翻背的弓、與沒翻過的餅（何7章）

以法蓮與列邦人攙雜。以法蓮是沒有翻過的餅。（何 7：8）

他們歸向、卻不歸向至上者．他們如同翻背的弓．他們的首領必因舌頭的狂傲倒在刀下．這在埃及地必作人的譏笑。（何 7：16）

本章形容以法蓮，也就是北朝以色列的罪。首先，神藉何西阿先知提到以法蓮個性暴躁、有仇必報的特性，就像烤爐的火加熱一整夜，等到時候到了，機會來了，就要致人於死地。

他們都是行淫的、像火爐被烤餅的燒熱、從摶麵到發麵的時候、暫不使火着旺。在我們王宴樂的日子、首領因酒的烈性成病．王與褻慢人拉手。首領埋伏的時候、心中熱如火爐、就如烤餅的整夜睡臥、到了早晨火氣炎炎。眾民也熱如火爐、燒滅他們的官長．他們的君王都仆倒而死．他們中間無一人求告我。（何 7：4-7）

燒熱的烤爐，除了比喻以法蓮的火爆，也比喻他們的慾火，任其漲溢、行淫。在何西阿的時代，曾經經歷王殺死王的歷史：在耶羅波安二世之後，接位的撒迦利亞即位，不久就被沙龍殺死；沙龍不久之後又被米拿現所殺；米拿現不久之後又被比加轄所殺；比加轄不久之後又被比加所殺。充滿怒火與慾火的以法蓮，惹動神的憤怒。

接著提到「沒有翻過的餅」。這是指以法蓮專注在罪惡、復仇、情慾，其他的事，一概不管。就像在烤餅一樣，關於復仇的那一面，復仇到像餅燒成炭了，另一面則完全未熟。也就是該注意的信仰、家庭，完全不去關心。

沒有翻過的餅，不是指該做的做過頭，以至於燒焦，並不是這樣。沒翻過的餅，是神在指責以法蓮專注在仇恨、報復、享樂、情慾與罪惡，在神要他們回轉的事上，他們卻完全不在意。他們就像烤餅者，烤著一塊一面已經烤焦的餅，任憑旁人急著喊叫，要他們趕快翻面！他們卻將這樣的關心，充耳不聞。

另外「翻背的弓」，原文的意思是「詭詐的弓」。翻中文時，「翻背」只限於中文和合本的翻譯，英文版其實也是翻成「詭詐」。所以它的意思，是：「看起來像是弓，但是是騙人的，一點功能也沒有！」弓的應有功能，就是把箭射出去，而且彈力要夠強，箭才能射得更遠，還要射得準確，想射中哪個目標，就射中那個目標。

「翻背的弓」，就等同是「不會鹹的鹽」一樣，也就是看起來是鹽，卻不會鹹，是騙人的、詭詐的。主耶穌說：

「你們是世上的鹽．鹽若失了味、怎能叫他再鹹呢？以後無用、不過丟在外面、被人踐踏了。」（太 5：13）

這也就是在形容：看起來是真耶穌教會的信徒，其實一點也沒有該有的屬靈內涵；看起來是教員，卻一點都沒有身教，也一直都教不好孩子，是虛有其表，掛名的教員；看起來是長執、傳道，卻一點都不明白真理，也不讀經、禱告，不能按時分糧，對教會一點幫助都沒有，甚至，反而還會傷害教會、敗壞信徒。

在長年的教會事奉中，也曾經遇見這樣的人。有一些弟兄姊妹，甚至是長執，一開始讓人覺得很適合某方面的事奉工作與職務，於是延攬成為事工團隊的一員。沒想到，日子一久，發現他們原本敬虔的外貌，原來是假的；該有的事奉能力，也嚴重不足、只是虛有其表，一點能力都沒有。如今回頭再回憶這些過往，忍不住想說：「唉呀！原來這就是『翻背的弓』、『不會鹹的鹽』的意思啊！」

但是，對於今天的我們，也都當自我省察：我們是否也只是虛有其表、沒有敬虔的內涵？例如：空有真耶穌教會信徒的身份，卻與世俗的人沒什麼兩樣？也是滿口污穢的話語、也和世俗一樣爭權奪利、也喜歡有仇必報？

千萬不要成為沒有翻面的餅、翻背的弓。應該要誠誠實實盡本分，做該做的靈修，使行事為人、與蒙召的恩相稱：身為長執的，就該要有長執的表現；身為真教會信徒的，就要能在生活中榮耀神的名。

