Hosea 10 2

Hosea 10:2 kjv

Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

Hosea 10:2 nkjv

Their heart is divided; Now they are held guilty. He will break down their altars; He will ruin their sacred pillars.

Hosea 10:2 niv

Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.

Hosea 10:2 esv

Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.

Hosea 10:2 nlt

The hearts of the people are fickle;
they are guilty and must be punished.
The LORD will break down their altars
and smash their sacred pillars.

Hosea 10 verses

Hosea 10 2 Meaning

Israel's heart is divided; therefore, they will be held guilty. God will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.

Hosea 10 2 Context

Hosea prophesies during the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s decline, a period marked by political instability and religious syncretism. Chapter 10 emphasizes Israel’s pervasive idolatry and misplaced trust in their agricultural prosperity and pagan deities, particularly Baal. The verse serves as a judgment on their spiritual apostasy, stating that their divided loyalty to God and their idols will lead to divine reckoning. Their very land, meant to be a blessing, becomes the instrument of their punishment, specifically through the destruction of their religious artifacts and places of worship.

Hosea 10 2 Word analysis

• and (Hebrew: וְ, ve): A conjunctive particle, linking clauses, ideas, or elements. Here, it connects Israel’s divided heart to their resulting guilt.
• their (Hebrew: לִבָּם, libbam): Pronominal suffix "their" attached to "heart". Refers to the people of Israel.
• heart (Hebrew: לֵב, lev): Primarily means "heart," but in Hebrew thought, it's the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and character. A "divided heart" signifies a split loyalty, a wavering commitment.
• is divided (Hebrew: יְחַלֵּק, yeḥalleq): Derived from the root חָלַק (ḥalaq), meaning "to divide," "to share," or "to portion out." It indicates a state of being apportioned or distributed, signifying a lack of singleness or unity in devotion.
• now (Hebrew: עַתָּה, ʿatta): An adverb of time, indicating present consequence or immediate realization.
• he will hold guilty (Hebrew: יֶאְשָׁם, ye’ēshām): From the root אָשַׁם (āshām), meaning "to be guilty," "to offend," or "to bear guilt." It signifies that their dividedness will result in being accountable and facing divine judgment for their sin.
• their (Hebrew: אָפִיק, āpîq): A possessive pronoun indicating belonging to "them" (Israel).
• altar (Hebrew: מִזְבְּחוֹת, mizbeḥot): Plural of מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbe'aḥ), meaning "altar." Refers to the altars built for sacrifice, including those for Yahweh and illegitimate altars for idols.
• shall be (Hebrew: יִהְיוּ, yihyu): Future tense of the verb "to be," indicating what will happen.
• desolated (Hebrew: לַשֵּׁד, laššēd): From the root שָׁדַד (šādad), meaning "to lay waste," "to destroy," "to devastate." It implies ruin and destruction, turning something into a wasteland.
• their (Hebrew: אֲפִיק, apîq): Again, the possessive pronoun.
• pillars (Hebrew: יְסַד, yesad): Could refer to Asherah poles (sacred pillars associated with the fertility goddess Asherah) or pillars used in the structure of their high places. The verb from which it's potentially derived relates to establishing or founding, implying erected monuments for worship.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Their heart is divided": This phrase encapsulates Israel's spiritual adultery. They sought to serve both Yahweh and Baal, a theological impossibility and a profound betrayal. This division in their deepest allegiance made them unstable and susceptible to sin. It reflects a broken covenant relationship.
• "now he will hold guilty": The "now" signals an immediate and inevitable consequence. God’s justice will fall upon them because of this inherent division. They are now demonstrably culpable and will be judged for their covenant-breaking and idolatry.
• "their altars shall be desolated": This is a direct consequence of their divided worship. God will dismantle the very structures of their illicit devotion. The altars, symbols of their rebellion and syncretism, will be reduced to ruins, rendering them useless and a stark testament to their fall.
• "their pillars": This likely refers to the Asherah poles or standing pillars associated with Canaanite fertility cults, which were explicit affronts to Yahweh’s singular worship. Their destruction signifies the eradication of the symbols of Israel’s spiritual promiscuity.

Hosea 10 2 Bonus section

The imagery of destruction extends to the land itself, which had been a gift from God. Their devotion to pagan fertility rites, seeking rain and prosperity from Baal, ironically leads to desolation brought by God. The "pillars" often refer to Asherah poles, symbols of the Canaanite fertility goddess Asherah, which were explicitly condemned by the Mosaic Law (Deut. 16:21-22). This verse highlights how syncretism – the blending of biblical faith with pagan practices – ultimately pollutes and destroys true worship and leads to divine judgment.

Hosea 10 2 Commentary

Israel's divided heart represents a critical failure in their covenant relationship with God. This verse starkly pronounces judgment: their attempt to serve two masters, Yahweh and foreign deities (Baal), is futile and damnable. God will actively dismantle the very instruments of their idolatry – their altars and sacred pillars. This destruction is not merely physical but signifies the obliteration of their false worship system and the severe consequences of their unfaithfulness. It underscores the exclusivity required in serving God and the futility of attempting to compartmentalize devotion. True worship demands the entirety of one’s being, not a divided allegiance.