out-and-out followers of Baal. In religion they were mongrels - inconsistent and worthless hybrids; they were, in fact, what Calvin in rather homely phrase says of them," neither flesh nor fish." The comment of Kimchi is concise as it is clear: "The prophet means to say, He (Israel) mixes himself among the peoples; though God - blessed be he I - separated them from them, yet they mix them. selves among them and do according to their works." His explanation of the second clause is not so satisfactory when he says, "As a cake which is baked upon the coals; if they do not turn it, it is burnt below and not baked above, so is the counsel that is not right when they do not turn it from side to side (sense to sense) until they bring it upon their wheels (into action). So (thoughtless and hasty) is Ephraim in his determination to serve the calves and other gods without proving and choosing what is good."

(2) Other explanations need only be referred to in order to be rejected, as

(1) that of Rashi, who is followed by Grotius. He takes the verb in the future sense: "Ephraim in exile shall be mixed among the peoples." But it is obviously the present, not the future time, that is intended - the present sin, not its future punishment. There is

(2) the explanation of Aben Ezra, followed by Eichhorn and Maurer, referring to the alliances or treaties which the northern kingdom formed with their neighbors to repel their enemies, and by which the resources of the land were consumed; while the second clause, . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Ephraim
אֶפְרַ֕יִם (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

mixes
יִתְבּוֹלָ֑ל (yiṯ·bō·w·lāl)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1101: To mingle, mix, confuse, confound

with the nations;
בָּעַמִּ֖ים (bā·‘am·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

Ephraim
אֶפְרַ֛יִם (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

is
הָיָ֥ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

an unturned
הֲפוּכָֽה׃ (hă·p̄ū·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

cake.
עֻגָ֖ה (‘u·ḡāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5692: A disc or cake of bread


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OT Prophets: Hosea 7:8 Ephraim he mixes himself among the nations (Ho Hs Hos.)