CINXE.COM

<!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 4:2 Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/4-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/28_Hos_04_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 4:2 - God's Charges Against Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/hosea/4-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/hosea/4-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/hosea/">Hosea</a> > <a href="/hosea/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hosea/4-1.htm" title="Hosea 4:1">◄</a> Hosea 4:2 <a href="/hosea/4-3.htm" title="Hosea 4:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/hosea/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br /><i>By</i> swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br /><i>There is</i> oath-taking, denial, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br /><i>There is</i> swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br /><i>There is</i> swearing of oaths, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They break forth <i>in violence</i> so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />There is [false] swearing <i>of oaths</i>, deception (broken faith), murder, stealing, and adultery; They employ violence, so that one [act of] bloodshed follows closely on another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness--these happen all the time. Violence is everywhere. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />There is cursing, lying, murdering, stealing, and adultery. People break [my laws], and there is one murder after another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They make promises and break them; they lie, murder, steal, and commit adultery. Crimes increase, and there is one murder after another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery are rampant, and blood mingles with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />There is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. They resort to violence and bloodshed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Swearing, and lying, and murdering, "" And stealing, and committing adultery—have increased, "" And blood has touched against blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Swearing, and lying, and murdering, And stealing, and committing adultery -- have increased, And blood against blood hath touched.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Swearing and lying, and breaking in pieces, and stealing and committing adultery, they broke forth; and bloods touched upon bloods.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Cursing, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery have overflowed, and blood hath touched blood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Slander, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery have overflowed, and bloodshed has brought more bloodshed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Swearing, lying, and murder, and stealing and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they have increased and they mix blood with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />A curse and lying and murder and theft and adultery have increased, and they have mixed blood with blood<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Swearing and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery! They break all bounds, and blood toucheth blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Cursing, and lying, and murder, and theft, and adultery abound in the land, and they mingle blood with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/4-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=477" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm">God's Charges Against Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>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! <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/422.htm" title="422: ’ā·lōh (V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To swear, curse. A primitive root; properly, to adjure, i.e. imprecate.">Cursing</a> <a href="/hebrew/3584.htm" title="3584: wə·ḵa·ḥêš (Conj-w:: V-Piel-InfAbs) -- To disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean. A primitive root; to be untrue, in word or deed.">and lying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7523.htm" title="7523: wə·rā·ṣō·aḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To murder, slay. A primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. Kill, especially to murder.">murder</a> <a href="/hebrew/1589.htm" title="1589: wə·ḡā·nōḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To steal. A primitive root; to thieve; by implication, to deceive.">and stealing,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5003.htm" title="5003: wə·nā·’ōp̄ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To commit adultery. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize.">and adultery</a> <a href="/hebrew/6555.htm" title="6555: pā·rā·ṣū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To break through. A primitive root; to break out.">are rampant;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: wə·ḏā·mîm (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">one act of bloodshed</a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: bə·ḏā·mîm (Prep-b:: N-mp) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5060.htm" title="5060: nā·ḡā·‘ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon; by implication, to reach; violently, to strike.">follows another.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-13.htm">Exodus 20:13-16</a></span><br />You shall not murder. / You shall not commit adultery. / You shall not steal. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-17.htm">Deuteronomy 5:17-20</a></span><br />You shall not murder. / You shall not commit adultery. / You shall not steal. