Hosea 4
Lutheran reading notes
In Hosea chapter 4, the prophetic message develops the theme of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s enduring covenant love. Lutheran interpretation often highlights the contrast between divine judgment against sin and the promise of grace that God provides for those who trust in Him.
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.
Hosea 4:1 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. {blood: Heb. bloods}
Hosea 4:2 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Hosea 4:3 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people {are} as they that strive with the priest.
Hosea 4:4 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {destroy: Heb. cut off}
Hosea 4:5 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {destroyed: Heb. cut off}
Hosea 4:6 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
As they were increased, so they sinned against me: {therefore} will I change their glory into shame.
Hosea 4:7 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. {set...: Heb. lift up their soul to}
Hosea 4:8 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. {punish: Heb. visit upon} {reward: Heb. cause to return}
Hosea 4:9 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Hosea 4:10 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
Hosea 4:11 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Hosea 4:13 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {I will not: or, Shall I not} {fall: or, be punished}
Hosea 4:14 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Hosea 4:15 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Hosea 4:16 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Ephraim {is} joined to idols: let him alone.
Hosea 4:17 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers {with} shame do love, Give ye. {sour: Heb. gone} {rulers: Heb. shields}
Hosea 4:18 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Hosea 4:19 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.