Hosea 4:1
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.
Hosea 4:1 in other translations
| BSB | 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! |
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| WEB | Hear the LORD’s word, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. |
| ASV | Hear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. |
| YLT | ‘Hear a word of Jehovah, sons of Israel, For a strife is to Jehovah with inhabitants of the land, For there is no truth, nor kindness, Nor knowledge of God, in the land, |
| DARBY | Hear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land; for there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. |
| BBE | Give ear to the word of the Lord, O children of Israel; for the Lord has a cause against the people of this land, because there is no good faith in it, and no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land. |
| Webster | 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. |
What does Hosea 4:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Ho 4:1-19. Henceforth the Prophet Speaks Plainly and without Symbol, in Terse, Sententious Propositions.
In this chapter he reproves the people and priests for their sins in the interregnum which followed Jeroboam's death; hence there is no mention of the king or his family; and in Ho 4:2 bloodshed and other evils usual in a civil war are specified. 1. Israel--the ten tribes. controversy--judicial ground of complaint (Is 1:18; Jr 25:31; Mi 6:2). no ... knowledge of God--exhibited in practice (Jr 22:16).Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The prophet charges his people with their enormous sins, Hos 4:1, Hos 4:2; in consequence of which they are threatened with heavy judgments, Hos 4:3-5. God himself is then introduced complaining of the ignorance and obstinacy of Israel; and as their priests had a large share in the common guilt, it is declared that they shall be visited with a proportionable share of the common ruin, Hos 4:6-11. The sins of idolatry and divination are then particularly reproved, Hos 4:12-14; and Judah admonished to beware of these sins, which would leave her rebellious sister Israel helpless and desolate as a lamb in a desert, Hos 4:15, Hos 4:16. In the remaining verses the style is varied, but the subject is the same. Ephraim is given up to idolatry, and the necessary consequence declared to be a bitter draught! Immediately we see him bound in the wings of a mighty tempest, and driven as chaff before the wind, either to destruction or captivity, Hos 4:17-19. Verse 1 The Lord hath a controversy - ריב rib, what we should call a lawsuit, in which God is plaintiff, and the Israelites defendants. It is Jehovah versus Israel and Judah. But when has God a controversy with any land? - Answer. When there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. These refer to the minds of the people. But wherever these righteous principles are wanting, there will soon be a vicious practice; hence it is added,Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 4:1-5
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Hosea 4:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Hosea 4:1
- Jeremiah 4:22
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
- Micah 6:2
Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
- Isaiah 3:13-14
The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
- Jeremiah 5:4
Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.
- Amos 7:16
Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
- Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
- Isaiah 34:1
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
- Hosea 12:2
The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
- Jeremiah 25:31
A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.
- Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Jeremiah 7:28
But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12 He exposes the ignorance and wickedness of the priests, and profligacy of the people, he will leave their wives and daughters to commit lewdness, without present punishment.
15 He warns Judah, not to imitate Israel's crimes, which are still further reproved.
Cir. A.M.3224. B.C. 780. Hear.
1Ki 22:19; Isa 1:10; 28:14; 34:1; 66:5; Jer 2:4; 7:2; 9:20; 19:3; 34:4
Am 7:16; Re 2:11,29
for.
12:2; Isa 1:18; 3:13,14; 5:3; 34:8; Jer 25:31; Mic 6:2
no truth.
Isa 59:13-15; Jer 6:13; 7:3-6; Mic 7:2-5
nor knowledge.
Jer 4:22,28; 5:4; Joh 8:55; Ro 1:28; 1Co 15:34
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Hosea 4:1
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.
- Hosea 4:2
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Hosea 4:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | OID palabra de Jehová, hijos de Israel, porque Jehová pleitea con los moradores de la tierra; porque no hay verdad, ni misericordia, ni conocimiento de Dios en la tierra. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Écoutez la parole de l’ Éternel, fils d’Israël, car l’ Éternel a un débat avec les habitants du pays; car il n’y a pas de vérité, et il n’y a pas de bonté, et il n’y a pas de connaissance de Dieu dans le pays: |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Höret das Wort Jehovas, ihr Kinder Israel! denn Jehova hat einen Rechtsstreit mit den Bewohnern des Landes; denn es ist keine Wahrheit und keine Güte und keine Erkenntnis Gottes im Lande. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Audite verbum Domini, filii Israël, quia judicium Domino cum habitatoribus terræ: non est enim veritas, et non est misericordia, et non est scientia Dei in terra. |