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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hosea 4:6 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/4-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/28_Hos_04_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 4:6 - God's Charges Against Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. 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Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. <a href="/esv/hosea/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. <a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/kjv/hosea/4.htm">King James Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. <a href="/nkjv/hosea/4.htm">New King James Version</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. <a href="/nasb_/hosea/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children. <a href="/nasb/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. <a href="/nasb77/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. <a href="/lsb/hosea/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from ministering as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I Myself also will forget your children. <a href="/amp/hosea/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. <a href="/csb/hosea/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. <a href="/hcsb/hosea/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. <a href="/asv/hosea/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. <a href="/cev/hosea/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You priests have rejected me, and my people are destroyed by refusing to obey. Now I'll reject you and forget your children, because you have forgotten my Law. <a href="/erv/hosea/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. <a href="/gwt/hosea/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> I will destroy my people because they are ignorant. You have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be my priests. You have forgotten the teachings of your God, so I will forget your children. <a href="/gnt/hosea/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> My people are doomed because they do not acknowledge me. You priests have refused to acknowledge me and have rejected my teaching, and so I reject you and will not acknowledge your sons as my priests. <a href="/isv/hosea/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> My people are destroyed because they lack knowledge of me. Because you rejected that knowledge, I will reject you as a priest for me. Since you forget the Law of your God, I will also forget your children. <a href="/msb/hosea/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/net/hosea/4.htm">NET Bible</a> You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me! Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests. Because you reject the law of your God, I will reject your descendants. <a href="/nheb/hosea/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children. <a href="/wbt/hosea/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. <a href="/web/hosea/4.htm">World English Bible</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/hosea/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> My people have been cut off for lack of knowledge, "" Because you have rejected knowledge, "" I reject you from being priest to Me, "" And you forget the Law of your God—I forget your sons, I also! <a href="/ylt/hosea/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Cut off have been My people for lack of knowledge, Because thou knowledge hast rejected, I reject thee from being priest to Me, And thou forgettest the law of thy God, I forget thy sons, I also! <a href="/slt/hosea/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> My people were cut off from not knowing: because thou didst reject knowledge and I will reject thee from being priest to me: and thou wilt forget the instructions of thy God; I will also forget thy sons, also I.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/hosea/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. <a href="/cpdv/hosea/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> My people have become silent because they had no knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I will drive you away; you do not perform the duties of the priesthood for me, and you have forgotten the law of your God, and so I will forget your sons. <a href="/nabre/hosea/4.htm">New American Bible</a> My people are ruined for lack of knowledge! Since you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest; Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. <a href="/nrsvce/hosea/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/hosea/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> My people are silent for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from the priesthood; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. <a href="/hpbt/hosea/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> My people is silent because there it has no knowledge, for you have rejected knowledge and I shall reject you from the Priesthood, and you have forgotten the law of your God; I also shall forget your children<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/hosea/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me; Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. <a href="/sep/hosea/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> My people are like as if they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt not minister as priest to me: and as thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. <a href="/parallel/hosea/4-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=518" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm">God's Charges Against Israel</a> …5You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother— 6<a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am·mî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">My people</a> <a href="/hebrew/1820.htm" title="1820: niḏ·mū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. To destroy.">are destroyed</a> <a href="/hebrew/1097.htm" title="1097: mib·bə·lî (Prep-m:: Adv) -- From balah; properly, failure, i.e. Nothing or destruction; usually without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc.">for lack</a> <a href="/hebrew/1847.htm" title="1847: had·dā·‘aṯ (Art:: N-fs) -- Knowledge. From yada'; knowledge.">of knowledge.