我為主被囚的勸你們、既然蒙召、行事為人就當與蒙召的恩相稱．凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐、用愛心互相寬容、用和平彼此聯絡、竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。（弗 4：1-3）

By Isaiah Kao

A Treacherous Bow and a Cake Not Turned Over (Hosea 7)

October 29, 2026

Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim has become a cake not turned over. (Hosea 7:8)

So they return, but not to the Most High; they are like a treacherous bow. Their princes will fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongues. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. (Hosea 7:16)

This chapter describes the sins of Ephraim, that is, the northern kingdom of Israel. First, through the prophet Hosea, God points out Ephraim’s hot temper and tendency to seek revenge. They were like an oven whose fire kept burning throughout the night, waiting for the right moment and opportunity to take someone’s life.

They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker, who ceases to stir up the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with scoffers, for their hearts are like an oven as they approach their plotting; their anger smolders all night, in the morning it burns like a flaming fire. All of them are hot like an oven, and they consume their rulers; all their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me. (Hosea 7:4–7, NASB 2020)

The heated oven symbolizes not only Ephraim’s fiery temper but also their burning lust. They allowed their desires to run wild and committed sexual immorality. During Hosea’s time, Israel experienced a series of kings murdering their predecessors. After Jeroboam II, Zechariah became king but was soon killed by Shallum. Shallum was then killed by Menahem, who was later succeeded by his son Pekahiah. Pekahiah was subsequently killed by Pekah. Ephraim’s anger and lust provoked God’s wrath.

Next, the passage mentions “a cake not turned over.” This refers to Ephraim’s focus on sin, revenge, and lust, while neglecting everything else. Imagine baking a cake, the side associated with revenge has been burned to a crisp, while the other side remains completely uncooked. In other words, they paid no attention to the things they should have cared about, such as their faith and family. 

A cake not turned over does not mean that someone has overdone a good thing until it becomes burnt. That is not the point. God was rebuking Ephraim for concentrating on hatred, revenge, pleasure, lust, and sin while completely ignoring His call for them to turn back to Him. They were like a baker who continued baking a cake even though one side was already burnt. Others urgently called out, telling the baker to turn it over, but the baker paid no attention to their concern.

Another expression in this passage is “a treacherous bow.” The original meaning is “a deceitful bow.” The Chinese Union Version uses the expression “a bow that turns backward,” but the English translations generally render it as “a treacherous bow.” The idea is that "something looks like a bow but is deceptive and completely useless!"

A bow is supposed to shoot arrows with sufficient force to send them far and with enough accuracy to hit the intended target.

A “treacherous bow” is comparable to "salt that has lost its saltiness". It looks like salt, but it is no longer salty. It is deceptive and useless. The Lord Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.” (Matthew 5:13, NASB 2020)

This described people who appear to be menbers in the True Jesus Church but lack the spiritual substance that should characterize them. Some appear to be religious education teachers but fail to set a good example and are unable to teach children effectively. They have the title but lack the substance.

Likewise, some appear to be ministers or preachers, yet they do not understand the truth, read the Bible, or pray. They cannot provide spiritual nourishment at the proper time and offer little help to the church. Worse still, they may even harm the church and cause menbers to stumble.

Throughout my years of church service, I have encountered people like this. Some brothers and sisters, including ministers, initially seemed well suited for certain ministries and responsibilities, so they were invited to join the ministry teams. However, as time passed, it became clear that their outward appearance of godliness was not . Their ability to serve was also seriously lacking. They had the appearance of competence but little actual ability.

Looking back on those experiences, I 

 help saying, “Ah! So this is what a ‘treacherous bow’ and salt that has lost its saltiness mean!”

However, we must also examine ourselves today. Are we merely outwardly religious, without true godliness within? For exampe do we possess the identity of menbers in the True Jesus Church but live no differently from worldly people? Do we use foul language, compete for power and personal gain just as the world does, or insist on taking revenge against those who offend us?

Let us never become a cake that has not been turned over or a treacherous bow. Instead, we should faithfully fulfill our responsibilities and practice the spiritual disciplines we ought to maintain. Our conduct should be worthy of the calling we have received. Those who serve as ministers should live up to the responsibilities of their office, and those who belong to the True Church should glorify God’s name through their daily lives.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1–3, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao