Hosea 10 1

Hosea 10:1 kjv

Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

Hosea 10:1 nkjv

Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.

Hosea 10:1 niv

Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.

Hosea 10:1 esv

Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.

Hosea 10:1 nlt

How prosperous Israel is ?
a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit.
But the richer the people get,
the more pagan altars they build.
The more bountiful their harvests,
the more beautiful their sacred pillars.

Hosea 10 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Hosea 10:1Israel is a luxuriant vine that bears fruit in keeping with itsHosea 10:1 (Itself)
Isaiah 5:1-7God's vineyard brought forth wild grapes; lament over Judah’s failureIsaiah 5:1-7 (Allegory of God's vineyard)
Jeremiah 2:21Though planted as a noble vine, Israel has turned into a wildJeremiah 2:21 (Corrupted vine)
Psalm 80:8-9You brought a vine out of Egypt... planted its roots deepPsalm 80:8-9 (Vine of Israel)
Matthew 7:17So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruitMatthew 7:17 (Good/Bad Fruit)
Matthew 21:33-41Parable of the wicked tenants who killed the heir; vineyardMatthew 21:33-41 (Kingdom likened to vineyard)
John 15:1-5Jesus the true vine, believers are branchesJohn 15:1-5 (Jesus as the true Vine)
Romans 6:22Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap is sanctification, and the end is eternal lifeRomans 6:22 (Fruit of righteousness)
Galatians 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-controlGalatians 5:22-23 (Fruit of the Spirit)
Amos 8:4-5Oppressors long for more profit; God's judgment awaitsAmos 8:4-5 (Greed and exploitation)
Micah 6:14-16Your feasts will be remembered and mocked for your iniquityMicah 6:14-16 (Consequences of sin)
Deuteronomy 28:30You will sow your seed but another will devour itDeuteronomy 28:30 (Cursed crops)
Jeremiah 12:10-13Pastors have destroyed God's vineyardJeremiah 12:10-13 (Destruction of vineyard)
Isaiah 10:20Jacob will return to the LordIsaiah 10:20 (Promise of return)
Hosea 2:8Israel did not know that God gave her grain, new wine, and oilHosea 2:8 (God's provision misused)
Hosea 9:16Ephraim is struck, their root is dried upHosea 9:16 (Destruction of fruitfulness)
Psalm 72:16May there be abundant grain in the land, even to the tops of the mountainsPsalm 72:16 (Bountiful harvest)
Song of Solomon 4:12A garden enclosed is my sister, my bride, a spring enclosed, a fountain sealedSong of Solomon 4:12 (Fruitful imagery)
Jeremiah 4:3Break up your unplowed ground; do not sow among thornsJeremiah 4:3 (Need for repentance)
Zephaniah 1:3I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will make the wicked stumble and destroy all mankind.Zephaniah 1:3 (Total destruction)

Hosea 10 verses

Hosea 10 1 Meaning

Israel is portrayed as a prolific vine that yields fruit. This fruit, however, is abundant iniquity. The verse uses the metaphor of fruit-bearing to describe Israel’s prosperity, but then starkly contrasts this outward success with their inner moral and spiritual corruption. The "fruit" represents the results of their actions and their covenant relationship with God, which in this case are corrupt due to their sin.

Hosea 10 1 Context

Hosea, prophesying primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel (also called Ephraim), is delivering a series of messages condemning their deep-seated idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. This chapter, starting with verse 1, sets the tone for the consequences of Israel’s corrupt state. The prophet’s messages are often harsh, reflecting the severity of Israel’s apostasy. Historically, Israel was experiencing periods of prosperity and stability under rulers like Jeroboam II, but this outward appearance masked a spiritual decay characterized by syncretism and a disregard for the covenant. The prophetic word is aimed at revealing the devastating reality of their disobedience and calling them to repentance, even as judgment looms.

Hosea 10 1 Word analysis

  • Hosea (הוֹשֵׁעַ): Hebrew name meaning "salvation" or "Yahweh saves." This name itself carries a theological weight, contrasting with the nation's sin.
  • Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל): Means "struggles with God" or "God strives." Originally given to Jacob, it represents God's chosen people.
  • luxuriant vine (גֶּפֶן פָּרָת):
    • גֶּפֶן (gephen): "vine," a common biblical metaphor for Israel.
    • פָּרָת (parath): From the root פרה (parah), meaning "to be fruitful," "to bear fruit." This emphasizes productivity.
  • bears fruit (תְּפֹר): From the root פרה (parah), used again, highlighting the abundance of fruit.
  • in keeping with (כְּמִדָּת): "according to the measure of," "in proportion to."
  • its (לוֹ): "to it."
  • iniquity (עֲוֺנָהּ):
    • עֲוֺנוֹ (avono): From the root עון (avon), meaning "iniquity," "guilt," "crookedness," "perverseness." This denotes internal corruption, the root of their sin.

Group analysis:The phrase "luxuriant vine that bears fruit in keeping with its iniquity" is a powerful, oxymoronic statement. It highlights that their abundant prosperity (fruit) is directly proportional to their sinfulness (iniquity), not to God's favor, thus perverting the blessings they received. The fruit is not of the spirit but of their deep-seated, perverted spiritual state.

Hosea 10 1 Bonus Section

The metaphor of Israel as a vine is frequent in the Old Testament, often emphasizing God's care and their calling to bear fruit for His glory. However, like Hosea 10:1, these passages also lament Israel’s failure to produce the right kind of fruit when they stray from God (e.g., Isaiah 5, Jeremiah 2). Jesus later identifies Himself as the true vine (John 15), with believers as branches that must bear fruit, or they will be pruned. Hosea's message starkly contrasts the divine expectation of good fruit with Israel's reality of bearing the bitter fruit of sin. The verse implies that the blessing of fertility, which God intended for faithfulness, has been turned into a curse through their idolatry and apostasy, making their fruitfulness a testament to their sin rather than God’s favor.

Hosea 10 1 Commentary

Hosea begins by painting a picture of Israel's outward appearance – a lush, fruitful vine. This imagery likely reflects the prosperity they were experiencing, suggesting abundant crops and perhaps a flourishing economy. However, this outward fruitfulness is entirely perverted. The "fruit" they produce is not righteousness or devotion to God, but their "iniquity." This means their abundance is a direct consequence and measure of their sinfulness and rebellion against God. It underscores that their prosperity is misdirected and ultimately empty because it is not a sign of God’s blessing in a covenantal sense, but rather a consequence of their chosen path of sin. It’s a severe indictment, showing that even in their supposed success, they are only growing in their rebellion.