54. 26. (In Hosea from beginning to end falsification is treated of, which is described by whoredom and Ephraim.)

[The sons of Israel shall abide many days: there shall be no king, no prince, no sacrifice, no image, no ephod, and no teraphim.] Then shall the sons of Israel return and seek Jehovah their God, and David their king, and come with fear to Jehovah, and to His goodness, in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5).

(I will return to my place, and they will seek Me in the morning (Hosea 5:15). Jehovah will revive us after three days, in the third day He will raise us up so that we shall live before Him; His going forth is prepared as the dawn (Hosea 6:2-3).)

(Woe unto them because they have wandered away from Me! destruction unto them! because they have transgressed, and I have redeemed them (Hosea 7:13).)

Devastation shall stand among thy people, there shall be laying waste, as in the day of battle (Hosea 10:14).

Ephraim feedeth on wind and followeth after the east wind, every day he increaseth lies and desolation, they make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt (Hosea 12:2).

As with many common verbs, the meaning of “to say” in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Who is speaking? Who is hearing? What is it about? Is it a command, a message, an apology, instruction? All these things enter into the meaning of “say.” In general, though, “saying” has to do with sharing truth at various levels -- from the most exalted power people can have to perceive the Lord's desires directly to the most basic of orders issued to people at their lowest.