Hosea 4:7

7 "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into 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 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother.

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

7 "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.

8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.

9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds.

Footnotes

• [a]. Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; scribal tradition, Syriac, and Targum read They will change.
• [b]. Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; scribal tradition reads My glory.