Hosea 5:4

4 “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD.

Hosea 5:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the LORD.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Your deeds won’t let you return to your God. You are a prostitute through and through, and you do not know the LORD .
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 They couldn't turn to God if they wanted to. Their evil life is a bad habit. Every breath they take is a whore's breath. They wouldn't recognize God if they saw me.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God; for the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not Jehovah.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 "The wicked things that the people have done keep them from returning to their God. They have a spirit of prostitution, and they don't know the LORD.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 Their actions do not allow [them] to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know the Lord.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 "You can't return to me because you have done so many evil things. In your hearts you long to act like prostitutes. You do not recognize me as the Lord.

Hosea 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 5:4

They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God
Either their evil doings; they will not leave, as the Targum and Jarchi {g}; their evil ways and worship, their adultery and idolatry; which was necessary to repentance and true conversion to God, whom they yet professed to be their God, though they had so sadly departed from him: or their good works; they did not choose to do them, which were leading steps to repentance and conversion, or fruits and evidences of it: they had no mind to repent of their sins, and turn from them to the Lord; they had no thought, care, or concern, about these things, but obstinately persisted in their sins and in their impenitence: their wills were wretchedly depraved and corrupted; their hearts hard, perverse, and obstinate; they had no will to that which is good: for the spirit of whoredom [is] in the midst of them;
an unclean spirit, that prompts them to and pushes them on to commit corporeal and spiritual whoredom; the bias and inclination of their minds were this way which put them upon such evil practices; the spirit of error, which caused them to err, as the Targum and Kimchi; the lying spirit in the false prophets which encouraged them therein; and even himself, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience: and they have not known the Lord;
ignorance of God, his nature and perfections, his will, word, and worship, was the cause of their idolatry, and other sins; see ( Hosea 4:1 ) ; and this was wilful and affected ignorance; they knew not, nor would they understand: they rejected the knowledge of God, and the means of it; so the Targum,

``and they sought not instruction (or doctrine) from the Lord.''

FOOTNOTES:

F7 So R. Sol. Urbin. fol. 68. 2.

Hosea 5:4 In-Context

2 The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
3 I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
4 “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD.
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.
6 When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Hosea 7:10
  • 2. S Hosea 4:11
  • 3. S Jeremiah 4:22; S Hosea 4:6
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