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9</a></span><br />Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-11.htm">Leviticus 19:11-12</a></span><br />You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another. / You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/59-3.htm">Isaiah 59:3-4</a></span><br />For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice. / No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/6-12.htm">Micah 6:12</a></span><br />For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/5-3.htm">Zechariah 5:3-4</a></span><br />Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed. / I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-29.htm">Romans 1:29-32</a></span><br />They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. / They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-2.htm">James 4:2</a></span><br />You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-19.htm">Matthew 15:19</a></span><br />For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-21.htm">Mark 7:21-22</a></span><br />For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/1-9.htm">1 Timothy 1:9-10</a></span><br />We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">Colossians 3:5-9</a></span><br />Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. / When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood.</p><p class="hdg">swearing.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/24-5.htm">Isaiah 24:5</a></b></br> The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/48-1.htm">Isaiah 48:1</a></b></br> Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, <i>but</i> not in truth, nor in righteousness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/59-2.htm">Isaiah 59:2-8,12-15</a></b></br> But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid <i>his</i> face from you, that he will not hear… </p><p class="hdg">blood.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/5-2.htm">Hosea 5:2</a></b></br> And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I <i>have been</i> a rebuker of them all.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/6-9.htm">Hosea 6:9</a></b></br> And as troops of robbers wait for a man, <i>so</i> the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/4-13.htm">Lamentations 4:13</a></b></br> For the sins of her prophets, <i>and</i> the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/2-4.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/ezekiel/38-18.htm">Attacks</a> <a href="/hosea/1-4.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/hosea/1-4.htm">Bloodshed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-13.htm">Boundaries</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-28.htm">Bounds</a> <a href="/hosea/2-18.htm">Break</a> <a href="/daniel/12-7.htm">Breaking</a> <a href="/hosea/1-5.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/daniel/12-11.htm">Causes</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-15.htm">Committing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/49-13.htm">Cursing</a> <a href="/hosea/2-3.htm">Death</a> <a href="/daniel/11-23.htm">Deception</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-19.htm">Employ</a> <a href="/hosea/2-20.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/daniel/6-6.htm">Follows</a> <a href="/daniel/3-29.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/daniel/12-4.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/ezekiel/14-19.htm">Killing</a> <a href="/ezekiel/13-7.htm">Lying</a> <a href="/hosea/1-3.htm">Married</a> <a href="/jeremiah/41-4.htm">Murder</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Murdering</a> <a href="/ezekiel/32-12.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-22.htm">Property</a> <a href="/jeremiah/23-30.htm">Stealing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/23-10.htm">Swearing</a> <a href="/daniel/10-18.htm">Touched</a> <a href="/ezekiel/17-10.htm">Toucheth</a> <a href="/daniel/8-18.htm">Touching</a> <a href="/hosea/2-5.htm">Untrue</a> <a href="/daniel/11-14.htm">Violence</a> <a href="/daniel/11-14.htm">Violent</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/micah/5-6.htm">Attacks</a> <a href="/hosea/6-8.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/micah/3-10.htm">Bloodshed</a> <a href="/micah/7-11.htm">Boundaries</a> <a href="/acts/17-26.htm">Bounds</a> <a href="/hosea/7-1.htm">Break</a> <a href="/hosea/13-13.htm">Breaking</a> <a href="/hosea/5-11.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/joel/2-23.htm">Causes</a> <a href="/hosea/6-9.htm">Committing</a> <a href="/zechariah/8-13.htm">Cursing</a> <a href="/hosea/9-16.htm">Death</a> <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Deception</a> <a href="/acts/19-24.htm">Employ</a> <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/zechariah/1-7.htm">Follows</a> <a href="/hosea/7-1.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/hosea/4-7.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Killing</a> <a href="/amos/6-4.htm">Lying</a> <a href="/joel/2-16.htm">Married</a> <a href="/hosea/6-9.htm">Murder</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-26.htm">Murdering</a> <a href="/hosea/12-11.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/hosea/12-8.htm">Property</a> <a href="/romans/2-21.htm">Stealing</a> <a href="/hosea/10-4.htm">Swearing</a> <a href="/matthew/8-3.htm">Touched</a> <a href="/amos/9-5.htm">Toucheth</a> <a href="/haggai/2-13.htm">Touching</a> <a href="/hosea/9-1.htm">Untrue</a> <a href="/hosea/12-1.htm">Violence</a> <a href="/amos/1-14.htm">Violent</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">God denounces judgments on Israel, for their aggravated impieties and iniquities.