Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
What it says
When Israel was a child, the LORD loved him and called His son out of Egypt.
What it is doing
This verse opens the chapter by grounding everything that follows in God's initiating covenant love.
In context
1When Israel was a child, I loved him, 2But the more I called Israel, 3It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, 4I led them with cords of kindness, 5Will they not return to the land of Egypt 6A sword will flash through their cities; 7My people are bent on turning from Me.