Hosea 4:11

11 Harlotry, ¹wine and new wine take away the understanding.

Hosea 4:11 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 4:11

Whoredom and wine, and new wine, take away the heart.
] Uncleanness and intemperance besot men, deprive them of reason and judgment, and even of common sense, make them downright fools, and so stupid as to do the following things; or they take away the heart from following the Lord, and taking heed to him, and lead to idolatry; or they "occupy" ^F26 the heart, and fill it up, and cause it to prefer sensual lusts and pleasures to the fear and love of God: their stupidity brought on hereby is exposed in the next verse; though it seems chiefly to respect the priests, who erred in vision through wine and strong drink, and stumbled in judgment, ( Isaiah 28:7 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

F26 (bl xqy) "occupant cor", so some in Calvin and Rivet; "occupavit cor", Schmidt.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Hosea 4:11 In-Context

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.

13 They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery.

Cross References 1

1. Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:12; Isaiah 28:7

Footnotes 1

[a]. Lit "heart"