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">He exposes the ignorance and wickedness of the priests, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">and moral dissolution of the people, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">he will leave their wives and daughters to commit lewdness, without present punishment.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/4-15.htm">He warns Judah, not to imitate Israel's crimes, which are still further reproved.</a></span><br></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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hosea/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Cursing and lying</b><br>This phrase highlights the moral decay present in Israel during Hosea's time. Cursing and lying are violations of the Ten Commandments, specifically the third commandment against taking the Lord's name in vain and the ninth commandment against bearing false witness. These sins reflect a society that has turned away from God's truth and embraced deceit. In biblical context, cursing often involved invoking harm or misfortune upon others, which is contrary to the call to love one's neighbor. Lying undermines trust and community, essential elements in a covenant relationship with God. The prevalence of these sins indicates a deep spiritual crisis.<p><b>Murder and stealing</b><br>Murder and stealing are direct violations of the sixth and eighth commandments, respectively. These acts of violence and theft demonstrate a breakdown of social order and justice. In ancient Israel, such actions would have disrupted the communal life that was central to their identity as God's people. The historical context of Hosea's prophecy includes a time of political instability and social unrest, where such crimes may have been more common. Theologically, these sins represent a rejection of God's law and a failure to uphold the sanctity of life and property, which are foundational to a just society.<p><b>And adultery are rampant</b><br>Adultery, a violation of the seventh commandment, symbolizes unfaithfulness not only in marriage but also in Israel's relationship with God. Hosea's own marriage to Gomer serves as a prophetic illustration of Israel's spiritual adultery through idolatry and alliances with foreign nations. The rampant nature of adultery suggests a widespread disregard for the covenantal faithfulness that God requires. This mirrors the spiritual infidelity of the people, who have turned to other gods and forsaken their covenant with Yahweh. Adultery in this context is both a literal and metaphorical sin, highlighting the pervasive unfaithfulness in Israel.<p><b>One act of bloodshed follows another</b><br>This phrase indicates a cycle of violence and retribution that has taken hold of the society. The imagery of bloodshed suggests a land filled with violence, where one act leads to another in an unending chain. This reflects the lawlessness and chaos that result when God's commandments are ignored. In the broader biblical narrative, such cycles of violence are often seen as consequences of turning away from God, as seen in the period of the Judges. Theologically, this points to the need for divine intervention and redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who breaks the cycle of sin and offers peace and reconciliation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC, called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, often characterized by idolatry and moral decay during Hosea's time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_covenant.htm">God's Covenant</a></b><br>The agreement between God and Israel, which included moral and ethical laws that the people were expected to follow.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/prophetic_judgment.htm">Prophetic Judgment</a></b><br>Hosea's role in delivering God's message of impending judgment due to Israel's unfaithfulness.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/moral_decay.htm">Moral Decay</a></b><br>The societal condition in Israel, marked by rampant sin as described in <a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2</a>.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br><a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2</a> highlights the destructive nature of sin and its ability to permeate society. As believers, we must recognize the seriousness of sin and its impact on our relationship with God and others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_covenant_faithfulness.htm">The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness</a></b><br>Israel's failure to uphold God's covenant led to moral decay. Christians are called to remain faithful to God's commands and live lives that reflect His holiness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophetic_voices.htm">The Role of Prophetic Voices</a></b><br>Hosea's message serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to God's warnings through Scripture and contemporary prophetic voices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>While Hosea's message is one of judgment, it also offers hope for repentance and restoration. Believers are encouraged to turn back to God and seek His forgiveness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/moral_responsibility.htm">Moral Responsibility</a></b><br>The sins listed in <a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2</a> are not just personal but have communal implications. Christians are called to uphold moral integrity and influence their communities positively.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/jezreel's_historical_significance.htm">What is the significance of Jezreel in history?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_hosea_4_1-3's_land_effects.htm">Hosea 4:1-3: Is there any archaeological or historical evidence supporting the catastrophic effects on the land described here?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_hosea_1_4-9_conflict_with_god's_mercy.htm">Does the symbolic naming in Hosea 1:4-9 conflict with the broader biblical emphasis on God's mercy and redemption?