Hosea 4:8-19

8 peccata populi mei comedent et ad iniquitatem eorum sublevabunt animas eorum

9 et erit sicut populus sic sacerdos et visitabo super eum vias eius et cogitationes eius reddam ei

10 et comedent et non saturabuntur fornicati sunt et non cessaverunt quoniam Dominum reliquerunt in non custodiendo

11 fornicatio et vinum et ebrietas aufert cor

12 populus meus in ligno suo interrogavit et baculus eius adnuntiavit ei spiritus enim fornicationum decepit eos et fornicati sunt a Deo suo

13 super capita montium sacrificabant et super colles accendebant thymiama subtus quercum et populum et terebinthum quia bona erat umbra eius ideo fornicabuntur filiae vestrae et sponsae vestrae adulterae erunt

14 non visitabo super filias vestras cum fuerint fornicatae et super sponsas vestras cum adulteraverint quoniam ipsi cum meretricibus versabantur et cum effeminatis sacrificabant et populus non intellegens vapulabit

15 si fornicaris tu Israhel non delinquat saltim Iuda et nolite ingredi in Galgala et ne ascenderitis in Bethaven neque iuraveritis vivit Dominus

16 quoniam sicut vacca lasciviens declinavit Israhel nunc pascet eos Dominus quasi agnum in latitudine

17 particeps idolorum Ephraim dimitte eum

18 separatum est convivium eorum fornicatione fornicati sunt dilexerunt adferre ignominiam protectores eius

19 ligavit spiritus eam in alis suis et confundentur a sacrificiis suis

Hosea 4:8-19 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.