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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 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/4-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/28_Hos_04_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 4:17 - God's Charges Against Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!" /><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'; 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leave him alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Leave Israel alone, because she is married to idolatry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim <i>is</i> joined to idols: let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Ephraim <i>is</i> joined to idols, Let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is allied with idols; Leave him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols, So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You people of Israel are charmed by idols. Leave those people alone! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The people of Ephraim have chosen to worship idols. Leave them alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The people of Israel are under the spell of idols. Let them go their own way. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Ephraim has become entwined with idols; leave him alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim, joined to idols, has placed stumbling blocks against himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone! <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols, leave him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Joined to idols is Ephraim, let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to images: leave him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is a partaker with idols, let him alone. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Ephraim participates in idolatry, so send him away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is bound to idols, let him alone! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols— let him alone.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Aphreim is a partner of idols; leave him!<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ephraim, joined with idols, has laid stumbling-blocks in his own way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/4-17.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=654" 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">16</span>For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow? <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/669.htm" title="669: ’ep̄·rā·yim (N-proper-ms) -- Dual of masculine form of 'Ephraath; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hebrew/2266.htm" title="2266: ḥă·ḇūr (V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-msc) -- To unite, be joined, to tie a magic knot or spell, to charm. A primitive root; to join; specifically to fascinate.">is joined</a> <a href="/hebrew/6091.htm" title="6091: ‘ă·ṣab·bîm (N-mp) -- An idol. From atsab; an image.">to idols;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5117.htm" title="5117: han·naḥ- (V-Hifil-Imp-ms) -- To rest, i.e. settle down">leave him alone!</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.…<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="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a></span><br />After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/14-9.htm">1 Kings 14:9</a></span><br />You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/16-31.htm">1 Kings 16:31-33</a></span><br />And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. / First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. / Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15-18</a></span><br />They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. / 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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-21.htm">2 Kings 17:21-23</a></span><br />When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. / The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed and did not turn away from them. / Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, where they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/4-4.htm">Amos 4:4-5</a></span><br />“Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days. / Offer leavened bread as a thank offering, and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings. For that is what you children of Israel love to do,” declares the Lord GOD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-21.htm">Amos 5:21-27</a></span><br />“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-14.htm">Amos 8:14</a></span><br />Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives’—they will fall, never to rise again.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-4.htm">Isaiah 1:4</a></span><br />Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-13.htm">Isaiah 57:13</a></span><br />When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11-13</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. / Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD. / “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6-10</a></span><br />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. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9-10</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, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-2.htm">Ezekiel 23:2-4</a></span><br />“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother, / and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. / The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-36.htm">Ezekiel 23:36-39</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you pass judgment against Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations. / For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols. / They have also done this to Me: On that very same day, they defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.</p><p class="hdg">Ephraim.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/11-2.htm">Hosea 11:2</a></b></br> <i>As</i> they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/12-1.htm">Hosea 12:1</a></b></br> Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/13-2.htm">Hosea 13:2</a></b></br> And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, <i>and</i> idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.</p><p class="hdg">let.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/4-4.htm">Hosea 4:4</a></b></br> Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people <i>are</i> as they that strive with the priest.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/81-12.htm">Psalm 81:12</a></b></br> So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: <i>and</i> they walked in their own counsels.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Matthew 15:14</a></b></br> Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/daniel/11-8.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-6.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-6.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/hosea/3-1.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/hosea/3-4.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/daniel/11-34.htm">Joined</a> <a href="/daniel/11-8.htm">Leave</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/8-9.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/hosea/5-3.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hosea/5-3.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/hosea/14-3.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/hosea/5-11.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/hosea/7-5.htm">Joined</a> <a href="/hosea/12-14.htm">Leave</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>Ephraim is joined to idols;</b><br>Ephraim, representing the largest tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often symbolizes the entire nation. The phrase "joined to idols" indicates a deep-seated commitment to idolatry, reflecting a spiritual adultery against God. This idolatry was prevalent in the Northern Kingdom, where the worship of Baal and other Canaanite deities was common. The historical context shows that Israel's kings, starting with Jeroboam I, established idol worship to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem for worship. This phrase echoes the warnings found in <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-5</a>, where God commands exclusive worship and warns against idolatry. The spiritual unfaithfulness of Ephraim is a type of the broader unfaithfulness of humanity, contrasting with the faithfulness of Christ, who remained obedient to God.