Hosea 6:9 kjv
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
Hosea 6:9 nkjv
As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they commit lewdness.
Hosea 6:9 niv
As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.
Hosea 6:9 esv
As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy.
Hosea 6:9 nlt
Priests form bands of robbers,
waiting in ambush for their victims.
They murder travelers along the road to Shechem
and practice every kind of sin.
Hosea 6 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 6:9 | As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, so a company of priests | Hosea 6:9 |
| Genesis 4:8 | Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, | Gen 4:8 (Brothers conspiring for evil) |
| Deuteronomy 28:30 | You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall enjoy her; | Deut 28:30 (National calamity from sin) |
| Judges 9:25 | And they set assassins against her on the mountaintops and stoned | Judges 9:25 (Wickedness and conspiracy) |
| 2 Kings 21:16 | Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he filled | 2 Kin 21:16 (Kings shedding innocent blood) |
| Jeremiah 6:13 | “For from the least of them to the greatest of them, everyone is | Jer 6:13 (Widespread corruption) |
| Jeremiah 7:11 | "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? | Jer 7:11 (Temple misused) |
| Jeremiah 11:9 | Then the LORD said to me, "A conspiracy has been found among the | Jer 11:9 (Conspiracy within Israel) |
| Jeremiah 18:18 | Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah! For | Jer 18:18 (Plotting against prophets) |
| Jeremiah 23:10 | For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the | Jer 23:10 (Widespread sin) |
| Jeremiah 23:14 | But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a more shocking | Jer 23:14 (Corruption in leadership) |
| Ezekiel 22:26 | Her priests have violated my law and profaned my holy things. They | Ezek 22:26 (Priests violating God's law) |
| Ezekiel 22:27 | Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing their prey; they | Ezek 22:27 (Princes as wicked leaders) |
| Micah 7:2 | The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright | Micah 7:2 (Lack of righteous people) |
| Zephaniah 3:3 | Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening | Zeph 3:3 (Leaders like predatory animals) |
| Matthew 21:13 | and he said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a | Matt 21:13 (Temple corrupted) |
| Acts 7:52 | Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they | Acts 7:52 (Persecution of prophets) |
| 1 Corinthians 5:10 | but I am speaking not of the immoral men of this world, or of | 1 Cor 5:10 (Separation from immorality) |
| 1 Timothy 5:20 | As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of | 1 Tim 5:20 (Reproving persistent sin) |
| Revelation 17:6 | And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the | Rev 17:6 (Whore drunk with blood) |
Hosea 6 verses
Hosea 6 9 Meaning
The people of Israel have become like a "wicked and treacherous” (b-gadh) house, stained with the blood of the innocent, due to the actions of their priests and prophets who commit evil and act with shame. They flee to Assyria and offer tribute, not out of repentance, but out of desperation and a lack of reliance on the Lord.
Hosea 6 9 Context
Hosea's prophecy continues to highlight the deep-seated corruption and unfaithfulness of Israel, particularly their religious and political leadership. Chapter 6 begins with a call for repentance that Israel has not truly embraced, merely offering lip service. This verse zeroes in on the predatory nature of the priestly class and their conspiratorial actions. They are described as being like a band of robbers, meaning they lie in wait to plunder and exploit, rather than shepherd and protect the people as God intended. This situation reflects a national pattern of spiritual decay and injustice, where those who should be leading in righteousness are instead active participants in or enablers of wickedness. The nation’s attempts to seek security from external powers, like Assyria, are also seen as a consequence of their unfaithfulness to the LORD.
Hosea 6 9 Word Analysis
- k- Gadh (Kě gadh): This Hebrew term signifies a "company" or "band." It implies a group that is united for a purpose.
- Significance: In this context, it emphasizes that the sin is not isolated but organized within a collective, specifically the priests.
- bo Gědh (bo-gědh): Translates to "treacherous," "deceitful," or "acting as a traitor."
- Significance: This word is crucial in describing the nature of the house of Israel, indicating a profound betrayal of their covenant with God.
- kō hēn (kō-hēn): Meaning "thus" or "so."
- Significance: Connects the descriptive characteristic of the priests to their actions.
- ō revim (ō-re-vim): Means "to lie in wait," "to ambush," or "to lie in secret."
- Significance: This term paints a vivid picture of the priests' predatory and secretive methods, akin to bandits.
- lam Ōveth (lam-ō-veth): "A man" or "mankind."
- Significance: Represents any individual victim of the priests' treachery.
- ḥ bē rot (ḥē-ver-ōth): A "company," "assembly," or "gang."
- Significance: Similar to "kě gadh," reinforcing the idea of a concerted, organized effort by the priests.
- chū pō (ḥū-pō): "Their prostitution" or "their harlotry."
- Significance: While literal prostitution is implied, it primarily refers to Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, treating their covenant relationship with God as a promiscuous one. This term often appears in Hosea, linking sexual immorality with spiritual adultery.
- Gēr hēr (ger-hēr): Meaning "to slaughter" or "to murder."
- Significance: Directly points to the shedding of innocent blood, a severe violation of God's law and a characteristic of deep corruption.
Hosea 6 9 Bonus Section
The passage strongly echoes Jeremiah's accusation in Jeremiah 7:11 that the temple had become a "den of robbers." Both prophets use similar metaphors to condemn the desecration of sacred spaces and the perversion of religious duties by the leaders. This comparison underscores a recurring theme in prophetic literature: the deep disappointment and anger of God when His appointed representatives betray their sacred trust. The "slaughter" or "murder" of innocent blood is also a direct accusation against leadership that often characterizes periods of national decline, as seen in 2 Kings 21:16 concerning Manasseh, or the condemnation of princes as "wolves" in Ezekiel 22:27. The entire nation is indicted, but the priests are pinpointed as primary culprits in perpetuating this cycle of sin and destruction.
Hosea 6 9 Commentary
Hosea 6:9 reveals a profound level of spiritual decay within Israel, specifically targeting the priesthood. These shepherds of the flock have become predatory wolves, forming a united front (a "company of priests" and a "company" of their co-conspirators) that ambushes the people. Their sin is characterized by treacherous intent, lying in wait to exploit and harm, much like bandits. This description extends to their "harlotry" (spiritual unfaithfulness) and their propensity to "murder" or shed innocent blood. This imagery highlights how those ordained to lead in righteousness have become instruments of wickedness, violating the very core of God's covenant and law. The verse serves as a stark indictment of leadership corruption, where moral and spiritual degeneration leads to literal harm and exploitation of the community.