Hosea 11:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is echoed concerning Cyrus: “They shall attack you, and you shall be captive, O Babylon, and you shall not know: you shall be found, and you shall be consumed, because you have resisted the Lord” (Jer. 50:24), as well as in the prophecy regarding Cyrus: “A lion shall come up from his lair... he shall turn your land into a desolation, and your cities shall be left in ruins, uninhabited” (Jer. 4:7). The authority given to Cyrus by the Almighty is confirmed by the prophet Isaiah, who states: “Thus saith the Lord... To my anointed Cyrus, whom I have taken by the right hand; to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron; and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places” (Isaiah 45:1-3). Thus, Cyrus conquered the Babylonians, freeing the Israelites, who then returned to inhabit their own land. This event is anticipated by the prophet Hosea, who speaks of a lion roaring—this lion is indeed Cyrus—implying that the onslaught against the Babylonians will be fierce and devastating. When he roars, it is as if a mighty lion has unleashed a terrifying cry against his foes, causing the 'children of the waters' to be overcome with fear. The Babylonians, likened to fish trembling with terror at the slightest disturbance, will be easy prey in their cowardice. Therefore, as Cyrus roars and asserts his power over Babylon, the 'children of the waters,' symbolizing the Babylonians, will be seized with panic. In that moment, those who fled from Egypt, represented as birds and doves, will escape from their captivity in Chaldea and return to dwell in their own land. Therefore, as we have the opportunity to pursue goodness, let us align our hearts toward God and dedicate ourselves to His service, avoiding actions that provoke His wrath. Instead, let us seek the joy of obedience, honoring Him through righteous living and sincerity of heart.

And His voice will declare, I will treat you as I did Adam and Seboim. When He speaks forth, the sons of the sea or waters will respond, as translated in the Septuagint. The term maim, rendered with the letters mem, yod, and mem, signifies waters; and if pronounced as mejam, it means sea. The Hebrew people associate this with the anticipated coming of Christ. However, in our faith, this has already been realized; for from Egypt and Assyria—representing the east and west, as well as the north and south—those who will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have come, and continue to come (Matt. 8). The sons of the sea or waters can also denote those who have been caught by the net of the Lord and brought out of the sea of this age (Matt. 13:47). When they are transitioned from death to life, they will be welcomed into their homes, referred to in the Gospel (Matt. 8 and 13) as the granary, where the wheat has been gathered from the chaff. It is said that the roars of lions instill such dread that all creatures tremble and cannot advance; such overwhelming fear and terror grips them. Moreover, when the Lord’s voice is heard, akin to the roar of a lion and the sound of thunder, all birds and winged beings will be filled with fright and retreat to their nests, their homes, where the Lord will reside with them.

Let us explore another interpretation. When the voice of the true lion is heard, the false lion, representing the adversary as noted by the Apostle Peter (1 Pet. 5:8), will be silenced, and all false doctrines will be unable to speak, and those who were previously ensnared will attain freedom through the powerful roar of the true lion, and they will follow the Lord their God. At this time, the sons of the sea or of the waters, born in the bitter and brackish waters of heretics, will tremble, spread their wings, and take flight like birds from Egypt and as doves from Assyria, exclaiming, Who will give me wings like a dove, that I may fly away and find rest (Psalms 54:7). Thus, after enduring the trials from heretics, they shall find peace within the Church and dwell in their homes, from which they were displaced due to error. It is understood that the term Egypt, or Mesraim, signifies sorrow and trouble, while Assyria conveys the sense of dominion or, as we prefer to interpret, accusation. Therefore, the heretics will be liberated from these bonds when they begin to occupy their own dwellings and acknowledge to their leaders, Your house has been left desolate (Matt. 23:38).