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Hosea 13:5

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Hosea 13:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
Hosea 13:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Hosea 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4Yet I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour.
5I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.
7Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;
8I 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.
← Hosea 13:4Hosea 13:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I did know thee in the wilderness, etc.] Where there were no food nor drink, where were scorpions, serpents, and beasts of prey; there the Lord knew them, owned them, and showed a fatherly affection for them, and care of them; and fed them with manna and quails, and guided and directed them in the way, and protected and preserved them from their enemies, and from all hurt and danger. So the Targum explains it, “I sufficiently supplied their necessities in the wilderness:” in the land of great drought; or, “of droughts”f270; the word is only used in this place; and is by Aben Ezra interpreted a dry and thirsty land; and so he says it signifies in the Arabic language and the same is observed…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I did know thee--did acknowledge thee as Mine, and so took care of thee (Psa 144:3; Amo 3:2). As I knew thee as Mine, so thou shouldest know no God but Me (Hos 13:4). in . . . land of . . . drought-- (Deu 8:15).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I did know thee in the wilderness - “God so knew them, as to deserve to be known by them. By “knowing” them, He shewed how He ought to be acknowledged by them.” “As we love God, because He first loved us,” so we come to know and own God, having first been owned and known of Him. God showed His knowledge of them, by knowing and providing for their needs; He knew them “in the wilderness, in the land of great drought,” where the land yielded neither food nor water. He supplied them with the “bread from heaven” and with “water from the flinty rock.” He knew and owned them all by His providence; He knew in approbation and love, and fed in body and soul those who, having been known by Him, knew…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“I did know - Owned, took care of, guided and supplied. Hosea 13:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“know: Exo 2:25; Psa 1:6, Psa 31:7, Psa 142:3; Nah 1:7; Co1 8:3; Gal 4:9 in the wilderness: Deu 2:7, Deu 8:15, Deu 32:10; Jer 2:2, Jer 2:6 great drought: Heb. droughts, Psa 63:1 Hosea 13:6”
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Related study paths

Read Hosea 13 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification