Read Hosea 4 of the KJV to discover the profound insights it holds for us on this blessed day. For more verses, check out the Book of Hosea.
Hosea 4 Summary
Hosea 4 depicts God’s indictment against Israel for their spiritual adultery and moral decay. The chapter begins with a charge against both priests and people for abandoning the knowledge of God, leading to widespread corruption, injustice, and immorality in society. It condemns the priests for neglecting their spiritual duties and blames Israel’s spiritual leaders for misleading the people. Hosea highlights the consequences of Israel’s disobedience, warning of God’s judgment and the impending punishment they will face. Overall, Hosea 4 serves as a stern rebuke against Israel’s moral decline and a call to repentance before God’s righteous judgment.
Hosea 4:1-19 KJV
God’s Charges against Israel
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.
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