Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
Parallel translations
- WEB Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.
- KJV Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
- NKJV “Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned.
- NASB ¶Ephraim is himself thrown about with the nations; Ephraim has become a round loaf not turned over.
- NLT “The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ephraim mixes with the nations and has become like a half-baked cake, unturned and useless.
Overview
By entangling itself in foreign alliances and pagan ways, Ephraim has lost its distinct identity as God's people, becoming like a cake burned on one side and raw on the other. The image conveys something spoiled and good for nothing. This warning against worldly compromise calls God's people in every age to remain set apart for Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Ps 106:35but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
- Neh 13:23–25In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
- Ezra 9:12Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’
- Mal 2:11Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
- Ezra 9:1After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
- 1 Kgs 18:21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
- Zeph 1:5those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,
- Matt 6:24No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Hos 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
- Hos 9:3They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
- Hos 8:2–4Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!”
- Hos 5:7They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.
- Rev 3:15–16I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!
- Ezek 23:4–11The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's relentless love for an unfaithful bride dramatizes the gospel: 'Out of Egypt I called my son' is fulfilled in Jesus, who redeems an adulterous people at his own cost.
How Hosea 7:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.