Chapter Book
Loading
Change Translation
Loading...
  • Recent Translations
  • All Translations

Hosea 4:4-19

Share

Settings

4 Yet let no one 1find fault, and let none * offer reproof; For your people are like those who 2contend with the priest.
5 So you will 3stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your 4mother.
6 5My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have 6rejected knowledge, I also will 7reject you from being My priest. Since you have 8forgotten the 9law of your God, I also will forget your children.
7 The more they 10multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will 11change their glory into shame.
8 They 12feed on the sin of My people And 13direct their desire toward their iniquity.
9 And it will be, like people, 14like priest; So I will 15punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.
10 16They will eat, but not have enough; They will 17play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have 18stopped giving heed to the LORD.
11 Harlotry, 19wine and new wine take away the understanding.
12 My people 20consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, And they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the 21tops of the mountains And 22burn incense on the hills, 23Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore * your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with 24temple prostitutes; So the people without understanding are ruined.
15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to 25Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven 26And take the oath: "As the LORD lives!"
16 Since Israel is 27stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the LORD now 28pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
17 Ephraim is joined to 29idols; 30Let him alone.
18 Their liquor gone, They play the harlot continually; 31Their rulers dearly love shame.
19 32The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Read Chapter Compare

Hosea 4:4-19 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 32

  • 1. Ezekiel 3:26; Amos 5:10, 13
  • 2. Deuteronomy 17:12
  • 3. Ezekiel 14:3, 7; Hosea 5:5
  • 4. Jeremiah 15:8; Hosea 2:2, 5
  • 5. Isaiah 5:13
  • 6. Hosea 4:14; Malachi 2:7, 8
  • 7. Zech 11:8, 9, 15-17
  • 8. Hosea 2:13; Hosea 8:14; Hosea 13:6
  • 9. Hosea 8:1, 12
  • 10. Hosea 10:1; Hosea 13:6
  • 11. Habakkuk 2:16
  • 12. Hosea 10:13
  • 13. Isaiah 56:11; Micah 3:11
  • 14. Isaiah 24:2; Jeremiah 5:31
  • 15. Hosea 8:13; Hosea 9:9
  • 16. Leviticus 26:26; Isaiah 65:13; Micah 6:14
  • 17. Hosea 7:4
  • 18. Hosea 9:17
  • 19. Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:12; Isaiah 28:7
  • 20. Isaiah 44:19; Jeremiah 2:27
  • 21. Jeremiah 3:6
  • 22. Hosea 2:13; Hosea 11:2
  • 23. Isaiah 1:29; Jeremiah 2:20
  • 24. Deuteronomy 23:17
  • 25. Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11
  • 26. Jeremiah 5:2; Jeremiah 44:26; Amos 8:14
  • 27. Psalms 78:8
  • 28. Isaiah 5:17; Isaiah 7:25
  • 29. Hosea 13:2
  • 30. Psalms 81:12; Hosea 4:4
  • 31. Micah 3:11
  • 32. Hosea 12:1; Hosea 13:15

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. Lit "contend"
  • [b]. Or "sin offering"
  • [c]. Lit "forsaken giving heed;" or "forsaken the LORD to practice" (v 11) "harlotry"
  • [d]. Lit "heart"
  • [e]. Lit "from under"
  • [f]. Or "offer sacrifices"
  • [g]. Or "daughters-in-law"
  • [h]. Or "daughters-in-law"
  • [i]. Lit "thrust down"
  • [j]. Or "Now the LORD will pasture...field"
  • [k]. Lit "shields"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.