Hosea 11:9

Hosea 11:9. And I will not enter into the city— And I will not come as an enemy. Houbigant renders it, Nor am I come speedily to depart from thee: and he supposes that the contrast in this and the former clause is between an inhabitant and a passing traveller. Bishop Lowth renders it, after St. Jerome, Though I inhabit not cities: "I am not one of those who dwell in cities, who live according to human laws; who reckon cruelty to be justice." Castalio follows St. Jerome. This sentence is parallel and, synonymous to I am not a man. The future אבוא abo, has a frequentative power: see Psalms 3:8. I am not used to enter, or dwell; I am no inhabitant of a city. There is a very elegant contrast in each member of the sentence: I am God, and not man; there is an increase of the sense in the following sentence, and the contrast is varied: "I am thy God, dwelling with thee; but in a peculiar and extraordinary manner, no way similar to that of mankind." Nothing can be more plain and elegant.