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2 Samuel 17:8
For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that theybe mighty men, and theybe chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy fatheris 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 roaringshall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carryit away safe, and none shall deliverit.

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

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.

“Like a bear robbed of her cubs…” (Hosea 13:8a)

• The image of a mother bear bereft of her young paints an immediate picture of unrestrained, instinctive fury. In2 Samuel 17:8 David’s men are said to fight “like a bear robbed of her cubs,” andProverbs 17:12 cautions that it is safer to meet such a bear than a fool in his folly.

• God is revealing the intensity of His anger toward Israel’s persistent idolatry and covenant-breaking (Hosea 13:2). This is not momentary irritation; it is the protective wrath of One whose beloved has been violated.

• The comparison reminds us that divine judgment is never detached or indifferent. AsHosea 11:8 shows, the Lord’s heart burns with concern even as He disciplines.

“…I will attack them…” (Hosea 13:8a)

• The verb signals personal involvement. The Lord Himself—not merely an impersonal force—comes against His people.Hosea 5:14 echoes, “For I am like a lion to Ephraim… I will tear them to pieces.”

• This action answers Israel’s trust in human kings and foreign alliances (Hosea 13:10).Deuteronomy 32:23-25 foretold that when Israel forgot God, He would “heap calamities” upon them.

• God’s direct attack underscores that judgment is relational: the same covenant Lord who saves also disciplines (Hebrews 12:6).

“…and I will tear open their chests.” (Hosea 13:8b)

• The language is graphic, reflecting the reality of upcoming Assyrian invasion (2 Kings 17:6).Amos 1:13 describes similar brutality.

•Hosea 6:1 contains the plea, “He has torn us, but He will heal us.” God’s tearing is severe, yet it aims ultimately at restoration for any who will repent (Joel 2:13-14).

• The vivid picture strips away any illusion that sin’s consequences are mild.Galatians 6:7 reinforces, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.”

“There I will devour them like a lion…” (Hosea 13:8c)

• Lions hunt decisively and consume completely.Psalm 7:2 pleads for rescue “or he will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces,” highlighting the finality of such judgment.

•Hosea 13:7 previously warned, “So I will be like a lion to them.” The repetition shows that God’s patience has run out; what was once a warning has become imminent reality.

• The location “there” points to the very places where Israel felt secure—its fortified cities (Hosea 8:14). No earthly stronghold stands when God Himself is the Lion (Isaiah 31:4).

“…like a wild beast tearing them apart.” (Hosea 13:8d)

• The phrase piles imagery upon imagery—bear, lion, now any untamed predator—signaling unstoppable judgment.Jeremiah 5:6 speaks of “a wolf of the deserts” destroying unrepentant Judah.

• The stacking of metaphors shows that God’s wrath will not be limited or hindered. AsNahum 2:12 depicts lions filling their lairs with prey, so the Lord will allow nothing of rebellious Israel to remain untouched.

• Yet even here, the purpose is corrective, not capricious. Hosea closes with the invitation, “Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God” (Hosea 14:1). The same God who tears can and will bind up when His people turn back (Hosea 14:4).

Hosea 13:8 employs fierce animal imagery to convey God’s righteous anger against covenant infidelity. Like a mother bear, He is fiercely protective; like a lion, He is decisive and consuming; like any wild beast, His judgment is unstoppable. Each picture underscores the seriousness of sin, the certainty of divine discipline, and the urgent need for repentance. At the same time, earlier and later passages in Hosea remind us that the God who tears also longs to heal all who return to Him.

(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." Theֵשחִת, equivalent toאתָּה, is the wild beast as opposed toבִי, 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 ...