Hosea 4:3 kjv
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
Hosea 4:3 nkjv
Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
Hosea 4:3 niv
Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.
Hosea 4:3 esv
Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.
Hosea 4:3 nlt
That is why your land is in mourning,
and everyone is wasting away.
Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea are disappearing.
Hosea 4 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 4:3 | "Therefore the land mourns;...and every living thing perishes." | Hosea 4:3 |
| Isaiah 24:4-6 | "The earth dries up and withers...the land is defiled under its inhabitants..." | Isaiah 24:4-6 (Impact of sin on creation) |
| Jeremiah 4:23-26 | "I looked at the earth, and behold, it was without form and void..." | Jeremiah 4:23-26 (Judgment as uncreation) |
| Ezekiel 14:13,21 | "Son of man, when a land sins against me by continuing to sin..." | Ezekiel 14:13, 21 (Plagues as divine judgment) |
| Joel 1:17-20 | "The seeds have withered beneath the clods; the storehouses are ruined... How the beasts groan!" | Joel 1:17-20 (Famine and environmental ruin) |
| Zephaniah 1:2-3 | "I will sweep away everything...I will sweep away man and beast..." | Zephaniah 1:2-3 (Total destruction by judgment) |
| Amos 5:17 | "But in all vineyards there will be wailing." | Amos 5:17 (Mourning over lost sustenance) |
| Psalm 75:8 | "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup...its dregs shall be wrung out, all the wicked of the earth shall drain it." | Psalm 75:8 (God's judgment is poured out) |
| Matthew 24:21-22 | "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been..." | Matthew 24:21-22 (Calamity in end times) |
| Romans 8:19-22 | "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God..." | Romans 8:19-22 (Creation affected by sin) |
| Revelation 6:8 | "And behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him." | Revelation 6:8 (Consequences of unfaithfulness) |
| Revelation 18:10 | "standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas! Alas!...' " | Revelation 18:10 (Devastation of sinful cities) |
| Revelation 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes..." | Revelation 21:4 (Contrast of future restoration) |
| Exodus 23:25 | "You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water;" | Exodus 23:25 (Blessing through obedience) |
| Deuteronomy 28:15-18 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Deuteronomy 28:15-18 (Curses for disobedience) |
| Leviticus 26:22 | "I will let loose the wild beasts against you, and they shall bereave you of your children..." | Leviticus 26:22 (Animal destruction due to sin) |
| Psalm 107:34 | "He turns a fruitful land into a barren waste, and its salt desert..." | Psalm 107:34 (Divine response to wickedness) |
| Isaiah 5:9-10 | "I have made them hear it: woe to them! For when I thought to redeem them, they practiced falsehood." | Isaiah 5:9-10 (Prophetic woe against sin) |
| Jeremiah 12:4 | "How long will the land mourn and the grass of the field wither for the wickedness of its inhabitants?" | Jeremiah 12:4 (Land suffering from sin) |
| Acts 14:17 | "...doing good and giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and their gladness." | Acts 14:17 (God provides good gifts) |
Hosea 4 verses
Hosea 4 3 Meaning
The prophecy in Hosea 4:3 declares a consequence for the people's transgressions: their land and everything within it will be devastated and consumed. This signifies divine judgment where natural resources and living creatures suffer alongside the unfaithful. The emptiness described reflects a spiritual barrenness mirroring the land's physical desolation.
Hosea 4 3 Context
Hosea prophesies to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of spiritual and moral decay, characterized by idolatry and infidelity to God. Chapter 4 begins a series of pronouncements of judgment against the people and their leaders for their persistent sins. Verse 3 specifically addresses the comprehensive nature of this judgment, extending it to the very land and its inhabitants. The covenant God made with Israel stipulated blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. This verse outlines the consequences of their turning away from God.
Hosea 4 3 Word Analysis
- "Therefore" (Al ken): Indicates a consequence, a direct result of what was stated previously. This establishes a cause-and-effect relationship in God's judgment.
- "the land" (ha-aretz): Refers to the physical territory of Israel, but also symbolizes the blessings and inheritance promised by God. Its mourning signifies loss and emptiness.
- "mourns" (Avelah): Implies grief, desolation, and emptiness. The land itself, as creation, is seen as responsive to the sin of its inhabitants.
- "And" (ve): Connects clauses, showing the linkage of different aspects of the judgment.
- "shall be dried up" (Yevoshu): Signifies drought, barrenness, and cessation of life-giving resources. It points to agricultural collapse and lack of sustenance.
- "and" (ve):
- "perishes" (Avad): Denotes destruction, loss, and disappearing. It emphasizes the complete obliteration of life.
- "all that dwell therein" (Kol yoshvei bah): Includes all living creatures – humans, livestock, wild animals – signifying a comprehensive ecological and societal devastation.
- "and" (ve):
- "beasts of the field" (Chayot saday): Specific mention of wild animals, highlighting that judgment affects the entire created order.
- "and" (ve):
- "fowls of the heaven" (Ufey hashamayim): Refers to birds, showing the pervasive nature of the curse extending to the skies.
- "yea" (gam ken): Adds emphasis, reinforcing the totality of the perishing.
- "fishes of the sea" (Dag ha-yam): Includes creatures of the sea, demonstrating that no part of creation is exempt from the consequences of sin.
Word Groups Analysis
- "the land mourns; and all that dwell therein perish": This powerful imagery links the land's vitality to the spiritual state of its inhabitants. It suggests that the suffering of the environment is a divine response to the corruption of those who dwell upon it.
- "beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven; yea, and the fishes of the sea": This enumeration demonstrates the comprehensive scope of God's judgment. It's not merely punitive towards humans but affects the entire ecosystem as a consequence of human sin and rebellion against the Creator.
Hosea 4 3 Bonus Section
The concept of the land "mourning" or being affected by sin resonates throughout Scripture, from the curse on the ground in Genesis 3:17-18 due to Adam's sin, to the prophet Jeremiah's lament in Jeremiah 12:4, "How long will the land mourn and the grass of the field wither...?" This biblical theology posits that creation is interconnected with humanity and suffers consequences for sin. Hosea's message underscores that the blessings of the land were contingent on Israel's faithfulness, as laid out in the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 28:15-18). The mention of wildlife and sea creatures perishing highlights a cosmic implication of human sin, a theme echoed in the New Testament with Romans 8:19-22, where "the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption." This verse demonstrates God's justice not just on the moral actors but on the entire stage upon which their actions unfold.
Hosea 4 3 Commentary
Hosea 4:3 paints a stark picture of judgment falling upon the land of Israel due to its profound sin and apostasy. The land's inability to sustain life and the perishing of all its inhabitants, from domestic animals to birds and fish, illustrates the comprehensive nature of divine retribution. This judgment signifies not just a removal of blessings but a disruption of the created order itself, echoing the curse pronounced in Genesis following the fall of humankind. The desolation is a tangible manifestation of spiritual barrenness caused by the people's covenant-breaking. The pronouncement serves as a warning that rebellion against God affects the entirety of His creation, not just human souls.