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Minor Prophets, Part 1: Assyrian Crisis

  1. Lesson One
    Introduction to the Prophets
    21 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Prophets and Prophecy
    20 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Amos
    24 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Hosea
    19 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Jonah
    18 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 4

Minor Prophets, Part 1: Assyrian Crisis Hosea In | Workbook: Simile in Hosea
Lesson 4, Activity 10

In | Workbook: Simile in Hosea

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

Another notable literary feature of Hosea is his frequent use of simile. He employs a wide variety of comparisons to describe God’s relationship with His people. Read through the list of similes provided below and note what Hosea’s comparisons for YHWH and Israel have in common.

Source: James D. Newsome Jr., The Hebrew Prophets, 986, pp. 34-35.

YHWH is like . . . Hosea
. . . a husband2:2
. . . a father11:1
. . . a physician7:1
. . . a fowler7:12
. . . a lion5:14
. . . a leopard13:7
. . . a she-bear13:8
. . . the dew14:5
. . . the rain6:3
. . . a cypress14:8
. . . a moth5:12
. . . dry rot5:12
Israel is like . . . Hosea
. . . a wife2:2
. . . a sick person5:13
. . . a silly dove7:11
. . . a trained heifer10:11
. . . a luxuriant grapevine10:1
. . . grapes9:10
. . . the early fig9:10
. . . a lily14:5
. . . an olive tree14:6
. . . a woman in labor13:13
. . . an unborn son13:13
. . . an oven7:4
. . . a cake of bread7:8
. . . a bow7:16
. . . the morning mist13:3
. . . early dew that disappears13:3
. . . chaff from the threshing floor13:3
. . . smoke through a window13:3
  1. What do the images Hosea uses for YHWH have in common?
  1. What do the images Hosea uses for Israel have in common?
Simile in Hosea

Similes for YHWH

Apart from the references to “husband” and “father,” which reflect the norm of male leadership in ancient patriarchal societies, Hosea’s similes for YHWH tend to represent powerful and pro-active forces or beings. They represent types of power that can nurture or destroy.

 

Similes for Israel

The similes for Israel often relate to the similes for YHWH but tend to be more passive or dependent. Sometimes they highlight shortcomings (sick person, silly dove), other times a fleeting nature (mist, dew). They also reinforce the dynamics of the covenant relationship described in the Law. Each of these images is one more way Hosea attempts to encourage the people to reap the rewards of being loyal to YHWH rather than reaping the whirlwind that comes with unfaithfulness.