'Hosts' in the Bible
This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.
Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”
So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
This is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.
David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him.
David became more and more powerful, and the Lord God of Hosts was with him.
He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Hosts who dwells between the cherubim.
When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Hosts.
“Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.
so that Your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel.” The house of Your servant David will be established before You
since You, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, Your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to You.
Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”
Elisha responded, “As the Lord of Hosts lives, I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you.
For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem and survivors, from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.
David steadily grew more powerful, and the Lord of Hosts was with him.
“Now this is what you will say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.
Let Your name be confirmed and magnified forever in the saying, “Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.” May the house of Your servant David be established before You.
Who is He, this King of glory?The Lord of Hosts,He is the King of glory.Selah
The Lord of Hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah
Yahweh of Hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah
Just as we heard, so we have seenin the city of Yahweh of Hosts,in the city of our God;God will establish it forever.Selah
Lord God of Hosts, You are the God of Israel,rise up to punish all the nations;do not show grace to any wicked traitors.Selah
Do not let those who put their hope in Yoube disgraced because of me,Lord God of Hosts;do not let those who seek Yoube humiliated because of me,God of Israel.
Lord God of Hosts,how long will You be angrywith Your people’s prayers?
Restore us, God of Hosts;look on us with favor, and we will be saved.
Return, God of Hosts.Look down from heaven and see;take care of this vine,
Restore us, Yahweh, the God of Hosts;look on us with favor, and we will be saved.
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah.How lovely is Your dwelling place,Lord of Hosts.
Even a sparrow finds a home,and a swallow, a nest for herselfwhere she places her young—near Your altars, Lord of Hosts,my King and my God.
Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer;listen, God of Jacob.Selah
Lord God of Hosts,who is strong like You, Lord?Your faithfulness surrounds You.
If the Lord of Hostshad not left us a few survivors,we would be like Sodom,we would resemble Gomorrah.
Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,the Mighty One of Israel, declares:“Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;I will take revenge against My enemies.
For a day belonging to the Lord of Hosts is comingagainst all that is proud and lofty,against all that is lifted up—it will be humbled—
Observe this: The Lord God of Hostsis about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judahevery kind of security:the entire supply of bread and water,
Why do you crush My peopleand grind the faces of the poor?”This is the declarationof the Lord God of Hosts.
For the vineyard of the Lord of Hostsis the house of Israel,and the men of Judah,the plant He delighted in.He looked for justicebut saw injustice,for righteousness,but heard cries of wretchedness.
I heard the Lord of Hosts say:Indeed, many houses will become desolate,grand and lovely ones without inhabitants.
But the Lord of Hosts is exalted by His justice,and the holy God is distinguished by righteousness.
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes strawand as dry grass shrivels in the flame,so their roots will become like something rottenand their blossoms will blow away like dust,for they have rejectedthe instruction of the Lord of Hosts,and they have despisedthe word of the Holy One of Israel.
And one called to another:Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts;His glory fills the whole earth.
Then I said:Woe is me for I am ruinedbecause I am a man of unclean lipsand live among a people of unclean lips,and because my eyes have seen the King,the Lord of Hosts.
You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy.Only He should be feared;only He should be held in awe.
Here I am with the children the Lord has given me to be signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts who dwells on Mount Zion.
The dominion will be vast,and its prosperity will never end.He will reign on the throne of Davidand over his kingdom,to establish and sustain itwith justice and righteousness from now on and forever.The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.
The people did not turn to Him who struck them;they did not seek the Lord of Hosts.
The land is scorchedby the wrath of the Lord of Hosts,and the people are like fuel for the fire.No one has compassion on his brother.
Therefore the Lord God of Hostswill inflict an emaciating diseaseon the well-fed of Assyria,and He will kindle a burning fireunder its glory.
For throughout the landthe Lord God of Hostsis carrying out a destruction that was decreed.
Therefore, the Lord God of Hosts says this: “My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria, though he strikes you with a rod and raises his staff over you as the Egyptians did.
And the Lord of Hosts will brandish a whip against him as He did when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; and He will raise His staff over the sea as He did in Egypt.
Look, the Lord God of Hostswill chop off the branches with terrifying power,and the tall trees will be cut down,the high trees felled.
Listen, a tumult on the mountains,like that of a mighty people!Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,like nations being gathered together!The Lord of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war.
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble,and the earth will shake from its foundationsat the wrath of the Lord of Hosts,on the day of His burning anger.
