Hosea 5 4

Hosea 5:4 kjv

They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.

Hosea 5:4 nkjv

"They do not direct their deeds Toward turning to their God, For the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, And they do not know the LORD.

Hosea 5:4 niv

"Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD.

Hosea 5:4 esv

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the LORD.

Hosea 5:4 nlt

Your deeds won't let you return to your God.
You are a prostitute through and through,
and you do not know the LORD.

Hosea 5 verses

Hosea 5 4 Meaning

This verse describes Israel's spiritual whoredom. They have become unfaithful to God due to their pursuit of other gods. Their actions stem from a lack of knowledge of the Lord. Because of this persistent disobedience, God declares He will bring judgment upon them.

Hosea 5 4 Context

Hosea 5:1-7 is part of a prophecy concerning the impending judgment upon Israel (primarily the northern kingdom of Israel, also called Ephraim or Samaria). This passage follows God's tender lament over Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and the consequences thereof. The people have turned away from the Lord, engaging in idolatry and corrupt practices. Verse 4 directly addresses the heart of their rebellion: their profound lack of knowledge and understanding of the LORD. This ignorance is not simply intellectual but a willful turning away from Him, leading them to commit acts of spiritual whoredom and turning their ways toward their idols, and by extension, away from God. This judgment is presented as a direct consequence of their persistent apostasy, making their cities and sanctuaries objects of God's wrath.

Hosea 5 4 Word Analysis

• "They": Refers to the people of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, whom God has covenanted with.
• "do not": A strong negation indicating a deliberate absence or failure.
• "regard": Hebrew: yada (יָדַע) - To know, to be aware of, to consider, to regard. Here it signifies a willful disregard or ignorance of God's presence and authority.
• "the": Definite article pointing to the specific being, the LORD.
• "LORD": Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה) - The covenant name of God, expressing His eternal, immutable, and saving presence. This name is highly significant in the Old Testament.
• "The spirit": Hebrew: ruach (רוּחַ) - Spirit, wind, breath. In this context, it refers to an inner disposition, a pervading inclination, or a controlling influence.
• "of": Indicates possession or characteristic.
• "whoredom": Hebrew: zanun (זנוּן) - Sexual immorality, often used metaphorically for spiritual adultery and idolatry—unfaithfulness to God.
• "is": State of being.
• "within": Denotes an internal characteristic, residing in their core being.
• "them": Refers back to the people of Israel.
• "And": Conjunction connecting the two clauses, showing a causal or sequential relationship.
• "they": Again, the people of Israel.
• "do not": Negation.
• "know": Hebrew: yada (יָדַע) - To know, to recognize, to understand, to experience. This signifies a deeper, relational knowledge of God's character, commands, and covenant faithfulness, which they lack.
• "the": Definite article.
• "LORD": Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה) - The covenant name of God.

Phrase Analysis:

• "They do not regard the LORD": This phrase captures Israel's willful ignorance and practical atheism. It’s not that they deny God’s existence but that they treat Him as irrelevant in their daily lives and decisions, especially regarding their worship and social justice.
• "The spirit of whoredom is within them": This describes a deep-seated corruption in their nature and societal ethos, leading them to spiritual infidelity. This "spirit" dictates their devotion and alliances, leading them to rely on political or military powers and engage in idolatrous worship.
• "They do not know the LORD": This emphasizes the existential lack in their relationship with God. This lack of knowing God leads directly to their immoral actions, as true knowledge of God implies living in accordance with His ways.

Hosea 5 4 Bonus Section

The concept of "knowing the LORD" (yada) in the Old Testament is relational, not merely intellectual. It implies a deep understanding born of experience and commitment. True knowledge of God involves trusting Him, obeying His commands, and walking in His ways, as exemplified in covenant relationships. Israel's failure to "know" YHWH is thus a failure in their covenant commitment. The "spirit of whoredom" can be understood as a spiritual sickness or tendency toward sin, often fostered by their surrounding pagan cultures and the idolatrous practices they embraced. Hosea contrasts this ignorance of God with the clear signs of His power and love demonstrated throughout Israel’s history. The prophecy serves as a stern warning that such pervasive spiritual bankruptcy ultimately leads to divine discipline.

Hosea 5 4 Commentary

Hosea 5:4 presents a grim picture of Israel's spiritual state. Their failure to "regard the LORD" signifies more than mere oversight; it's a deliberate turning away from divine presence and authority. This detachment from God has fostered a pervasive "spirit of whoredom," meaning spiritual infidelity manifested through idolatry and relational unfaithfulness to their covenant God. The phrase "they do not know the LORD" underscores that this is not an issue of absent information but of a deficient, unexperiential knowledge that would compel obedience and devotion. This lack of vital connection to God directly fuels their misguided actions and sets the stage for the judgment Hosea proclaims. Their inner disposition has become so corrupted that their ways lead them astray from YHWH.