Hosea 5:3

3 I know all about the people of Israel; what they have done is not hidden from me. Now that Israel acts like a prostitute, it has made itself unclean.

Hosea 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 5:3

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me
Though they may cover their designs from men, and seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and make plausible pretences for what they do, and put on an appearance of religion; yet God, who knows all men, and their hearts, cannot be deceived; he judges not according to outward appearance; all things are naked and open to him; nor can any hide themselves from him; he knows their persons, intentions, and designs, as well as actions. Kimchi interprets Ephraim of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was of that tribe; others, of the tribe itself, and Israel of the other nine tribes; others take Ephraim for the ten tribes, and Israel for the two tribes: but it is best to understand Ephraim and Israel of the same, even of the ten tribes; whose works, as the Targum paraphrases it, the Lord knew, particularly what follows: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom;
both corporeal and spiritual adultery, which frequently went together, as observed in the preceding chapter: the Lord knew their corporeal whoredom, though ever so secretly committed, and their spiritual adultery or idolatry, under all the specious pretences of worshipping him; which was an abhorrence to him, as well as a pollution to them: [and] Israel is defiled;
with the same sins; for all sin is of a defiling nature, and especially those mentioned, which defile body and soul, and render men loathsome and abominable in the sight of God.

Hosea 5:3 In-Context

1 "Listen, you priests. Pay attention, people of Israel. Listen, royal family, because you will all be judged. and like a net spread out at Mount Tabor.
2 You have done many evil things, so I will punish you all.
3 I know all about the people of Israel; what they have done is not hidden from me. Now that Israel acts like a prostitute, it has made itself unclean.
4 "They will not give up their deeds and return to their God. They are determined to be unfaithful to me; they do not know the Lord.
5 Israel's pride testifies against them. The people of Israel will stumble because of their sin, and the people of Judah will stumble with them.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.