Hosea — Chapter 4

📖 Hosea — Chapter 4 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Hosea 4:1 ^RHear 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.

Hosea 4:2 By ^Rswearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall ^Rthe 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.

Hosea 4:4 Yet ^Rlet no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

Hosea 4:5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, ^Rand the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will ^Tdestroy thy mother.

Hosea 4:6 ^RMy people are ^Tdestroyed 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.

Hosea 4:7 As ^Rthey were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

Hosea 4:8 They ^Reat up the sin of my people, and they ^Tset their heart on their iniquity.

Hosea 4:9 And there shall be, ^Rlike people, like priest: and I will ^Tpunish them for their ways, and ^Treward them their doings.

Hosea 4:10 For ^Rthey 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.

Hosea 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine ^Rtake away the heart.

Hosea 4:12 My people ^Rask 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.

Hosea 4:13 They ^Rsacrifice 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.

Hosea 4:14 ^TI will not ^Rpunish 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 ^Tfall.

Hosea 4:15 Though thou, Israel, ^Rplay the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

Hosea 4:16 For Israel ^Rslideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Hosea 4:17 ^REphraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Hosea 4:18 Their ^Rdrink is ^Tsour: they have committed whoredom continually: her ^Trulers with shame do love, Give ye.

Hosea 4:19 The ^Rwind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Hosea 4:1–7 — Truth, mercy, and knowledge are missing

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The Lord’s controversy names falsehood, bloodshed, and a grieving land. Rejected knowledge and forgotten law implicate the priests, while increased prosperity brings increased sin rather than faithful gratitude.

Key Truth: Join knowing God with truth and mercy.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Hosea 4:8–13 — Leaders and people pursue the same corruption

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Priests profit from sin and the people follow, so both face accountability. Unfaithful worship and consulting wooden objects replace attention to the Lord and spread through households.

Key Truth: Reject guidance that benefits from continued wrongdoing.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Hosea 4:14–19 — Shared guilt and a warning to Judah

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Men’s own corrupt worship prevents blaming only women for the community’s unfaithfulness. Judah is warned against Israel’s false worship, and the closing images expose stubbornness, shame, and failed sacrifice.

Key Truth: Examine shared responsibility rather than shifting blame.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Matthew 9:13 — Jesus quotes Hosea’s call for mercy rather than sacrifice.

Matthew 9:13 (KJV) But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What truthful and merciful conduct should accompany your knowledge of Scripture?

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