Hosea 13 — O Death, I Will Be Thy Plagues
When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. Now they sin more and more. I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. They were filled, and their heart was exalted. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. Samaria shall become desolate.
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”
— Hosea 13:14
- v.1-8 Ephraim's pride and fall
- v.9-14 Yet redemption from death
- v.15-16 Samaria's desolation
Verse 14 is a resurrection text 700 years before Easter. Quote it at funerals; quote it under a hard diagnosis. O death, I will be thy plagues is the Christian's mockery of the last enemy.
Christians see Christ's resurrection as the fulfillment of verse 14 (1 Corinthians 15:55). The empty tomb is the chapter's promise enacted.
Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 15:55 as the resurrection's taunt at death. Christians read the verse as forecasting the empty tomb.
Ransom... redeem... plagues... destruction. Four words of divine triumph over death. The Lord did not negotiate with death; He defeated it.