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Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. <a href="/nlt/hosea/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops. They go up into the hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees. “That is why your daughters turn to prostitution, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/esv/hosea/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. <a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. <a href="/kjv/hosea/4.htm">King James Bible</a> They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. <a href="/nkjv/hosea/4.htm">New King James Version</a> They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery. <a href="/nasb_/hosea/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar, and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, And your brides commit adultery. <a href="/nasb/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery. <a href="/nasb77/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar, and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the harlot, And your brides commit adultery. <a href="/lsb/hosea/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar, and terebinth Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the harlot, And your brides commit adultery. <a href="/amp/hosea/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because the shade is pleasant there. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute And your brides commit adultery. <a href="/csb/hosea/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/hcsb/hosea/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/asv/hosea/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery. <a href="/cev/hosea/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You offer sacrifices on mountaintops and hills, under oak trees, and wherever good shade is found. Your own daughters and daughters-in-law sell themselves for sex. <a href="/erv/hosea/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters commit whoredom, and your brides commit adultery. <a href="/gwt/hosea/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They offer sacrifices on mountaintops, and they burn incense on the hills under oaks, poplars, and other trees. They think that these trees provide good shade. "That is why your daughters become prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/gnt/hosea/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> At sacred places on the mountaintops they offer sacrifices, and on the hills they burn incense under tall, spreading trees, because the shade is so pleasant! "As a result, your daughters serve as prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/isv/hosea/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> They offer sacrifices on the mountain tops, burning offerings on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinth trees, since their shade is very good. Therefore your daughters are prostitutes and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/msb/hosea/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. <a href="/net/hosea/4.htm">NET Bible</a> They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and burn offerings on the hills; they sacrifice under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is so pleasant. As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery! <a href="/nheb/hosea/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and shady terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. <a href="/wbt/hosea/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shade of them is agreeable: therefore your daughters shall be guilty of lewdness, and your spouses shall commit adultery. <a href="/web/hosea/4.htm">World English Bible</a> They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/hosea/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> On tops of the mountains they sacrifice, "" And on the hills they make incense, "" Under oak, and poplar, and terebinth, "" For good [is] its shade. <a href="/ylt/hosea/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> On tops of the mountains they do sacrifice, And on the hills they make perfume, Under oak, and poplar, and terebinth, For good is its shade. <a href="/slt/hosea/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Upon the heads of the mountains they will sacrifice, and upon the hills they will burn incense, under the oak and the white poplar and the terebinth, because its shadow was good: for this your daughters will commit fornication, and your brides shall commit adultery.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/hosea/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> They offered sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burnt incense upon the hills: under the oak, and the poplar, and the turpentine tree, because the shadow thereof was good: therefore shall your daughters commit fornication, and your spouses shall be adulteresses. <a href="/cpdv/hosea/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> They have offered sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burnt incense on the hills, under the oak, and the poplar, and the terebinth tree, because its shadow was good; therefore, your daughters will commit fornication and your spouses will be adulteresses. <a href="/nabre/hosea/4.htm">New American Bible</a> On the mountaintops they offer sacrifice and on the hills they burn incense, Beneath oak and poplar and terebinth, because of their pleasant shade. Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/nrsvce/hosea/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and make offerings upon the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/hosea/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinth, because their shadow is good; therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom and your brides shall commit adultery. <a href="/hpbt/hosea/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> On tops of the mountains they have done sacrifice and upon the hills they placed sweet spices, under oak or poplar or terebinth, because its shade is excellent, because of this your daughters will commit whoredom and your brides shall commit adultery<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/hosea/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, And offer upon the hills, Under oaks and poplars and terebinths, Because the shadow thereof is good; Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your daughters-in-law commit adultery. <a href="/sep/hosea/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> They have sacrificed on the tops of the mountains, and on the hills they have sacrificed under the oak and poplar, and under the shady tree, because the shade was good: therefore your daughters shall go a-whoring, and your daughters-in-law shall commit adultery. <a href="/parallel/hosea/4-13.