Hosea 4:7

7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. I will take away their honor and give them shame.

Hosea 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 4:7

As they were increased, so they sinned against me
As the children of the priests increased and grew up, they sinned against the Lord, imitating their parents; they were as many sinners as they were persons, not one to be excepted: this expresses their universal depravity and corruption. Some understand it of their increase, as in number, so in riches, wealth, honour, dignity, and authority, and yet they sinned more and more; which shows their ingratitude. So the Targum,

``as I have multiplied fruits unto them''

Therefore will I change their glory into shame,
take away their priesthood from them, so that they shall be no more priests, and as if they never had been; and reduce them to a state of poverty, meanness, and disgrace; and cause them to go into captivity with the meanest of the people; and be in no more honour, but subject to as much scorn and contempt as they.

Hosea 4:7 In-Context

5 You will be ruined in the day, and your prophets will be ruined with you in the night. I will also destroy your mother.

6 My people will be destroyed, because they have no knowledge. You have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be priests to me. You have forgotten the teachings of your God, so I will forget your children.

7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. I will take away their honor and give them shame.

8 Since the priests live off the sin offerings of the people, they want the people to sin more and more.

9 The priests are as wrong as the people, and I will punish them both for what they have done. I will repay them for the wrong they have done.