Hosea 9:9

9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, As in the days of Gevah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins.

Hosea 9:9 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 9:9

They have deeply corrupted [themselves], as in the days of
Gibeah
Not the false prophets and watchmen only; but rather Ephraim, or the ten tribes, through their means became extremely corrupt in principle and practice; they had most sadly degenerated, and were deeply sunk and immersed in all manner of wickedness, and rooted in it, and continued obstinate and incorrigible, so that there was no hope of reformation among them; they had got to as great a pitch of wickedness, and were guilty of the like uncleanness, lewdness, barbarity, and cruelty, as were acted by the men of Gibeah, with respect to the Levite and his concubine, ( Judges 19:1-30 ) ; for Gibeah of Benjamin is here meant, where the people asked a king, and rebelled against the words of the prophet, as some in Jarchi interpret it: [therefore] he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins:
that is, God, my God, as the prophet calls him in ( Hosea 9:8 ) , will not forgive and forget their sins; pardon being often expressed by a non-remembrance of sins; but will make inquiry after them, and visit them in a way of wrath and vengeance, and punish for them as they deserve: they being obstinate and impenitent, and persisting in their sins, like the men of Gibeah and Benjamin.

Hosea 9:9 In-Context

7 The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Yisra'el will consider the prophet to be a fool, And the man who is inspired to be insane, Because of the abundance of your sins, And because your hostility is great.

8 A prophet watches over Efrayim with my God. A fowler's snare is on all of his paths, And hostility in the house of his God.

9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, As in the days of Gevah. He will remember their iniquity. He will punish them for their sins.

10 I found Yisra'el like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; But they came to Ba`al-Pe`or, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, And became abominable like that which they loved.

11 As for Efrayim, their glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no birth, none with child, and no conception.