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">Because</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3988.htm" title="3988: mā·’as·tā (V-Qal-Perf-2ms) -- To spurn, to disappear. A primitive root; to spurn; also to disappear.">have rejected</a> <a href="/hebrew/1847.htm" title="1847: had·da·‘aṯ (Art:: N-fs) -- Knowledge. From yada'; knowledge.">knowledge,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3988.htm" title="3988: wə·’em·’ā·sə·ḵā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf-1cs:: 2ms) -- To spurn, to disappear. A primitive root; to spurn; also to disappear.">I will also reject you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3547.htm" title="3547: mik·ka·hên (Prep-m:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To act as a priest. ">as My priests.</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/7911.htm" title="7911: wat·tiš·kaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms) -- To forget. Or shakeach; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. To be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention.">Since you have forgotten</a> <a href="/hebrew/8451.htm" title="8451: tō·w·raṯ (N-fsc) -- Direction, instruction, law. Or torah; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.">the law</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of your God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ā·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">I</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: gam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. ">will also</a> <a href="/hebrew/7911.htm" title="7911: ’eš·kaḥ (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To forget. Or shakeach; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. To be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention.">forget</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·ne·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">your children.</a> 7The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/proverbs/1-24.htm">Proverbs 1:24-31</a> Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, / in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, ... <a href="/isaiah/5-13.htm">Isaiah 5:13</a> Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst. <a href="/jeremiah/4-22.htm">Jeremiah 4:22</a> “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.” <a href="/2_kings/17-16.htm">2 Kings 17:16-18</a> They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. / So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained, <a href="/isaiah/1-3.htm">Isaiah 1:3</a> The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” <a href="/romans/1-28.htm">Romans 1:28</a> Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. <a href="/2_timothy/3-7.htm">2 Timothy 3:7</a> who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. <a href="/jeremiah/8-7.htm">Jeremiah 8:7</a> Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD. <a href="/matthew/22-29.htm">Matthew 22:29</a> Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-21</a> And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” <a href="/isaiah/44-18.htm">Isaiah 44:18</a> They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. <a href="/1_corinthians/1-18.htm">1 Corinthians 1:18-21</a> For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. / For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ... <a href="/isaiah/28-7.htm">Isaiah 28:7</a> These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments. <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-10.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:10-12</a> and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness. <a href="/jeremiah/5-4.htm">Jeremiah 5:4-5</a> Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God. / I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.My people.<a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Hosea 4:12</a> My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.<a href="/isaiah/1-3.htm">Isaiah 1:3</a> The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.<a href="/isaiah/3-12.htm">Isaiah 3:12</a> As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.destroyed.<a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">Hosea 4:1</a> 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.<a href="/hosea/6-6.htm">Hosea 6:6</a> For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.<a href="/2_chronicles/15-3.htm">2 Chronicles 15:3</a> Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.because.<a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12</a> Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.<a href="/proverbs/1-30.htm">Proverbs 1:30-32</a> They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof… <a href="/isaiah/28-7.htm">Isaiah 28:7</a> But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.I will also reject.<a href="/zechariah/11-8.htm">Zechariah 11:8,9,15-17</a> Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me… <a href="/malachi/2-1.htm">Malachi 2:1-3,9</a> And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you… <a href="/matthew/21-41.htm">Matthew 21:41-45</a> They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons… seeing.<a href="/hosea/8-14.htm">Hosea 8:14</a> For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.<a href="/hosea/13-6.htm">Hosea 13:6</a> According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.<a href="/2_kings/17-16.htm">2 Kings 17:16-20</a> And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">Children</a> <a href="/daniel/11-22.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/hosea/4-5.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-26.htm">Forget</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Forgotten</a> <a href="/ezekiel/31-8.htm">God's</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-33.htm">Ignore</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-17.htm">Ignored</a> <a href="/daniel/12-4.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/ezekiel/34-5.htm">Lack</a> <a href="/daniel/10-12.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-3.htm">Overtaken</a> <a href="/hosea/4-4.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-13.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-31.htm">Reject</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-24.htm">Rejected</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/5-7.htm">Children</a> <a href="/hosea/10-8.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/hosea/5-12.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/hosea/8-14.htm">Forget</a> <a href="/hosea/8-14.htm">Forgotten</a> <a href="/joel/1-13.htm">God's</a> <a href="/mark/8-34.htm">Ignore</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-4.htm">Ignored</a> <a href="/hosea/8-1.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/amos/4-6.htm">Lack</a> <a href="/hosea/7-2.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-6.htm">Overtaken</a> <a href="/hosea/4-9.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/hosea/4-7.