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=589" 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> …12My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. 13<a href="/hebrew/2076.htm" title="2076: yə·zab·bê·ḥū (V-Piel-Imperf-3mp) -- To slaughter for sacrifice. A primitive root; to slaughter an animal.">They sacrifice</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: rā·šê (N-mpc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">the mountaintops</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: he·hā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6999.htm" title="6999: yə·qaṭ·ṭê·rū (V-Piel-Imperf-3mp) -- To make sacrifices smoke. A primitive root; to smoke, i.e. Turn into fragrance by fire.">and burn offerings</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: wə·‘al- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/1389.htm" title="1389: hag·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- A hill. Feminine from the same as Geba'; a hillock.">the hills,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: ta·ḥaṯ (Prep) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">under</a> <a href="/hebrew/437.htm" title="437: ’al·lō·wn (N-ms) -- An oak. A variation of 'elown.">oak,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3839.htm" title="3839: wə·liḇ·neh (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Poplar. From laban; some sort of whitish tree, perhaps the storax.">poplar,</a> <a href="/hebrew/424.htm" title="424: wə·’ê·lāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- A terebinth. Feminine of 'ayil; an oak or other strong tree.">and terebinth,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/6738.htm" title="6738: ṣil·lāh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- A shadow. From tsalal; shade, whether literal or figurative.">their shade</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">is pleasant.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">And so</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: kên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: bə·nō·w·ṯê·ḵem (N-fpc:: 2mp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">your daughters</a> <a href="/hebrew/2181.htm" title="2181: tiz·ne·nāh (V-Qal-Imperf-3fp) -- To commit fornication, be a harlot. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to commit idolatry.">turn to prostitution</a> <a href="/hebrew/3618.htm" title="3618: wə·ḵal·lō·w·ṯê·ḵem (Conj-w:: N-fpc:: 2mp) -- Daughter-in-law, bride. From kalal; a bride; hence, a son's wife.">and your daughters-in-law</a> <a href="/hebrew/5003.htm" title="5003: tə·nā·’ap̄·nāh (V-Piel-Imperf-3fp) -- To commit adultery. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize.">to adultery.</a> 14I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.…<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="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20</a> “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Ezekiel 6:13</a> Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak—the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. <a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5-7</a> who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? / Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these? / On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2</a> Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">2 Kings 17:10-11</a> They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. <a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6</a> Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. <a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23</a> They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. <a href="/2_chronicles/28-4.htm">2 Chronicles 28:4</a> And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. <a href="/isaiah/1-29.htm">Isaiah 1:29</a> Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen. <a href="/jeremiah/3-13.htm">Jeremiah 3:13</a> Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD. <a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-25</a> For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/10-20.htm">1 Corinthians 10:20-21</a> No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. <a href="/revelation/2-14.htm">Revelation 2:14</a> But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Acts 15:20</a> Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. <a href="/1_peter/4-3.htm">1 Peter 4:3</a> For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit prostitution, and your spouses shall commit adultery.sacrifice.<a href="/isaiah/1-29.htm">Isaiah 1:29</a> For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.<a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5,7</a> Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? … <a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6,13</a> The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot… therefore.<a href="/2_samuel/12-10.htm">2 Samuel 12:10-12</a> Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife… <a href="/job/31-9.htm">Job 31:9,10</a> If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; … <a href="/amos/7-17.htm">Amos 7:17</a> Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/1_samuel/18-20.htm">Agreeable</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Brides</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-21.htm">Burn</a> <a href="/hosea/4-10.htm">Commit</a> <a href="/daniel/2-43.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">Good</a> <a href="/hosea/4-10.htm">Guilty</a> <a href="/hosea/4-11.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-6.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/hosea/2-13.htm">Incense</a> <a href="/hosea/4-11.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-17.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-6.htm">Oaks</a> <a href="/hosea/4-4.htm">Offer</a> <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Play</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-4.htm">Poplars</a> <a href="/hosea/4-10.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/hosea/3-4.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/daniel/4-21.htm">Shade</a> <a href="/daniel/4-12.