Hosea 4:10

10 1They will eat, but not have enough; They will 2play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have 3stopped giving heed to the LORD.

Hosea 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 4:10

For they shall eat, and not have enough
Namely, the priests; for of them the words are continued, who ate of the sacrifices of the people, and of feasts made in honour of idols; and yet, either what they ate did not satisfy or nourish them, or else their appetites were still greedy after more of the same kind: or this may respect a famine, either at the siege of Samaria, or in their captivity; when they who had lived so voluptuously should have so little to eat, that it should not satisfy them: or though, as others, they eat to the honour of their idols, expecting to be blessed with plenty by them, they shall not have it: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase;
that is, their offspring; they shall not beget children, so the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi; or the children they beget shall quickly die; yea, though they commit whoredom in the idol's temple with that view, where the women prostituted themselves for that purpose: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord;
to his word, and worship, and ordinances, which they formerly had some regard unto, but now had relinquished: or, "the Lord they have forsaken", or "left off to observe" F25; his ways, his word, and worship. R. Saadiah connects this with the following words, they have forsaken the Lord to observe fornication and wine; but wrongly.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (rmvl wbze hwhy ta) "Jehovam desierunt observare", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Rivetus, Liveleus; "ad observandum", Schmidt; "reliquerunt observare", Cocceius; "deseruerunt observare", so some in Vatablus.

Hosea 4:10 In-Context

8 They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.
9 And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.
10 They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD .
11 Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding.
12 My people consult 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.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Leviticus 26:26; Isaiah 65:13; Micah 6:14
  • 2. Hosea 7:4
  • 3. Hosea 9:17

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit "forsaken giving heed;" or "forsaken the LORD to practice" (v 11) "harlotry"
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