Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Hosea 7:15 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 15. 15Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse recalls God training and strengthening arms that are then used to devise evil.
Read It With
- Hosea 7:8-16
Read Hosea 7:15 with 7:8-16. This verse recalls God training and strengthening arms that are then used to devise evil. The complete unit establishes this movement: Ephraim's alliances consume strength without awareness; like an unturned cake and senseless dove, the kingdom calls to Egypt and Assyria, yet its cries and returns are misdirected.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The focus widens from internal coup culture to international dependence and religious cries that do not become genuine return. Within that movement, this verse recalls God training and strengthening arms that are then used to devise evil.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“strengthened their arms”
In plain language: capacity given for life but redirected toward harmful plans
recalls God training and strengthening arms that are then used to devise evil. Received capacity can be redirected against its giver and purpose.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
Received capacity can be redirected against its giver and purpose.
How It Can Shape Life
- Use training and strength under accountable ethical limits.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Hosea 7:8-16 — Half-Baked Strength and Dove-Like Diplomacy Refuse True ReturnSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Hosea 7:8-16, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Hosea
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew, morphology, syntax, names, wordplay, repetitions, and the base text for translation questions.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Hos.xml, 7:8-16
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Hosea with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, textual, grammatical, historical, rhetorical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Hosea PDF, printed pp. 1685-1687, translation and notes on 7:8-16
Open source ↗