Hosea 4:14
Hosea 4:14 in Multiple Translations
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.
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 punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
I will not give punishment to your daughters or your brides for their evil behaviour; for they make themselves separate with loose women, and make offerings with those who are used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods: the people who have no wisdom will be sent away.
I will not punish your daughters when they practice prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because you men visit whores and sacrifice with temple prostitutes. A people who lack understanding end up in disaster.
I will not visite your daughters when they are harlots: nor your spouses when they are whores: for they themselues are separated with harlots, and sacrifice with whores: therefore the people that doeth not vnderstand, shall fall.
Therefore commit whoredom do your daughters, And your spouses commit adultery, I do not see after your daughters when they commit whoredom, And after your spouses when they commit adultery, For they with the harlots are separated, And with the whores they do sacrifice, A people that doth not understand kicketh.
I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.
I will not punish your daughters when they are guilty of lewdness, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for they themselves are separated with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
I will not visit upon your daughters when they shell commit fornication, and upon your spouses when they shall commit adultery: because themselves conversed with harlots, and offered sacrifice with the effeminate, and the people that doth not understand shall be beaten.
But it is not only your daughters whom I will punish for having become prostitutes, and it is not only your daughters-in-law whom I will punish for committing adultery, because the men also are having sex with prostitutes, and they offer sacrifices with the prostitutes who search for men at the shrines of the idols. They are all foolish people, and they will all be ruined.
Berean Amplified Bible — Hosea 4:14
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Hosea 4:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Hosea 4:14
Study Notes — Hosea 4:14
- Context
- Cross References
- Hosea 4:14 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Hosea 4:14
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Hosea 4:14
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
- Trapp's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
- Ellicott's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
- Cambridge Bible on Hosea 4:14
- Barnes' Notes on Hosea 4:14
- Whedon's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
- Sermons on Hosea 4:14
Context — God’s Case against His People
14I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.
15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’ 16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosea 4:1 | Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! |
| 2 | John 8:43 | Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. |
| 3 | Ephesians 4:18 | They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 15:12 | He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. |
| 5 | 1 Corinthians 6:16 | Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” |
| 6 | Hosea 4:5–6 | You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother— My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. |
| 7 | Romans 3:11 | There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. |
| 8 | Isaiah 44:18–20 | They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” |
| 9 | 2 Kings 23:7 | He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah. |
| 10 | Daniel 12:10 | Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. |
Hosea 4:14 Summary
[Hosea 4:14 teaches us that when we, as a community, allow and even encourage sinful behaviors like prostitution and adultery, we cannot expect God to punish only some of us for these sins while letting others off scot-free. As seen in Romans 6:23, sin has consequences, but God's grace and forgiveness are available if we repent and turn to Him. The men in this verse are held accountable for their actions, which includes going to prostitutes and making sacrifices to idols, showing how deeply entrenched the corruption was. This verse reminds us that our actions have consequences, not just for ourselves, but for those around us, and that we must strive to live according to God's principles and teachings, as guided by Psalm 119:105.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God say He will not punish the daughters and daughters-in-law for their prostitution and adultery in Hosea 4:14?
God is emphasizing the shared guilt of the men and women in Israel's idolatrous and immoral practices, as seen in Hosea 4:13, and highlighting the men's responsibility as leaders in these sins, much like in Ezekiel 22:11 where fathers and sons, and neighbors, are all implicated in the same sins.
What does it mean to be 'a people without understanding' in Hosea 4:14?
This phrase describes a people who have rejected God's wisdom and warnings, much like in Proverbs 1:7, and are therefore headed for ruin, as a consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith, as warned in Deuteronomy 32:28-29.
How does the idolatry mentioned in Hosea 4:12-13 contribute to the prostitution and adultery in Hosea 4:14?
The idolatry and spirit of prostitution in Hosea 4:12-13 lead to a breakdown in moral values and family relationships, causing the daughters and daughters-in-law to turn to prostitution and adultery, illustrating the destructive consequences of idolatry, as also seen in Numbers 25:1-3.
What is the significance of the men going off with prostitutes and offering sacrifices with shrine prostitutes in Hosea 4:14?
This act signifies the complete corruption and idolatry of the men in Israel, who not only engage in sexual immorality but also attempt to sanctify it through idolatrous sacrifices, demonstrating their total departure from God's laws and covenant, as condemned in Leviticus 20:5-6.
Reflection Questions
- What role do I play in perpetuating or combating the moral decay in my own community, and how can I be a positive influence for God's values?
- In what ways have I, like the Israelites, compromised my faith and values by embracing worldly practices or idolatrous attitudes, and what steps can I take to return to a pure and devoted walk with God?
- How does the concept of corporate guilt, where the sins of leaders affect the whole community, apply to my life and the community I am part of, and what are my responsibilities in this regard?
- What are the 'shrines' or 'idols' in my life that I prioritize over my relationship with God, and how can I redirect my heart and actions towards Him?
Gill's Exposition on Hosea 4:14
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Hosea 4:14
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
Trapp's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
Ellicott's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
Cambridge Bible on Hosea 4:14
Barnes' Notes on Hosea 4:14
Whedon's Commentary on Hosea 4:14
Sermons on Hosea 4:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(First Baptist Church) #2 - Conscience by J. Edwin Orr | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting and convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He discusses the importance of worki |
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God's Controversy With the Backslidden Church by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Hosea and the controversy between God and the backslidden church. He emphasizes that God is seeking to balance the books and tak |
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Hosea #3 Ch. 4-5 Israel's Willful Ignorance by Chuck Missler | In this sermon on the book of Hosea, the speaker begins by highlighting the broken home of Israel as a result of their adulterous relationship with God. The focus then shifts to ch |
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How to Study Your Bible - Part 1 by Kay Arthur | In this sermon, Kay Arthur teaches on how to study the Bible effectively. She emphasizes the importance of engaging all of our senses when studying, as it helps with memory retenti |
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Bristol Conference 1962 - Part 3 by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of idolatry and how it can manifest in our lives. He emphasizes the importance of identifying the subjects that we are most passio |
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What Is a Faithful Servant? by Shane Idleman | This sermon emphasizes the importance of being prepared and faithful for the return of Jesus, highlighting the distinction between the wise and foolish servants. It delves into the |
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Repentance (June 2002) by Richard Owen Roberts | In this sermon, Richard Owen Roberts discusses the consequences of men who continue to walk in deception and disregard the law of God. He quotes scripture from Hosea 4:1 and 4:6, e |