<p><b>leave him alone!</b><br>This command signifies a divine judgment, indicating that God has decided to withdraw His protective presence and allow Ephraim to face the consequences of their choices. It reflects a point of no return, where persistent sin leads to divine abandonment, as seen in <a href="/romans/1-24.htm">Romans 1:24-28</a>, where God gives people over to their sinful desires. The cultural context of the time shows that such abandonment would lead to vulnerability to enemy nations, as God's protection was crucial for Israel's survival. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of turning away from God, highlighting the need for repentance and foreshadowing the ultimate redemption through Christ, who offers reconciliation with God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim.htm">Ephraim</a></b><br>Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, often used to represent the Northern Kingdom as a whole. In this context, Ephraim symbolizes the collective idolatry and spiritual adultery of Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a></b><br>These are the false gods and images that the Israelites worshipped, in direct violation of the first two commandments. Idolatry was a significant issue in Israel, leading to their spiritual downfall.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet in the 8th century BC, Hosea was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His life and marriage were symbolic of God's relationship with Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/northern_kingdom_of_israel.htm">Northern Kingdom of Israel</a></b><br>After the division of the united monarchy, the Northern Kingdom, often referred to as Israel or Ephraim, fell into idolatry and was eventually conquered by Assyria.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_judgment.htm">God's Judgment</a></b><br>The context of this verse is God's pronouncement of judgment on Israel for their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can include anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must examine our hearts for modern-day idols such as money, power, or relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_spiritual_adultery.htm">The Consequences of Spiritual Adultery</a></b><br>Just as Ephraim faced judgment for their unfaithfulness, we too face spiritual consequences when we turn away from God. Repentance and returning to God are crucial.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_call_to_separation.htm">God's Call to Separation</a></b><br>"Leave him alone" signifies a point where God allows people to face the consequences of their choices. It serves as a warning to remain faithful and not be unequally yoked with unbelief.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_hope_of_restoration.htm">The Hope of Restoration</a></b><br>While Hosea's message is one of judgment, it also contains hope for restoration. God's discipline is meant to bring us back to Him, emphasizing His desire for a restored relationship.<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/why_does_ephraim_renounce_idols_in_hosea.htm">Why does Hosea 14:8 speak of Ephraim renouncing idols, yet later passages suggest the Northern Kingdom never fully returned from exile? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/will_i_show_mercy.htm">Why is Dan excluded from Revelation's 144,000 list?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_ephraim's_cultural_mix.htm">Hosea 7:8 portrays Ephraim as a “cake not turned” and mixed with nations—what historical or archaeological support exists for this portrayal of religious and cultural assimilation?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_favor_ephraim_over_manasseh.htm">Genesis 48:17–19 – Why would God supposedly favor Ephraim over Manasseh despite established primogeniture traditions, and is there any extrabiblical data supporting this choice? </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>(17) <span class= "bld">Ephraim</span> . . . <span class= "bld">idols.--</span>The prophet calls on Judah to leave Ephraim to himself. The Jewish interpreters Rashi and Kimchi understand this as the appeal of Jehovah to the prophet to leave Israel to her fate, that so perhaps her eyes might be opened to discern her doom.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Ephraim is joined to idols</span>: let him alone. Ephraim being the dominant tribe, gave its name to the northern kingdom. The idols were Ephraim's folly, and to that they were wedded; and in consequence they are left to their folly, and at the same time surrendered to their fate. They may persist in their folly; they cannot be prevented. "Give him rest," as the words literally mean, from exhortations and expostulations, from remonstrances and reproofs; he will persist in his folly, prepare for his fate, and perish by his sin. This abandonment of Ephraim proves the desperate nature of his case. Left to his own recklessness, he is rushing towards ruin. Judah is warned to stand aloof from the contagion, lest by interference he might get implicated in the sin and involved in the punishment of Ephraim. The Hebrew commentators express the word rendered "<span class="accented">joined</span> to" in the Authorized Version (ver. 17) by words importing "<span class="accented">yoked</span> to," "allied with," and "<span class="accented">cleaving</span> to." Again, <span class="hebrew">הַנַה</span>, imperative of <span class="hebrew">הֵנִחַ</span>, is explained by them as follows: - Rashi: "Leave off, O prophet, and prophesy not to reprove him, for it is of no use." Aben Ezra: "Let him alone till God shall chastise him; perhaps his eyes shall then open." Kimchi: "Jehovah says to the prophet, Cease to reprove him, for it is of no use .... As a man who is angry with his fellow, because he will not hearken to him when he reproves him, and <span class="accented">says</span>, Since thou hearkenest not to me, I will cease for ever to reprove thee." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/4-17.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">Ephraim</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶפְרָ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(’ep̄·rā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_669.htm">Strong's 669: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is joined</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲב֧וּר</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·ḇūr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2266.htm">Strong's 2266: </a> </span><span class="str2">To unite, be joined, to tie a magic knot or spell, to charm</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to idols;</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲצַבִּ֛ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ṣab·bîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6091.htm">Strong's 6091: </a> </span><span class="str2">An, image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">leave him alone!</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽנַּֽח־</span> <span class="translit">(han·naḥ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3240.htm">Strong's 3240: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, </span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/4-17.htm">Hosea 4:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/4-17.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/4-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 4:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/4-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 4:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 4:18" /></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>