“I will rise up against them”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“and I will cut off from Babylon her reputation, remnant, offspring, and posterity”—this is the Lord’s declaration.
“I will make her a swampland and a region for screech owls, and I will sweep her away with a broom of destruction.”This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
The Lord of Hosts has sworn:As I have purposed, so it will be;as I have planned it, so it will happen.
The Lord of Hosts Himself has planned it;therefore, who can stand in its way?It is His hand that is outstretched,so who can turn it back?
The fortress disappears from Ephraim,and a kingdom from Damascus.The remnant of Aram will belike the splendor of the Israelites.This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
At that time a gift will be brought to Yahweh of Hosts from a people tall and smooth-skinned, a people feared far and near, a powerful nation with a strange language, whose land is divided by rivers—to Mount Zion, the place of the name of Yahweh of Hosts.
I will deliver Egypt into the hands of harsh masters,and a strong king will rule it.This is the declaration of the Lord God of Hosts.
Where then are your wise men?Let them tell you and revealwhat the Lord of Hosts has planned against Egypt.
On that day Egypt will be like women. She will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the Lord of Hosts when He raises it against her.
The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble because of what the Lord of Hosts has planned against it.
On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the Lord of Hosts. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun.
It will be a sign and witness to the Lord of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them.
The Lord of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance are blessed.”
My people who have been crushedon the threshing floor,I have declared to youwhat I have heard from the Lord of Hosts,the God of Israel.
For the Lord God of Hostshad a day of tumult, trampling, and confusionin the Valley of Vision—people shouting and crying to the mountains;
On that day the Lord God of Hostscalled for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads,and for the wearing of sackcloth.
The Lord of Hosts has directly revealed to me:“This sin of yours will never be wiped out.”The Lord God of Hosts has spoken.
The Lord God of Hosts said: “Go to Shebna, that steward who is in charge of the palace, and say to him:
On that day”—the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“the peg that was driven into a firm place will give way, be cut off, and fall, and the load on it will be destroyed.” Indeed, the Lord has spoken.
The Lord of Hosts planned it,to desecrate all its glorious beauty,to disgrace all the honored ones of the earth.
The moon will be put to shameand the sun disgraced,because the Lord of Hosts will reign as kingon Mount Zion in Jerusalem,and He will display His gloryin the presence of His elders.
The Lord of Hosts will prepare a feastfor all the peoples on this mountain—a feast of aged wine, choice meat, finely aged wine.
On that daythe Lord of Hosts will become a crown of beautyand a diadem of splendorto the remnant of His people,
So now, do not mock,or your shackles will become stronger.Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Hostsa decree of destruction for the whole land.
This also comes from the Lord of Hosts.He gives wonderful advice;He gives great wisdom.
you will be visited by the Lord of Hostswith thunder, earthquake, and loud noise,storm, tempest, and a flame of consuming fire.
For this is what the Lord said to me:As a lion or young lion growls over its preywhen a band of shepherds is called out against it,and is not terrified by their shoutingor subdued by their noise,so the Lord of Hosts will come downto fight on Mount Zionand on its hill.
Like hovering birds,so the Lord of Hosts will protect Jerusalem—by protecting it, He will rescue it,by sparing it, He will deliver it.
Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are God—You alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem and survivors, from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.’
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of Hosts:
This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, says:I am the first and I am the last.There is no God but Me.
I have raised him up in righteousness,and will level all roads for him.He will rebuild My city,and set My exiles free,not for a price or a bribe,”says the Lord of Hosts.
The Holy One of Israel is our Redeemer;Yahweh of Hosts is His name.
For they are named after the Holy City,and lean on the God of Israel;His name is Yahweh of Hosts.
For I am Yahweh your Godwho stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—His name is Yahweh of Hosts.
Indeed, your husband is your Maker—His name is Yahweh of Hosts—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;He is called the God of all the earth.
Your own evil will discipline you;your own apostasies will reprimand you.Think it over and see how evil and bitter it isfor you to abandon the Lord your Godand to have no fear of Me.This is the declarationof the Lord God of Hosts.
Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Hosts says:Because you have spoken this word,I am going to make My wordsbecome fire in your mouth.These people are the wood,and the fire will consume them.
For this is what the Lord of Hosts says:Cut down the trees;raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.This city must be punished.There is nothing but oppression within her.
This is what the Lord of Hosts says:Glean the remnant of Israelas thoroughly as a vine.Pass your hand once more like a grape gathererover the branches.
“This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Correct your ways and your deeds, and I will allow you to live in this place.