Hosea Chapter 4 Breakdown

1 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.

Hosea pleads with the house of Israel to obey the word of YHWH. He does this because YHWH has a case or dispute against them. They are breaking their end of the covenant they agreed to. He then says there is no faithfulness, or truth, no goodness or faithfulness, nor knowledge of YHWH in this land.

2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.

The House of Israel were casting curses, and deceiving each other, stealing and committing adultery. They are breaching the covenant with the shedding of blood. These are major accusations against the House of Israel.

3 Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

It is because of all this sin the whole land mourns, including all the animals, birds, and fish.

4 “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.

No man in this land should quarrel with one another nor correct anyone. These people quarrel with the high priests.

5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother.

It is because of this the House of Israel will be overthrown. The prophet will fall as well. YHWH will also destroy the mother of the House of Israel.

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.

YHWH says His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. He directly links knowledge with His given Law. They have rejected His Law. Because of that they are not allowed to become a priest to YHWH. This is very interesting when you study out the similarities between the priests and the Bride of Christ. Because Israel forgot the Law of YHWH, YHWH will forget their children.

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

As the house of Israel grew in population, they broke YHWH’s Law more and more. Because of this, YHWH will cause them to feel shame because of this, instead of glory.

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

Sin consumes His people. The House of Israel set goal that require sinful behavior. I believe this is happening again in our world today.

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

YHWH will punish the people for their iniquity in order to turn them back from their evil ways.

10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the Lord. “Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.

Israel will have food, but never be satisfied. They will continue to worship other gods, but never get anywhere. Due to their choosing of sin, their hearts will be focused on fornication, wine and fresh wine.

12 My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God.

The House of Israel request council from idols and allow wands declare information to them. The spirit of fornication has caused them to depart from the word of YHWH. They have committed adultery against YHWH.

13 They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery.

The House of Israel is offering sacrifices to other gods on the tops of mountains. They would burn incense in different areas to other gods. Because of this, YHWH says their daughters will be whores, and their wives will sleep with other men. This is another thing we see much of here in modernity.

14 “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, Nor your brides when they commit adultery; For the men themselves go apart with harlots, And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

Deuteronomy 23:18

You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the Lord your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God.

There is no reason to think YHWH says He will not punish the daughters or brides for their sin according to the original Hebrew used as well as what is being drawn from in Deuteronomy. Therefore, YHWH will punish your wives and daughters for their fornication, because even the men run out to find temple prostitutes of the false gods. Because the House of Israel has taught in ignorance sinful deeds.

15 “Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’— “For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the Lord will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.

Even if the House of Israel plays the harlot, Judah shall not offend. Israel should not go up to Gilgal, or Beth Aven, nor should they swear oaths using the name of YHWH. Israel is stubborn and they are banished to feed themselves in the other nations of the world.

17 “Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone.

Ephraim, which is another name for the House of Israel, has joined himself to idols. Judah should leave him alone. This is why the Jews during the time of Christ disassociated themselves from the gentiles. Unfortunately, they took it too far and invented oral laws to exclude all gentiles from coming to YHWH unless they converted to Judaism.

18 Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor.

Israel’s wine is sour and they continually worship other gods. The House of Israel’s priests love dishonor.

19 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Israel has been wrapped up in the wings of the wind. Their sacrifices will cause them shame.