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Spouses</a> <a href="/isaiah/61-3.htm">Terebinths</a> <a href="/hosea/2-9.htm">Thereof</a> <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Tops</a> <a href="/hosea/4-11.htm">Whoredom</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Adultery</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/5-9.htm">Agreeable</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Brides</a> <a href="/hosea/7-6.htm">Burn</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Commit</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/hosea/8-3.htm">Good</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Guilty</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/hosea/10-8.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/hosea/11-2.htm">Incense</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/hosea/10-8.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/amos/2-9.htm">Oaks</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Offer</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Play</a> <a href="/job/40-22.htm">Poplars</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/hosea/14-7.htm">Shade</a> <a href="/hosea/14-7.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Spouses</a> <a href="/genesis/13-18.htm">Terebinths</a> <a href="/hosea/8-14.htm">Thereof</a> <a href="/joel/2-5.htm">Tops</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Whoredom</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'; </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>They sacrifice on the mountaintops In ancient Israel, high places were often used for worship, both to Yahweh and to pagan gods. The mountaintops were seen as closer to the divine realm, making them popular sites for sacrifices. This practice was contrary to God's command to worship at the designated place He chose, which was the temple in Jerusalem (<a href="/deuteronomy/12-13.htm">Deuteronomy 12:13-14</a>). The use of high places often led to syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan practices.and burn offerings on the hills, Burnt offerings were a significant part of Israelite worship, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God. However, performing these offerings on the hills, rather than at the temple, indicates a departure from true worship. This reflects a broader pattern of disobedience and idolatry, as seen in the practices of the Canaanites, whom the Israelites were supposed to drive out (<a href="/numbers/33-52.htm">Numbers 33:52</a>).under oak, poplar, and terebinth, These trees were commonly associated with Canaanite fertility rites and idol worship. The shade provided by these trees made them attractive locations for illicit religious activities. The use of specific trees in worship highlights the influence of surrounding pagan cultures on Israel, which often led to spiritual adultery (<a href="/judges/3-5.htm">Judges 3:5-7</a>).because their shade is pleasant. The pleasant shade symbolizes the allure of idolatry and false worship. It suggests that the Israelites were drawn to these practices for comfort and convenience, rather than out of true devotion to God. This reflects a broader theme in Hosea of Israel's unfaithfulness and pursuit of immediate gratification over covenantal faithfulness (<a href="/hosea/2-13.htm">Hosea 2:13</a>).And so your daughters turn to prostitution Prostitution here is both literal and metaphorical, representing Israel's unfaithfulness to God. In the context of pagan worship, ritual prostitution was a common practice, believed to ensure fertility and prosperity. This phrase underscores the moral and spiritual decay resulting from idolatry, as the people forsake their covenant with God (<a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Leviticus 19:29</a>).and your daughters-in-law to adultery. Adultery is used metaphorically throughout Hosea to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God. The mention of daughters-in-law highlights the pervasive nature of this unfaithfulness, affecting all levels of society. This mirrors the spiritual adultery of Israel, who has broken their covenant with God by turning to other gods (<a href="/jeremiah/3-8.htm">Jeremiah 3:8-9</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 engaged in idolatry and unfaithfulness to God during Hosea's time. 3. <a href="/topical/m/mountaintops_and_hills.htm">Mountaintops and Hills</a> Common locations for pagan worship and idolatrous practices in ancient Israel. 4. <a href="/topical/o/oaks,_poplars,_and_terebinths.htm">Oaks, Poplars, and Terebinths</a> Trees often associated with pagan worship sites due to their shade and perceived sacredness. 5. <a href="/topical/p/prostitution_and_adultery.htm">Prostitution and Adultery</a> Metaphors for Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, as well as literal practices associated with pagan worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/i/idolatry's_allure.htm">Idolatry's Allure</a> The Israelites were drawn to idolatry because of its immediate pleasures and comforts, symbolized by the pleasant shade of the trees. Believers today must be vigilant against modern forms of idolatry that promise comfort but lead away from God. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_unfaithfulness.htm">Spiritual Unfaithfulness</a> Just as Israel's idolatry was likened to prostitution and adultery, Christians are called to remain faithful to God, avoiding spiritual compromises that lead to unfaithfulness. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_sin.htm">Consequences of Sin</a> The passage highlights the direct consequences of Israel's idolatry—moral decay and societal breakdown. Believers must recognize that sin has real and damaging consequences. <a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a> Hosea's message is ultimately a call to repentance. Christians are encouraged to examine their lives for areas of unfaithfulness and turn back to God. <a href="/topical/h/holiness_in_worship.htm">Holiness in Worship</a> True worship of God requires purity and holiness, not just outward rituals. Believers are called to worship God in spirit and truth, avoiding any form of idolatry.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) The tops of the hills were continually chosen for idolatrous temples, i.e., "high places."Poplar--i.e., the white poplar, not the storax of the LXX., which is a shrub only a few feet high.Elms should be "terebinth tree" ('?lah).