Hosea 4:7

7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have traded their glorious God for that shameful god Baal.

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 trip and fall day and night. And the prophets fall down along with you. So I will destroy your nation. She is the one who gave birth to you.

6 My people are destroyed because they do not know me. "You priests have refused to obey me. So I will refuse to accept you as my priests. You have not paid any attention to my law. So I will not let your children be my priests.

7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have traded their glorious God for that shameful god Baal.

8 They live off the sins of my people. And they want them to keep on sinning.

9 So here is what I will do. I will punish people and priests alike. I will judge them because of their sinful lives. I will pay them back for the evil things they have done.