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_hosea_2_3_loving_and_merciful.htm">How does Hosea 2:3 align with a loving and merciful God if He threatens to strip Israel bare like a barren land?</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>(2) <span class= "bld">Blood toucheth blood</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, murder is added to murder with ghastly prevalence. References to false swearing and lying are repeated in terrible terms by <a href="/context/amos/2-6.htm" title="Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;">Amos 2:6-8</a> and <a href="/context/micah/7-2.htm" title="The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.">Micah 7:2-8</a>; and the form of the charge suggests the Decalogue and pre-existing legislation (<a href="/context/exodus/20-13.htm" title="You shall not kill.">Exodus 20:13-15</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - Having given a picture of Israel negatively, he next presents the positive side. The absence of the virtues specified implies the presence of the opposite vices. In the most vivid and impressive manner the prophet, instead of enumerating prosaically the vices so prevalent at the time, expresses them more emphatically by a species of exclamation, using <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> infinitives absolute instead of finite verbs; thus: "Swearing, and lying, and murdering, and stealing, and committing adultery." They may, however, be regarded as in the nominative as subjects to <span class="hebrew">יֵשׁ</span>. Instead of either supplying <span class="hebrew">לְשָׁוְא</span>, to allot, or closely connecting" allot" with the verb "to lie," which immediately follows, it is better to understand the two verbs separately, as expressing two different species of sin; that is, swearing and cursing, and lying. So the Septuagint renders them by the nouns <span class="greek">ἀρὰ καὶ ψεῦδος</span>, equivalent to "<span class="accented">cursing</span> and lying;" as also the Chaldee, "<span class="accented">they</span> swear falsely and lie." The commandments which the children of Israel thus violated were the third, the ninth, the sixth, the eighth, and the seventh. <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> The construction, adopted in the LXX., Vulgate, and by Luther in his version, takes the infinitives (nounal expressions of habitual or continued actions) as nominatives to the verb <span class="accented">paratsu</span>; thus: "<span class="accented">Cursing</span>, and lying, and murder, and theft, and adultery abound (<span class="greek">κέχυται</span> or <span class="greek">εκκέχυται</span>) in the land;" "Maledictum, et mendacium, et homicidium, et furtum, et adulterium innndavernut;" and Luther translates, "Gotteslastern, Luger, Morder, Stehlen, and Ehebrechen hat uberhand genommen." The common mode <p><span class="note_emph">(3)</span> of constructing the infinitives independently as above in . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/4-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Cursing</span><br /><span class="heb">אָלֹ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·lōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_422.htm">Strong's 422: </a> </span><span class="str2">To adjure, imprecate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and lying,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכַחֵ֔שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵa·ḥêš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3584.htm">Strong's 3584: </a> </span><span class="str2">To disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">murder</span><br /><span class="heb">וְרָצֹ֥חַ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·rā·ṣō·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7523.htm">Strong's 7523: </a> </span><span class="str2">To dash in pieces, kill, to murder</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and stealing,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְגָנֹ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḡā·nōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1589.htm">Strong's 1589: </a> </span><span class="str2">To thieve, to deceive</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and adultery</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנָאֹ֑ף</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nā·’ōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5003.htm">Strong's 5003: </a> </span><span class="str2">To commit adultery, to apostatize</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are rampant;</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּרָ֕צוּ</span> <span class="translit">(pā·rā·ṣū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6555.htm">Strong's 6555: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break through</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one act of bloodshed</span><br /><span class="heb">וְדָמִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḏā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1818.htm">Strong's 1818: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">follows another.</span><br /><span class="heb">נָגָֽעוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ḡā·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5060.htm">Strong's 5060: </a> </span><span class="str2">To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 4:2 There is cursing lying murder stealing (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/4-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 4:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/4-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 4:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:3" /></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>