Hosea 9:9

9 People have deeply corrupted themselves as they once did at Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them because of 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 time for them to be punished will come. The time for them to pay for their sins will come. [When this happens,] Israel will know it. [They think that] prophets are fools and that spiritual people are crazy. They have sinned a lot, and they are very hostile.
8 Prophets are God's watchmen over Ephraim. Yet, traps are set on every prophet's path, and people are hostile in the temple of their God.
9 People have deeply corrupted themselves as they once did at Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them because of their sins.
10 [The LORD said,] "When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first figs of the harvest. But they went to Baal Peor and worshiped shameful idols. They became as disgusting as the things they worshiped.
11 "Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird. There will be no more pregnancies, births, or babies.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.