Hosea 4:7
in Hosea 4The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.
KJV
As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
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This verse in Hosea 4
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"According to their abundance, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame." LXX: "According to their abundance, so they sinned against me, I will turn their glory into shame." Israel had as many altars built for demons as they had men, in whose sacrifices they sinned against me. Therefore, I will exchange their glory, in which they boasted to themselves and preferred to God, into ignominy, so that both the priests and the people may be captured.
This site's exposition
As they were increased
on Hosea 4:7-10
As the priests increased in number and prosperity they sinned the more, so their glory is turned into shame, a reversal the older writers call a fitting recompense for a caste that grew fat rather than faithful. They eat up the sin of my people is read as the priests profiting from the sin offerings brought for the people's guilt, feeding on wrongdoing instead of correcting it, so like people, like priest binds both under one coming punishment. They shall eat and not have enough, and shall commit whoredom and not increase, because they have left off taking heed to the Lord, futility built into the very acts meant to satisfy.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
As they were increased, so they sinned against me,.... As the children of the priests increased and grew up, they sinned against the Lord, imitating their parents; they were as many sinners as they were persons, not one to be excepted: this expresses their universal depravity and corruption. Some understand it of their increase, as in number, so in riches, wealth, honour, dignity, and authority, and yet they sinned more and more; which shows their ingratitude.
Note, Those that leave off to take heed to the Lord leave off all good, and can expect no other than that all good should leave them. The people and the priests did harden one another in sin; and therefore justly shall they be sharers in the punishment (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Were increased - In number, in riches, and honour. So they sinned - Sin grew with their wealth and honour. Their glory - They turned all that in which they might glory above others, into sin.
The more populous the nation grew, the more sin was committed and the more profane they were; their wealth, honour, and power, did but make them the more daring in sin. Therefore, says God, will I change their glory into shame. Are their numbers their glory?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Compare Ho 4:6, "thy children," to which their "increase" in numbers refers. so they sinned--(Compare Ho 10:1 and Ho 13:6). will I change their glory into shame--that is, I will strip them of all they now glory in (their numbers and power), and give them shame instead. A just retribution: as they changed their glory into shame, by idolatry (Ps 106:20;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Will I change their glory into shame - As the idolaters at Dan and Bethel have changed my glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass, (Rom 1:23), so will I change their glory into shame or ignominy. In the day of my wrath, their calf-gods shall not deliver them.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
As they were increased, so they sinned against Me - The “increase” may be, either in actual number or in wealth, power or dignity. The text includes both. In both kinds of increase, the bad abuse God’s gifts against Himself, and take occasion of them to offend Him. The more they were increased in number, the more there were to sin, the more they were who sinned.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כְּרֻבָּ֖ם | kerubam | as increased they | H7235 → | 227 times |
| כֵּ֣ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| חָֽטְאוּ־ | chateu- | they sinned | H2398 → | 238 times |
| לִ֑י | li | to me | ||
| כְּבוֹדָ֖ם | kevodam | glory their | H3519 → | 200 times |
| בְּקָל֥וֹן | bekalon | for shame | H7036 → | |
| אָמִֽיר׃ | ʾamir | I will exchange | H4171 → |
כְּרֻבָּ֖םas increased they
kerubamH7235 →227 times
כֵּ֣ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
חָֽטְאוּ־they sinned
chateu-H2398 →238 times
לִ֑יto me
li
כְּבוֹדָ֖םglory their
kevodamH3519 →200 times
בְּקָל֥וֹןfor shame
bekalonH7036 →
אָמִֽיר׃I will exchange
ʾamirH4171 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Samuel 2:30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it…
it leads to
- John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
- Jeremiah 18:9–10
And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom,
- Proverbs 3:9–10
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
- Malachi 1:6
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the…
- 2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him,…
- John 12:26
Through
Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
it leads to
- Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Romans 8:5–7
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- 2 Peter 2:3
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- Romans 16:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Hosea
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, The Twelve Minor Prophets; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Hosea 4:7-9; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.