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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 4:1-19

Condemnation of the PriesthoodAn arraignment against Israel as a whole, because of all manner of wickedness against God and man. Prophet and priest, who ought to have taught them better, are only too like them in character, and must share their doom. In Hosea 4:15-17 there is an appeal to Judah not to follow the idolatrous practices of Israel.1. Controversy] i.e. a lawsuit: cp. Isaiah 3:13, Isaiah 3:14. 2. By swearing] RV ’There is nought but swearing.’ Break out] commit acts of violence. Blood... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Hosea 4:1

(1) Controversy.—A judicial suit, in which Jehovah is plaintiff as well as judge (Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 41:21). By the “children of Israel” we are to understand the northern kingdom of the ten tribes, as distinguished from Judah.Mercy.—Better rendered love. The Hebrew word chésed expresses (1) the love of God for Israel under covenant relationship; (2) the corresponding quality in man exhibited to God or towards his fellow-men. (See Hupfeld on Psalms 4:4; and Duhm, Theologie der Propheten, p.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Hosea 4:1-19

Ephraim and His Idols Hosea 4:17 These words are not intended as a threatening of the cessation of the Divine pleadings. There are no people about whom God says that they are so wedded to any sin that it is no use trying to do anything for them. I. Ephraim is the name of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, one of the two into which the nation was divided. It is the people in the other, the neighbouring nation, that are spoken to; and what is meant by the 'letting alone' is plainly enough expressed... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Hosea 4:1-19

I. THE LORD’S QUARREL WITH ISRAELHosea 4:1-19"Hear the word of Jehovah, sons of Israel! Jehovah hath a quarrel with the inhabitants of the land, for there is no truth nor real love nor knowledge of God in the land. Perjury and murder and theft and adultery! They break out, and blood strikes upon blood."That stable and well-furnished life, across which, while it was still noon, Amos hurled his alarms-how quickly it has broken up! If there be still "ease in Zion," there is no more "security in... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Hosea 4:1-19

II. THE MESSAGE OF EXPOSTULATION, JUDGMENT, AND MERCY CHAPTER 4 The Lord’s Controversy with His People 1. The condition of the people (Hosea 4:1-5 ) 2. The loss of their priestly relation (Hosea 4:6-11 ) 3. Israel’s idolatry (Hosea 4:12-19 ) Hosea 4:1-5 . This chapter begins with a terse description of the condition of the professing people of God. First, we have the negative side--no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God. And there was no truth, because they had rejected the Word of the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Hosea 4:1

4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD {a} hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.(a) Because the people would not obey the admonitions of the Prophets, he accuses them before the judgment seat of God, against whom they chiefly offended; Isaiah 7:13 Zechariah 12:10 Micah 6:1-2 . read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Hosea 4:1-19

JEHOVAH ’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL With Hosea begins the “Minor” prophets, extending to the close of the Old Testament, and so-called to distinguish them from the “Major,” the first four already considered. The major are the more important not as to their contents but their size; and yet the minor prophets are, in principle, only repeating what the major prophets have recorded over and over again. For this reason the minor prophets will be considered briefly. It may be repeated that we are not... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Hosea 4:1-6

The Lord's Controversy Hos 4:1-6 "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" ( Hos 4:1 ). It was a wonderful thing to try to conceive supposing it to be merely an act of the imagination what God would say if he condescended to use human speech. Who can find words fit for the lips of such a God as is described in Holy Scripture? We have been so... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Hosea 4:1-19

Forsaking God Hosea 4:0 , Hosea 5:0 "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" ( Hos 4:6 ). The Lord must in some way find our life that he may either reward it or chastise it. In this case he will get at the parents through the children. He would not have done this if there had been any other way into their... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Hosea 4:1

CONTENTS We have here a very sorrowful Chapter. A picture is drawn of the people's transgressions; and the Lord's threatened punishment follows. read more

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