Hosea 4 · Verse 17

Hosea 4:17

Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Hosea 4:17, King James Version

Hosea 4:17 in other translations

BSBEphraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
WEBEphraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
ASVEphraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
YLTJoined to idols is Ephraim, let him alone.
DARBY— Ephraim is joined to idols: leave him alone.
BBEEphraim is joined to false gods; let him be.
WebsterEphraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

What does Hosea 4:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. Ephraim--the ten tribes. Judah was at this time not so given to idolatry as afterwards. joined to--closely and voluntarily; identifying themselves with them as a whoremonger becomes one flesh with the harlot (Nu 25:3; 1Co 6:16, 17). idols--The Hebrew means also "sorrows," "pains," implying the pain which idolatry brings on its votaries. let him alone--Leave him to himself. Let him reap the fruits of his own perverse choice; his case is desperate; say nothing to him (compare Jr 7:16). Here Ho 4:15 shows the address is to Judah, to avoid the contagion of Israel's bad example. He is bent on his own ruin; leave him to his fate, lest, instead of saving him, thou fall thyself (Is 48:20; Jr 50:8; 51:6, 45; 2Co 6:17).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Ephraim - The ten tribes. Is joined to idols - Is become incorporated with false gods. Let him alone - They are irreclaimable, leave them to the consequences of their vicious conduct.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 4:12-19

The people consulted images, and not the Divine word. This would lead to disorder and sin. Thus men prepare scourges for themselves, and vice is spread through a people. Let not Judah come near the idolatrous worship of Israel. For Israel was devoted to idols, and must now be let alone. When sinners cast off the easy yoke of Christ, they go on in sin till the Lord saith, Let them alone. Then they receive no more…

Read the full comment on Hosea 4:12-19 →

Hosea 4:17 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.

חֲב֧וּרcha.Vur[is] joined ofH2266
עֲצַבִּ֛ים'a.tza.BimidolsH6091
אֶפְרָ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraimH669
הַֽנַּֽח\־ha.nach-leave aloneH5117
לֽוֹ\׃lo<to> him

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 4:17

  • Psalms 81:12

    So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

  • Revelation 22:11

    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

  • Hosea 11:2

    As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

  • Hosea 4:4

    Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

  • Hosea 13:2

    And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

  • Matthew 15:14

    Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

  • Hosea 12:1

    Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ephraim.
11:2; 12:1; 13:2
let.
4; Ps 81:12; Mt 15:14; Re 22:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hosea 4:16

    For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

  • Hosea 4:17

    Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

  • Hosea 4:18

    Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

Read all of Hosea 4

Hosea 4:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ephraim es dado á ídolos; déjalo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Éphraïm s’est attaché aux idoles: laisse-le faire.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ephraim ist mit Götzen verbündet; laß ihn gewähren!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Particeps idolorum Ephraim: dimitte eum.