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/hosea/9-17.htm">Reject</a> <a href="/hosea/5-2.htm">Rejected</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 4</div>1. <a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">God denounces judgments on Israel, for their aggravated impieties and iniquities.</a> 12. <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">He exposes the ignorance and wickedness of the priests, </a> 13. <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">and moral dissolution of the people, </a> 14. <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">he will leave their wives and daughters to commit lewdness, without present punishment.</a> 15. <a href="/hosea/4-15.htm">He warns Judah, not to imitate Israel's crimes, which are still further reproved.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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This phrase highlights the critical importance of knowledge, particularly the knowledge of God and His laws. In the context of Hosea, the Northern Kingdom of Israel is being addressed. The people had turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and immorality. The "knowledge" referred to is not merely intellectual but relational and covenantal, emphasizing a deep understanding and relationship with God. This lack of knowledge leads to spiritual and moral decay, resulting in destruction. The Bible often equates knowledge of God with wisdom and life (<a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm">Proverbs 1:7, 9</a>:10).Because you have rejected knowledge, The rejection of knowledge is a willful act, indicating that the people and their leaders, particularly the priests, have turned away from God's teachings. This rejection is not due to ignorance but a deliberate choice to ignore God's commandments and pursue their own desires. This mirrors the warnings given in <a href="/deuteronomy/30-19.htm">Deuteronomy 30:19-20</a>, where choosing life and prosperity is linked to loving and obeying God.I will also reject you as My priests. The priests in Israel were responsible for teaching the law and guiding the people in worship and obedience to God. By rejecting knowledge, they failed in their duties, leading to God's rejection of them. This is a fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in <a href="/leviticus/26.htm">Leviticus 26</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, where disobedience leads to loss of privilege and position. The priesthood was meant to be a type of Christ, the ultimate High Priest, who perfectly mediates between God and humanity (<a href="/hebrews/4-14.htm">Hebrews 4:14-16</a>).Since you have forgotten the law of your God, Forgetting the law implies neglect and disregard for God's commandments, which were meant to guide the Israelites in righteousness and justice. The law was central to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as seen in <a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5-6</a>. This forgetfulness is not accidental but a result of persistent disobedience and idolatry, as seen throughout the prophetic books.I will also forget your children. This phrase indicates the generational consequences of rejecting God. The sins of the parents affect their descendants, as seen in <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5</a>, where God warns of the iniquity of the fathers being visited upon the children. This is not a denial of individual responsibility but a recognition of the communal and generational impact of sin. The hope, however, lies in repentance and turning back to God, who is merciful and willing to restore (<a href="/joel/2-12.htm">Joel 2:12-13</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a> A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a> The Northern Kingdom, often depicted as unfaithful to God, leading to their eventual downfall. 3. <a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a> Religious leaders responsible for teaching and upholding the law, criticized here for failing in their duties. 4. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The sovereign Lord who holds His people accountable for their knowledge and adherence to His law. 5. <a href="/topical/c/children_of_israel.htm">Children of Israel</a> The descendants of the Israelites, who suffer consequences due to the previous generation's failures.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_knowledge.htm">The Importance of Knowledge</a> Understanding God's Word is crucial for spiritual health and avoiding destruction. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_rejection.htm">Consequences of Rejection</a> Rejecting God's knowledge leads to personal and communal consequences, including spiritual leadership failure. <a href="/topical/r/role_of_spiritual_leaders.htm">Role of Spiritual Leaders</a> Priests and leaders are accountable for teaching and upholding God's law; failure impacts future generations. <a href="/topical/g/generational_impact.htm">Generational Impact</a> Our spiritual negligence can have lasting effects on our children and community. <a href="/topical/c/call_to_remember.htm">Call to Remember</a> Actively remembering and applying God's law is essential for maintaining a relationship with Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 4</a> <a href="/q/why_blame_people_for_lacking_knowledge.htm">Hosea 4:6: Why would an all-knowing God blame the people for lack of knowledge instead of granting them the insight needed? </a> <a href="/q/why_are_people_harmed_by_ignorance.htm">Why are people destroyed for lack of knowledge?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_the_dark_ages.htm">What defines the historical period known as the Dark Ages?</a> <a href="/q/can_external_records_verify_isaiah_5_13-14.htm">Isaiah 5:13–14: Can we verify from external records that the people’s captivity was a direct result of their ignorance, as stated? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) For lack of knowledge, which you, O priest, should have kept alive in their hearts. The knowledge of God is life eternal. (Comp. <a href="/john/17-3.htm" title="And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.">John 17:3</a>.) The Lord's "controversy" repudiates the entire priesthood, as they had rejected the true knowledge of God. They had inclined to calf-worship, had been vacillating respecting Baal, and had connived at moral offences. If, on the other hand, with most commentators, we consider the people themselves as thus addressed, the passage refers to the cessation of the position of priesthood, which every member of the true theocracy ought to have maintained. (Comp. <a href="/exodus/19-6.htm" title="And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.">Exodus 19:6</a>.) The people should no longer be priests to Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 6. - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Here the verb is plural and its subject singular, because, being collective, it comprehends all the individual members of the nation. The word כדמו is rendered (1) by Jerome in the sense of "silence:" "conticuit populus incus," which he explains to mean "sinking into eternal silence." So also the Chaldee. (2) The LXX., understands it in the sense of "likeness:" "My people are like (ὡμοιώθη) as if they had no knowledge." Aben Ezra disproves this sense as follows: "This word, if it were from the root signifying 'likeness,' would have after it el with seghol, as, 'To [el with seghol] whom art thou like in thy greatness?' (<a href="/ezekiel/31-2.htm">Ezekiel 31:2</a>); but without the word el it has the meaning of ' cutting off.'" So Kimchi: "Here also it has the sense of 'cutting off.'" The article before "knowledge" implies renewed mention and refers to the word in ver. 1; or it may emphasize the word as that knowledge by way of eminence, which surpasses all other knowledge, and without which no other knowledge can really prove a blessing in the end. The knowledge of God is the most excellent of all sciences. Paul counted all things but loss in comparison with its possession; and our blessed Lord himself says, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent;" while the Prophet Isaiah attributed the captivity to its absence: "My people are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge." Because thou hast rejected knowledge... seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy Son. The cause of this ignorance is here charged on the unfaithfulness of the priesthood. They rejected knowledge and forgot the Law of their God. The two concluding clauses of this verse may be regarded as "split members" of a single sentence. As rejection implies the presence of the object rejected, while forgetfulness implies its absence from the mind or memory, some have understood rejection of knowledge as the sin of the priest, and forgetfulness that of the people. This separation is not necessary, for what men continue for a time to despise they will by-and-by forget. The forgetfulness is thus an advance upon rejection. The sin of these priests was very great, for, while the priests' lips were required to keep knowledge, they neither preserved that knowledge themselves nor promoted it among the people; hence the indignant and direct address. Thus Kimchi says: "He addresses the priestly order that existed at that time: Thou hast rejected he knowledge for thyself and to teach it to the people, consequently I will reject thee from being a priest unto me. Since thou dost not exercise the office of priest, which is to teach the Law, I will reject thee so that thou shalt not be a priest in my house." I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no priest to me... I will also forget thy children, even I. The punishment resembles the offence; the human delinquency is reflected in the Divine retaliation. To make this the more pointed, the "thou on thy part (attah)" at the head of the sentence has its counterpart, or rather is counterbalanced by the "even I" or "I too (gam ani)" at its close. The severity of the punishment is augmented by the threat that, not only the then existing priests, but their sons after them, would be excluded from the honor of the priesthood. This was touching painfully the tenderest part. It needs scarcely be observed that forgetfulness is only spoken of God in a figurative sense, and after the manner of men, that being forgotten which is no longer the object of attention or affection. "The meaning of אשׁ," says Kimchi, "is by way of figure, like the man who forgets something and does not take it to heart." The unusual form אֶמְאָסְאָך has been variously accounted for. The Massorites mark the aleph before caph as redundant; it is omitted in several manuscripts of Kennicott and De Rossi, as also some of the early printed editions. Kimchi confesses his ignorance of its use. Olshausen treats it as a copyist's error; but Ewald "regards it as an Aram-seen pausal form." Some take the reference to be to Israel as a kingdom of priests (<a href="/exodus/19-6.htm">Exodus 19:6</a>) rather than to the actual priesthood. <a href="/commentaries/hosea/4-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>My people עַמִּ֖י (‘am·mî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock are destroyed נִדְמ֥וּ (niḏ·mū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1820.htm">Strong's 1820: </a> To be dumb, silent, to fail, perish, trans, to destroy for lack מִבְּלִ֣י (mib·bə·lî) Preposition-m | Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1097.htm">Strong's 1097: </a> Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as of knowledge. הַדָּ֑עַת (had·dā·‘aṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1847.htm">Strong's 1847: </a> Knowledge Because כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction you אַתָּ֞ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> Thou and thee, ye and you have rejected מָאַ֗סְתָּ (mā·’as·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3988.htm">Strong's 3988: </a> To spurn, to disappear knowledge, הַדַּ֣עַת (had·da·‘aṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1847.htm">Strong's 1847: </a> Knowledge I will also reject you וְאֶמְאָֽסְאךָ֙ (wə·’em·’ā·sə·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3988.htm">Strong's 3988: </a> To spurn, to disappear as My priests. מִכַּהֵ֣ן (mik·ka·hên) Preposition-m | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3547.htm">Strong's 3547: </a> To officiate as a, priest, to put on regalia Since you have forgotten וַתִּשְׁכַּח֙ (wat·tiš·kaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7911.htm">Strong's 7911: </a> To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention the law תּוֹרַ֣ת (tō·w·raṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8451.htm">Strong's 8451: </a> Direction, instruction, law of your God, אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative I אָֽנִי׃ (’ā·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> I will also גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1571.htm">Strong's 1571: </a> Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and forget אֶשְׁכַּ֥ח (’eš·kaḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7911.htm">Strong's 7911: </a> To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention your children. בָּנֶ֖יךָ (bā·ne·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/4-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 4:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/4-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 4:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>