Hosea 10:4 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hosea 10:4

Hosea 10:4. They have spoken words Mere empty words; swearing falsely in making a covenant This may be spoken either of their breaking their solemn covenant with God, (see Hosea 5:7,) or of their treachery toward their kings, against whom they had formed several conspiracies: see 2 Kings 15:10; 2 Kings 15:14; 2Ki 15:25 ; 2 Kings 15:30. Thus judgment Divine vengeance; springeth up as hemlock, &c. Destructive calamities, inflicted by the righteous judgment of God, will necessarily... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hosea 10:1-15

Click image for full-size versionReaping what they have sown (10:1-15)The more prosperous the people of Israel become, the more they increase their worship of Baal. The more certain, therefore, is their coming judgment (10:1-2). No one can be trusted. Injustice, like a poisonous plant, is having a deadly effect. It is killing the nation. The people do not fear God, and as a result will fall under his judgment. They, along with their king and the golden calf that they worship, will be carried... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hosea 10:4

hemlock = poppy. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:18 ; Deuteronomy 32:32 , Deuteronomy 32:33 ). App-92 . Elsewhere only in Job, Psalms, Jeremiah, and Amos 5:7 ; Amos 6:12 . in the furrows. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one Rabbinic, margin), read "all the furrows" read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hosea 10:4

"They speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.""They speak vain words ..." Not merely the people only, but even the king is meant by this, "The rulers speak empty words, swearing falsely and making covenants which they do not intend to keep.[9] As a result of such perfidy, "Right is converted into wrong, and their justice has become a hemlock."[10]; Deuteronomy 29:18 identifies hemlock as a bitter and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hosea 10:4

Hosea 10:4. Thus judgment springeth, &c.— "Injustice, being publicly countenanced, encourages the same practices in the dealings of private men." Thus injustice increaseth everywhere, as bitter and poisonous weeds spring up in a field where there is no care taken to destroy them. The word ראשׁ rosh, is in some places translated gall, and in others hemlock; a very bitter and poisonous plant, common in Palestine. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hosea 10:4

4. words—mere empty words. swearing falsely in making a covenant—breaking their engagement to Shalmaneser ( :-), and making a covenant with So, though covenants with foreigners were forbidden. judgment . . . as hemlock—that is, divine judgment shall spring up as rank, and as deadly, as hemlock in the furrows (Deuteronomy 29:18; Amos 5:7; Amos 6:12). GESENIUS translates, "poppy." GROTIUS, "darnel." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 10:1-8

Israel’s vulnerability 10:1-8The allusion that opens this series of messages is similar to the ones in Hosea 9:10; Hosea 10:9, and Hosea 11:1 in that it refers to Israel’s early history. A mood of loss of confidence and protection marks this section. As so often in Hosea, evidences of covenant unfaithfulness begin the section followed by announcements of punishment for unfaithfulness. In this one announcement of the fate of the nation’s cultic symbols (altars, idols, sacred standing stones, and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 10:3-8

Judgment on Israel’s political symbol 10:3-8 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 10:4

The people had not been true to their word. They had broken covenants they made with one another. Consequently God’s judgment was as inevitable as weeds growing in the furrows of their fields. His judgment would slay them just as poisonous weeds kill people who eat them. Another view is that the weeds represent perverted justice, and true justice would have been as wheat. [Note: Ibid., p. 164.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 10:1-15

Denunciations and EntreatiesThis prophecy appears to have been uttered at a later date than the last. There is no longer any mention of Egypt, but the calamity from Assyria seems imminent. Again Hosea urges them to repent while there is time, and again gives way to despair.1. Empty] RV ’luxuriant,’ with reference to the prosperity of Israel. The more he prospered, the more he multiplied his heathenish altars and symbols. Fruit unto himself] RV ’his fruit.’ Images] RV ’pillars’: see on Hosea... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hosea 10:4

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hosea 10:1-15

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hosea 10:4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hosea 10:4

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hosea 10:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hosea 10:4

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 10:1-8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 10:3-8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 10:4

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 10:1-15

Group of Brands