Hosea 4:9 kjv
And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
Hosea 4:9 nkjv
And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds.
Hosea 4:9 niv
And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Hosea 4:9 esv
And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Hosea 4:9 nlt
'And what the priests do, the people also do.'
So now I will punish both priests and people
for their wicked deeds.
Hosea 4 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hos 4:9 | "And there shall be like people, like priest..." | Consequences of sin, universal corruption |
| Isa 3:5 | "and the people shall be oppressed..." | Social injustice linked to spiritual decay |
| Jer 5:31 | "The prophets prophesy falsely..." | False prophets and deception |
| Mic 7:3 | "That they may do evil with both hands earnestly..." | Devotion to evil practices |
| Mal 2:8 | "But ye are departed out of the way..." | Priesthood straying from God's path |
| Matt 15:14 | "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind..." | Spiritual blindness, leading astray |
| John 8:43 | "Why do ye not understand my speech?..." | Inability to grasp spiritual truth |
| Rom 1:28 | "And even as they did not like to retain God in their..." | God giving over to a reprobate mind |
| 2 Tim 4:3 | "For the time will come when they will not endure sound..." | Rejection of sound doctrine |
| 2 Pet 2:15 | "which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray..." | Following the way of Balaam |
| Deut 18:20 | "But that prophet, which shall presume to speak a word..." | Judgment on false prophecy |
| Prov 19:2 | "Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good..." | Importance of knowledge |
| Ezek 13:10 | "because, even because they have seduced my people..." | False prophets deceiving the people |
| Jer 23:17 | "They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath..." | Arrogance of false prophets |
| Ps 7:11 | "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked..." | God's judgment on wickedness |
| Amos 5:10 | "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate..." | Rejection of correction |
| Amos 8:11 | "behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will..." | Famine of hearing the words of the LORD |
| Zech 11:17 | "Woe unto them that for ever the stupid shepherd!..." | Condemnation of a foolish shepherd |
| Luke 6:39 | "And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind?" | Analogy of blind leaders |
| Rom 2:21 | "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?" | Hypocrisy of teachers |
Hosea 4 verses
Hosea 4 9 Meaning
This verse describes a spiritual state of sin and its consequences. The people are becoming like beasts, driven by base desires and lacking moral discernment. Their relationship with God is corrupted, leading to a desire for false prophecy rather than divine truth.
Hosea 4 9 Context
Hosea chapter 4 is a powerful indictment against the people of Israel, particularly the priests. The nation is depicted as being steeped in idolatry, injustice, and spiritual corruption. They have broken the covenant with God, leading to consequences such as drought, famine, and a lack of divine guidance. This verse specifically highlights the widespread spiritual decay affecting all levels of society, from the common people to the religious leaders. The overall message is one of impending judgment due to their persistent sin and apostasy.
Hosea 4 9 Word Analysis
- And: Conjunction linking cause and effect or sequential events.
- there shall be: Future tense, indicating a prophesied outcome.
- like people: The people as a whole exhibiting a negative characteristic.
- like priest: The religious leaders mirroring the flaws of the common people.
- and: Continues the parallelism of corrupted states.
- I will punish: Direct statement of divine judgment.
- all that go about: Pertaining to everyone, no exceptions, those who live, conduct themselves, or engage in actions.
- on the soles of their feet: A Hebrew idiom signifying casualness, lightness, or hastiness in pursuing sin, as if lightly treading. It implies they are eager and swift in their wicked ways, showing no gravity or seriousness in their sin.
- the evil: Refers to wicked deeds, immoral actions, and spiritual rebellion.
- with them: Identifying the source or pervasiveness of the evil.
- and: Connects the previous points.
- they will long for foolish prophecies / desires of prophecy (Hebrew: "Tzemedim nevuah" - ambiguous): The people's preference is for superficial pronouncements or deceptive messages, rather than true divine guidance. "Tzemed" can mean a yoke or a pair, but in this context, it's often interpreted as "companions" or "desired ones." The desire is for divinely sanctioned pronouncements they like, not for challenging truth.
- they are eager for meaningless prophecies / the desire for false prophets: They seek out or are attracted to prophets who will speak what they want to hear, flattering their sin or offering comforting lies.
Hosea 4 9 Bonus Section
The desire for "foolish prophecies" (or "companions of prophecy," or "desires of prophecy") suggests a people who actively seek out those who will echo their own inclinations. They are not passive in their rejection of truth but actively pursue delusion. This mirrors a contemporary human tendency to engage with information that confirms pre-existing biases, a phenomenon often amplified by the selective curation of content in modern media. The concept of "like people, like priest" speaks to the interconnectedness of societal leadership and the governed; spiritual decay at the top permeates the entire society. Conversely, faithfulness in leadership can also foster spiritual health.
Hosea 4 9 Commentary
Hosea vividly illustrates the dire spiritual state of Israel. The pronouncement "like people, like priest" signifies a societal breakdown where both the populace and its spiritual leaders are equally culpable and corrupted. This lack of distinction means there's no moral compass, no exemplary leadership to guide them back to God. The phrase "on the soles of their feet" portrays their eagerness and haste in pursuing sin, showing they have made evil a way of life. Instead of seeking God's truth through His prophets, they are drawn to deceitful pronouncements, preferring comfort and flattery over the often challenging word of God. This verse is a stark warning about the consequences of apostasy and the devastating effect of spiritual blindness.