Hoshea 4:9

9 And there shall be, like Am (People), like kohen; and I will visit them with punishment for their ways, and repay them for their doings.

Hoshea 4:9 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 4:9

And there shall be, like people, like priest
No difference between them in their festivals, the one being as greedy of committing intemperance and uncleanness as the other, and in their common conversation of life; though the priests ought both to have given good instructions, and to have set good examples; but instead of that were equally guilty as the people, and so would be alike in their punishment, as it follows: and I will punish them for their ways;
their evil ways, as the Targum; their wicked manner of life and conversation, both of the people and the priests; especially the latter are meant: or, "I will visit upon him his ways" F23; upon everyone of the priests, as well as the people; which visit must be understood in a way of wrath and vengeance: and reward them their doings;
reward them according to their doings, as their sins deserve, and as it is explained in the next verse: or, "I will return their doings to them" F24; bring them back again, when they seemed to be past and gone, and set them before them, and charge them with them, and punish for them.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (wykrd wyle ytdqpw) "et visitabo super eum vias ejus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Schmidt.
F24 (wl byva wyllemw) "et opera ejus redire faciam", Zanchius.

Hoshea 4:9 In-Context

7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; therefore will I change their kavod into kalon (ignominy, shame).
8 They [i.e., the kohanim] feed on the chattat (sin) of Ami, and they relish their avon (iniquity).
9 And there shall be, like Am (People), like kohen; and I will visit them with punishment for their ways, and repay them for their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase; because they have abandoned being shomer to heed Hashem.
11 Zenut (prostitution, whoredom) and yayin and tirosh take away the lev (understanding).
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