1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Chapter 4 of the Book of Hosea in the King James Version of the Holy Bible is a powerful indictment of the people of Israel, who are described as faithless and corrupt. The chapter begins with a divine accusation against the people of Israel for their moral and religious failures. God, speaking through His prophet Hosea, condemns the people for their lack of faithfulness, love, and knowledge of Him. He also criticizes their propensity for swearing, lying, killing, stealing and committing adultery, actions that have led to widespread violence.
The chapter then moves to a specific criticism of the priests of Israel. They are accused of being more interested in their own gain than in serving God and His people. They feed on the sins of the people and have forgotten the law of God. The priests are also blamed for leading the people astray, which has resulted in the people and the land suffering. The chapter ends with a warning that God will punish both the people and the priests for their transgressions.
In the opening verses of Chapter 4, God, through Hosea, presents a case against Israel. The language used is legal and judicial, indicative of a court trial where God is the plaintiff and Israel is the defendant. The accusations are severe: there is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land. The list of sins is extensive, including swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery. These actions have broken all bounds and bloodshed follows bloodshed. The impact of these sins is not limited to the individual or society alone, but extends to the land itself, which mourns, and all who live in it languish. This is a clear indication of the interconnectedness of moral, religious, and ecological health, a theme that resonates even in our contemporary context.
The focus of the divine accusation then shifts to the priests. The priests, who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the people, have failed in their duty. They are accused of being greedy, feeding on the sin offerings of the people and increasing their wealth at the expense of the people’s spiritual wellbeing. They are also accused of forgetting the law of God. This is a serious charge, as the priests were supposed to be the custodians of the law and the teachers of the people. Their failure to uphold and teach the law has led to a spiritual void in the society and the prevalence of the sins listed earlier.
The priests are also implicated in leading the people astray. They are accused of exchanging their "glory for something disgraceful" and leading the people into idolatry. The people have become like those who consult a wooden idol and are diviners with a rod. This is a clear reference to the pagan practices that were prevalent during the time. By failing to uphold the law and by leading the people into idolatry, the priests have brought about their own downfall and that of the people.
The chapter concludes with a warning of impending divine punishment. God, through Hosea, warns that He will punish both the people and the priests for their sins. The people will eat but will not be satisfied; they will play the whore but will not multiply. This is a clear indication of the futility of their actions and their impending doom. The priests, who have led the people astray, will also be punished. They will stumble by day and the prophets will stumble with them by night. They will be destroyed for their lack of knowledge and because they have forgotten the law of God.
The punishment is not just individual, but also communal. The people will be punished collectively for their collective sins. The chapter ends with a warning to Judah not to become like Israel and not to go to Gilgal or Beth-aven, places associated with idolatry. This warning serves as a reminder that the actions of a few can have far-reaching consequences for the entire community.
Chapter 4 of the Book of Hosea is a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and indulging in sinful practices. It highlights the importance of moral and religious integrity and the role of religious leaders in upholding these values. The chapter also emphasizes the interconnectedness of moral, religious, and ecological health and the far-reaching consequences of individual and collective sins.
The chapter serves as a warning to all who read it, not just the people of Israel during the time of Hosea. It is a call to self-examination and repentance. It is also a reminder of the role of religious leaders in guiding the people and the consequences of their failure to do so.
In a world where moral and religious failures are often overlooked or justified, Chapter 4 of the Book of Hosea serves as a sobering reminder of the divine standards of righteousness and the consequences of failing to uphold them. It is a call to return to God, to uphold His laws, and to walk in His ways.
Share this page