Hosea 7:16
“They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.”
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Counter-Arguments
The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.
Related Verses
“And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.”
“They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.”
“They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.”
“And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.”
“He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.”