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Hosea 4:12-19

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12 My people 1inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For 2a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.
13 3They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, 4under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for 5the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with 6cult prostitutes, and a people 7without understanding shall come to ruin.
15 Though you play the whore, O 8Israel, let not 9Judah become guilty. 10Enter not into 11Gilgal, nor go up to 12Beth-aven, and swear not, "As the LORD lives."
16 Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
17 13Ephraim is joined to idols; 14leave him alone.
18 When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; 15their rulers[a] dearly love shame.
19 16A wind has wrapped them[b] in its wings, and they shall 17be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
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Hosea 4:12-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 4

This chapter contains a new sermon or prophecy, delivered in proper and express words, without types and figures, as before; in which the people of Israel are summoned to appear at the tribunal of God, to hear the charge brought against them, and the sentence to be pronounced upon them, and which would be executed. They are charged with sins of omission and commission; with want of truth and mercy to men, and with ignorance of God; with swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery, Ho 4:1,2, the punishment threatened is the sword, famine, and pestilence; which should affect the whole land, and all creatures in it, men, beasts, fowls, and fishes, Ho 4:3, then the priests and false prophets are threatened with falling into calamities along with the people, and with rejection from their office, and forgetfulness of their posterity, and a taking away their glory from them, because of their striving with the true prophets; their rejection of knowledge; forgetfulness of the law of God; covetousness, adultery, and drunkenness, Ho 4:4-11, then the discourse is turned to the people again, who are charged with divination and idolatry, which is spiritual adultery; and therefore, by way of retaliation, their wives and daughters would be left to commit adultery and fornication, Ho 4:12-14, and the chapter is concluded with advice to Israel not to tempt Judah to sin; or to Judah not to do the like, after the example of Israel, who were backsliders, idolaters, left of God and alone; guilty of bribery, and the like shameful things, and would be suddenly filled with shame, Ho 4:15-19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 17

  • 1. [Judges 18:5]
  • 2. Hosea 5:4; [Hosea 2:2]
  • 3. Ezekiel 6:13
  • 4. [Isaiah 1:29]
  • 5. [Hosea 9:10]
  • 6. Deuteronomy 23:17
  • 7. [ver. 1, 6]
  • 8. See Hosea 6:4
  • 9. See Hosea 6:4
  • 10. Amos 4:4, 5; Amos 5:5
  • 11. Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11
  • 12. Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5; [Hosea 10:8; 1 Kings 12:29; Amos 1:5]
  • 13. [ver. 12; Hosea 5:3]
  • 14. [Matthew 15:14]
  • 15. [Hosea 9:10]
  • 16. Hosea 13:15; Jeremiah 4:11; Jeremiah 51:1; [Zechariah 5:9]
  • 17. [Isaiah 1:29]

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.