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 13. - They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good. The prophet here enlarges on the sin of idolatry mentioned in the preceding verse, and explains fully how it showed itself in the public life of the people. Two places are specified as scenes of idolatrous worship: one was the tops of mountains and hills; the other under every green tree, here specified as oaks, poplars, and terebinths, whether growing alone or in groves, in vale or upland. The hills and mountain-tops were selected on account of their elevation, as though the worshippers were thus brought nearer to the objects of their adoration; the green trees as affording shade from the scorching heat of an Eastern sun, secrecy for their licentious rites, and a sort of solemn awe associated with such shadow. In such scenes they not only slew victims, but burnt odors in honor of their idols. The resemblance to, if not imitation of, the rites of heathenism in all this is obvious. Among the Greeks the oak was sacred to Jupiter at Dodona, and among the old Britons the Druidical priests practiced their superstitions in the shadow of the yaks. The poplar again was sacred to Hercules, affording a most grateful shade; while in <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Ezekiel 6:13</a> we read that "under every thick terebinth" was one of the places where "they did offer sweet savor to their idols." The inveterate custom of these idolaters is implied in the Piel or iterative form of the verb; the singular of the nouns, under oak and poplar and terebinth, intimates that scene after scene of Israel's sin passes under the prophet's review, each exciting his deep indignation; the mention of the goodly shadow seems designed to heighten that feeling of just indignation, as though it came into competition or comparison with "the shadow of the Almighty," the abiding-place of him that "dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High." Therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses (properly, daughters-in-law) shall commit adultery. כַּלָּה primarily signifies "bride," but for the parents of the bridegroom, "daughter-in-law," its secondary sense. The bad example of the parents acts upon their children and reacts upon themselves; on their children in causing bad conduct, on themselves by way of chastisements. The parents had been guilty of spiritual whoredom by their idolatry; their daughters and daughters-in-law would commit whoredom in the literal and carnal sense. This would wound the parents' feelings to the quick and pain them in the tenderest part. Their personal honor would be compromised by such scandalous conduct on the part of their daughters; their family honor would be wounded and the fair fame of posterity tarnished by such gross misconduct on the part of the daughters-in-law. The following observations are made on the last member of this thirteenth verse by the Hebrew commentators: "Because the men of the house go out of the city to the high mountains and under every green tree there to serve idols, therefore their daughters and daughters-in-law have opportunity to commit whoredom and adultery" (Kimchi). To like purpose Aben Ezra writes: "The sense is - On the bare mountains and so on the hills they sacrifice; they say to the priests of Baal that they shall sacrifice; and therefore, because the men go out of the cities in order to burn incense, the daughters and daughters-in-law remain in the houses behind, therefore they commit whoredom." Somewhat different is the explanation of Rashi: "Because ye associate for idolatry after the manner of the heathen, and the heathen associate with you, and ye form affinities with them, your daughters also who are born to you by the daughters of the heathen conduct themselves after the manner of their mothers, and commit whoredom." <a href="/commentaries/hosea/4-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>They sacrifice יְזַבֵּ֗חוּ (yə·zab·bê·ḥū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2076.htm">Strong's 2076: </a> To slaughter for sacrifice on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the mountaintops רָאשֵׁ֨י (rā·šê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> The head and burn offerings יְקַטֵּ֔רוּ (yə·qaṭ·ṭê·rū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6999.htm">Strong's 6999: </a> To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire on וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the hills, הַגְּבָעוֹת֙ (hag·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1389.htm">Strong's 1389: </a> A hillock under תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> The bottom, below, in lieu of oak, אַלּ֧וֹן (’al·lō·wn) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_437.htm">Strong's 437: </a> An oak, other strong tree poplar, וְלִבְנֶ֛ה (wə·liḇ·neh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3839.htm">Strong's 3839: </a> Some sort of whitish tree, the storax and terebinth, וְאֵלָ֖ה (wə·’ê·lāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_424.htm">Strong's 424: </a> An oak, other strong tree because כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction their shade צִלָּ֑הּ (ṣil·lāh) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6738.htm">Strong's 6738: </a> A shadow is pleasant. ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> Pleasant, agreeable, good And so עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against your daughters בְּנ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם (bə·nō·w·ṯê·ḵem) Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> A daughter turn to prostitution תִּזְנֶ֙ינָה֙ (tiz·ne·nāh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2181.htm">Strong's 2181: </a> To commit adultery, to commit idolatry and your daughters-in-law וְכַלּוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (wə·ḵal·lō·w·ṯê·ḵem) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3618.htm">Strong's 3618: </a> Daughter-in-law, bride to adultery. תְּנָאַֽפְנָה׃ (tə·nā·’ap̄·nāh) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5003.htm">Strong's 5003: </a> To commit adultery, to apostatize <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice on the tops (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/4-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 4:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/4-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 4:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:14" /></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>