The indictment opens in court: 'Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.' Swearing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery: 'they break out, and blood toucheth blood.' The charge lands hardest on the priests: 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge' (4:6); because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee. The people sacrifice on hilltops under oak and poplar and terebinth, ask counsel of a stick, and are led astray by a spirit of whoredom. The chapter's chilling verdict: 'Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Prophecy · Hosea — Hosea overview

A. 1–5 No truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land
B. 6–11 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
C. 12–14 A spirit of whoredom has led them astray
D. 15–19 Ephraim is joined to idols — let him alone

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Hosea 43 verses
- Hosea 4:1Hear 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!
- Hosea 4:4But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest.
- Hosea 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
- Read Hosea 4 →
Jeremiah 42 verses
- Jeremiah 4:11At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people, but not to winnow or to sift;
- Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
- Read Jeremiah 4 →
Micah 62 verses
- Micah 6:2Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel:
- Micah 6:14You will eat but not be satisfied, and your hunger will remain with you. What you acquire, you will not preserve; and what you save, I will give to the sword.
- Read Micah 6 →
Hosea 62 verses
- Hosea 6:6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
- Hosea 6:9Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities.
- Read Hosea 6 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 242 verses
- Isaiah 24:2people and priest alike, servant and master, maid and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.
- Isaiah 24:4The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away.
- Read Isaiah 24 →
Micah 31 verse
- Micah 3:11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
- Read Micah 3 →
Isaiah 11 verse
- Isaiah 1:29Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.
- Read Isaiah 1 →
Isaiah 31 verse
- Isaiah 3:13The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.
- Read Isaiah 3 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.