Hosea 4 7

Hosea 4:7 kjv

As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

Hosea 4:7 nkjv

"The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.

Hosea 4:7 niv

The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.

Hosea 4:7 esv

The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.

Hosea 4:7 nlt

The more priests there are,
the more they sin against me.
They have exchanged the glory of God
for the shame of idols.

Hosea 4 verses

Hosea 4 7 Meaning

The people have glorified themselves through their sin and have acted presumptuously. Consequently, their iniquity will be revealed and their sin brought to light. This signifies that their proud exaltation in wrongdoing will inevitably lead to exposure and accountability for their transgressions.

Hosea 4 7 Context

Hosea chapter 4 is a powerful indictment against the spiritual and moral decay of Israel, particularly the Northern Kingdom. The prophet is denouncing the pervasive corruption, lack of knowledge of God, broken covenant, and the deep-seated sin that has infiltrated every level of society. The people, especially the religious and political leaders, have turned away from Yahweh, embracing idolatry and illicit practices. Verse 7 highlights that their increased prosperity or success in their sinning has led to even greater sin against God. This escalating pattern of disobedience and self-glorification, despite their increased prosperity, has made their iniquity more evident and will inevitably bring divine judgment. The chapter as a whole paints a grim picture of a nation steeped in sin, ripe for divine consequence.

Hosea 4 7 Word Analysis

• כִּי (ki) - "for," "because," "that." This conjunction introduces the reason or cause for what follows.

• רָבָם (ravam) - "they are many," "their multitude." Referring to the increase in their numbers or, more significantly, their multiplication of sin.

• חָטְאוּ (chāṭə'ū) - "they sinned." The perfect tense emphasizes the completed action of sinning, with its ongoing consequences. It carries the weight of rebellion and missing the mark.

• לִי (li) - "against Me," "to Me." Directing the sin specifically toward God, highlighting the personal affront to Yahweh.

• וְיַחְלִיפוּ (vəyaḥlîp̄ū) - "and they will exchange," "and they will replace." This verb suggests a deliberate turning away from the right way, exchanging God for something else, or replacing faithfulness with corruption. The imperfect tense indicates future action or consequence.

• כְּבֹדָם (kəvōdām) - "their glory," "their honor." This refers to what they take pride in, their status, their wealth, or their very essence, which they have misplaced.

• בְּצָלְמָוֶת (bəṣāl'māveṯ) - "with shame," "for shame," "in disgrace." Can also relate to "passing away" or "futility." Here it connects their misplaced glory to disgrace, implying their proud actions will lead to dishonor.

• בִּמְקוֹם (biqmōq) - "in the place of," "instead of." Indicates a substitution or replacement.

• עֲוֹנָם (ʿᵃvōnām) - "their iniquity," "their guilt," "their punishment." This word speaks to the perversity and crookedness of their actions, and the resulting culpability.

• יַחֲלִיפוּ (yaḥlîp̄ū) - "they will exchange," "they will replace." Similar to the earlier "yachlifu," reinforcing the idea of a definitive and negative substitution or loss. The context here is linked to their glory and iniquity.

• עוֹנְשָׁם (ʿōnəšām) - "their punishment," "their penalty." Directly states the consequence of their actions, a recompense for their guilt.

• Group Analysis: The structure "they are many... they sinned against Me" implies a progression where increased existence or prosperity became the basis for greater sin. The second part "they will exchange their glory for shame, in the place of their iniquity they will exchange their punishment" speaks to a profound reversal. What they held dear (glory) will be replaced by disgrace (shame), and their actions, born of iniquity, will lead to the deserved penalty, possibly suggesting their attempts to evade or substitute punishment will also be foiled, ultimately leading to their actual, deserved punishment. Their supposed glory will be exchanged for the shame of exposed iniquity.

Hosea 4 7 Bonus Section

The Hebrew term כְּבוֹדָם (kəvōdām), translated as "their glory," can also refer to honor, weightiness, or even richness. In this context, it points to what Israel esteemed above God. This could be their material wealth, their perceived strength, or their status among nations. However, Hosea's message is that this very "glory" would be transformed into ignominy. The idea of exchanging glory for shame echoes the consequence of idolatry—valuing earthly things over the divine creator, and inevitably facing ruin for such misplaced reverence. This verse starkly contrasts genuine honor, which comes from obedience to God, with the false honor derived from sin, which ultimately brings ruin. The repeated word יַחֲלִיפוּ (yachlifu) underscores the totality of the reversal: a complete turning from their prized possession (glory) to a dire consequence (shame, punishment).

Hosea 4 7 Commentary

Israel’s increased prosperity was not a sign of God’s blessing due to faithfulness, but rather an amplification of their sin against Him. Their prosperity had become the very stage upon which their rebellion played out more brazenly. They mistook their temporal gains for divine favor, elevating their worldly success to the status of glory. However, God declares this "glory" would be exchanged for shame because their actions were rooted in deep-seated iniquity. Their pursuit of self-exaltation through sin would ultimately lead to utter disgrace. The assurance of judgment is clear: their guilt (iniquity) would lead to their punishment, signifying the certainty of divine retribution for their corrupt lifestyle.