Hosea 5 1

Hosea 5:1 kjv

Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

Hosea 5:1 nkjv

"Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For yours is the judgment, Because you have been a snare to Mizpah And a net spread on Tabor.

Hosea 5:1 niv

"Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

Hosea 5:1 esv

Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For the judgment is for you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor.

Hosea 5:1 nlt

"Hear this, you priests.
Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
Listen, you members of the royal family.
Judgment has been handed down against you.
For you have led the people into a snare
by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.

Hosea 5 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Hosea 5:1Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is to you-ward.Lev 10:3, Isa 28:14, Jer 2:8, Eze 22:26, Zep 3:4, Mal 2:1, Luke 11:52, John 7:15, Acts 5:3, Rom 3:21, 1 Cor 1:18, 2 Cor 5:10, Gal 3:11, Heb 4:12, 1 John 1:9, Rev 19:11
Lev 10:3And Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.Emphasizes God's expectation of holiness from priests
Isa 28:14Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.Call to listen to God's word to those in authority
Jer 2:8The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.Details the priests' failure to acknowledge or follow God
Eze 22:26Her priests have violated my laws and profaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between that which was unclean and clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.Accusation of priests corrupting and mishandling God's law and holy things
Zep 3:4Her prophets are shifting, fickle, faithless; her priests have profaned what is holy, they have done violence to the law.Similar denunciation of prophets and priests
Mal 2:1And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.Direct address to priests concerning divine commandments
Luke 11:52Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.Jesus pronounces judgment on those who obstruct spiritual understanding, similar to corrupted spiritual leaders
John 7:15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?Highlights amazement at Jesus' wisdom, contrasting with learned but ineffective leaders
Acts 5:3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?A New Testament example of divine judgment on deception within the community of faith
Rom 3:21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;Connects Old Testament prophecies of judgment and salvation to God's righteousness revealed in Christ
1 Cor 1:18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.Points to divine judgment and salvation as central themes in the Gospel
2 Cor 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.Universal accountability before God
Gal 3:11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.Contrasts life through law with life through faith
Heb 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.The word of God's judgment penetrates deeply
1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Connects confession and divine justice to forgiveness
Rev 19:11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon it was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.Christ as the righteous judge and warrior

Hosea 5 verses

Hosea 5 1 Meaning

The verse serves as a divine declaration and command from God directed at the entire house of Israel, encompassing priests, people, and the royal family. It signifies impending judgment and consequence for their widespread spiritual infidelity and transgression. God calls for attentive listening because the judgment is not partial but universally applicable to the entire nation of Israel.

Hosea 5 1 Context

Hosea chapter 5 begins with a pronouncement of divine judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This judgment is a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry, broken covenant, and moral corruption. The northern tribes had consistently turned away from Yahweh, embracing the worship of Baal and other pagan deities, even involving the royal house and priesthood in these practices. This verse specifically addresses "the house of Israel," "priests," and "the house of the king," highlighting that no segment of society was exempt from God's scrutiny and coming punishment. Historically, this period was marked by political instability and encroaching Assyrian power, which Hosea's prophecy reflects as the instrument of God's judgment for Israel's covenantal unfaithfulness. The summons to "hear" is an urgent call to attention because a severe reckoning is imminent for their transgressions against the covenant and its laws.

Hosea 5 1 Word Analysis

  • Hear ye (שִׁמְעוּ - shim'u): Imperative, second person plural from the root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning "to hear," "to listen," "to obey." It’s not merely passive hearing but an active engagement to heed and comprehend.

  • this (זֹאת - zōth): Demonstrative pronoun, feminine singular, referring to the message or pronouncement that follows. It emphasizes the importance and specific nature of the announcement.

  • O priests (אַנָשִׁים לְוִיִּם - 'anashim lĕwiyyim): Literally "men of Levi." The Levites were consecrated for service in the sanctuary. Here, it specifically calls out the priests, members of the tribe of Levi, who were responsible for teaching the law and mediating between God and the people. The inclusion of priests indicates a condemnation of those who should have known and upheld God’s ways but failed.

  • and hearken (וְהַאֲזִינוּ - wəha'azīnū): Imperative, second person plural from the root אָזַן ('azan), meaning "to give ear," "to pay attention," "to incline the ear." It reinforces the call to listen, implying a more focused and deliberate attention than simply hearing.

  • ye house of Israel (בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל - bēt yiśrā'ēl): The entire nation of Israel, emphasizing corporate responsibility. The "house" signifies the collective entity.

  • and give ye ear (וּתְנוּ אֹזֶן - ütınû 'ōzen): Imperative, second person plural verb תֵּן (ten) from נָתַן (nāthan), meaning "to give," with the noun אֹזֶן ('ōzen), "ear." Similar to "hearken," this phrase intensifies the call to pay close attention.

  • O house of the king (בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ - bēt hammelech): The royal family and by extension the government or ruling structure of Israel. Their responsibility is highlighted because leaders often set the moral and spiritual tone for the nation.

  • for (כִּי - kî): A conjunction introducing the reason or cause for the preceding call to attention.

  • judgment (מִשְׁפָּט - mišpāṭ): A key term referring to God's righteous decree, verdict, or the consequence of actions. It can encompass justice, lawsuit, or punishment.

  • is to you-ward (לָכֶם - lākem): Preposition לְ (lĕ), "to" or "for," followed by the second person plural pronoun "you." This clearly indicates that the judgment is directed specifically at the recipients addressed (priests, house of Israel, house of the king).

  • Words group analysis: The repeated imperatives "Hear ye," "hearken," and "give ye ear" underscore the gravity and urgency of God’s message. The segmentation of the audience—priests, the entire house of Israel, and the house of the king—shows that the sin and the subsequent judgment are pervasive and affect all levels of society. The conclusive phrase "for judgment is to you-ward" establishes a clear cause-and-effect: their unfaithfulness has brought divine accountability upon them.

Hosea 5 1 Bonus Section

This verse highlights the principle of corporate responsibility and leadership accountability found throughout Scripture. When leaders fail in their spiritual duties, the entire community suffers the consequences. The "judgment" here is not only punitive but also disciplinary, aiming to restore God’s honor and true worship. The parallel structure, addressing distinct groups, shows God’s comprehensive view of societal sin, where the breakdown in sacred trust and governance leads to national downfall. The repetition of "house" (bayith) emphasizes the structural failure within the family, religious, and governmental institutions of Israel.

Hosea 5 1 Commentary

Hosea 5:1 is a profound call to listen because judgment is coming upon the entire nation of Israel. God is specifically targeting the spiritual and political leadership—the priests and the royal family—for their role in leading the people astray into idolatry and disobedience. Their failures are not private matters but public corruptions that affect the spiritual health of the entire "house of Israel." The threefold command to hear, hearken, and give ear emphasizes that God's word, and the impending consequences it announces, demands the utmost attention. This is not an abstract threat but a specific decree of "judgment" directed squarely at them because they have violated their covenant relationship with Him. The pronouncement sets the stage for the specific accusations and pronouncements of doom that follow in the subsequent verses, demonstrating that God holds accountable those who have the responsibility to lead His people.