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Hosea 4
Hosea 4:1
General Information:
This chapter begins Yahweh's argument against the unfaithful Israelites.
Yahweh has a lawsuit against the inhabitants of the land
Yahweh stating that the people of Israel have sinned against him and broken his covenant is spoken of as if Yahweh were accusing them in court. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
lawsuit
This is a complaint by one person against another person in a court of law. See how you translated this in Hosea 2:2.
Hosea 4:2
The people have broken all bounds
Here "bounds" stands for the limits of what the law allows. Alternate translation: "The people have disobeyed the law in every possible way" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
bloodshed comes after bloodshed
Here "bloodshed" stands for "murder" which often involves making the victim bleed. Alternate translation: "you commit one murder after another" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hosea 4:3
the land mourns, and everyone living in it is wasting away
The phrase "the land mourns" is either 1) a metaphor for the land drying up because of a drought, when no rain falls for a long time. Alternate translation: "the land dries up, and everyone living in it is wasting away" Or 2) a metonym for the people of the land mourning because they have nothing to eat. Alternate translation: "the people living on the land mourn and waste away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
wasting away
becoming weak and dying because of sickness or lack of food
the beasts ... sea, are being taken away
Possible meanings are 1) this is a euphemism for dying. Alternate translation: "the beasts ... sea, are dying" Or 2) this can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "God is taking away the beasts ... sea" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
Hosea 4:4
General Information:
Yahweh is speaking about Israel.
lawsuit
a complaint by one person against another person in a court of law
do not let anyone accuse anyone else
No one should accuse another person of anything because everyone is guilty of something.
it is you, the priests, whom I am accusing
Many versions read, "your people are like those who accuse a priest."
Hosea 4:5
You priests will stumble
Here "stumble" means to disobey God or even to stop trusting him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I will destroy your mother
Here "mother" refers to the nation of Israel. See how you translated this in Hosea 2:2. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hosea 4:6
General Information:
In 4:6, Yahweh is talking to the priests about the people of Israel. But in 4:7, he is talking about the priests, not to them. It is possible for the translator to follow the example of the UDB, which portrays Yahweh as talking to the priests also in 4:7.
My people are being destroyed because of the lack of knowledge
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "My people are perishing because you, the priests, have not properly taught them about me so that they will obey me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
knowledge
Here "knowledge" refers to the knowledge of God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Hosea 4:7
They exchanged their honor for shame
Possible meanings are 1) "honor" is a metonym that represents Yahweh, and "shame" is a metonym that represents idols. Alternate translation: "They have stopped worshiping me, their honorable God, and now worship shameful idols" or 2) some Bible versions translate this as "I will exchange their honor for shame." This means Yahweh will take away the things which the priests honor and cause the priests to be ashamed. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hosea 4:8
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking about the priests.
They feed on the sin of my people
When people sinned, they would offer sacrifices so God would forgive them. The priests were allowed to eat these sacrifices. The priests eating these sacrifices for sin is spoken of as if they would actually feed on the people's sins. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
they are greedy for more of their iniquity
The priests want the people to sin more so that the people will offer more sacrifices that the priests may eat. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Hosea 4:9
It will be the same for the people as for the priests
"The people and the priests will be punished in the same way"
their practices
"their habits" or "their conduct"
Hosea 4:10
General Information:
Yahweh is talking about Israel.
but not increase
"but not have children"
to Yahweh
Yahweh is speaking about himself in the third person. This can be stated in the first person. Alternate translation: "to me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)
Hosea 4:11
Connecting Statement:
Yahweh is talking about Israel.
sexual promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which have taken away their understanding
The people of Israel are pursuing sex outside of marriage and drinking too much wine. In doing these activities they have forgotten Yahweh's commands. These actions are spoken of here as if they were someone who could prevent other people from understanding the importance of obeying Yahweh. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Hosea 4:12
their walking sticks give them prophecies
Idol worshipers used walking sticks to help them predict the future. The walking sticks are spoken of here as if they were people who spoke prophecies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
a mind of promiscuity has misled them
Worshiping the idols and sleeping with the temple prostitutes has developed in the people of Israel the desire to always sin against Yahweh in these ways. Here "mind" is spoken of as if it were a separate person who was able to convince the people to disobey Yahweh. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
has misled
has convinced the people to sin (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hosea 4:13
General Information:
Yahweh is talking about Israel.
on the tops of the mountains ... on the hills
It was common for the people to set up idols in these places, often called "high places" in the Old Testament.
daughters-in-law
Some versions read, "brides."
Hosea 4:14
daughters-in-law
Some versions read, "brides." See how you translated this word in verse 13.
sacred prostitutes
These were women who had sexual relations with men who came to worship certain idols. This was viewed as a sacred action in honor of the false gods.
So this people who does not understand will be thrown down
Yahweh will destroy the nation of Israel because they do not understand or obey God's commandments. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hosea 4:15
General Information:
Yahweh is talking about Judah and Israel.
may Judah not become guilty
God knows how sinful Israel has become and does not want Judah to do the same thing.
Do not go to Gilgal, you people; do not go up to Beth Aven
The people of Judah are being warned not to go to the cities of Gilgal or Beth Aven to worship idols in those places. Gilgal was once a place where Yahweh had been worshiped, but it had become a place of idol worship.
Beth Aven
This was a city on the border between the northern kingdom of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin in the southern kingdom. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Hosea 4:16
like a stubborn heifer
Israel is compared to a young cow that will not obey its master. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
How can Yahweh bring them to pasture like lambs in a meadow?
Yahweh uses a question to emphasize that he cannot continue to take care of the people because they are stubborn. Yahweh no longer taking care of his people is spoken of as if he were a shepherd that could not take his lambs into the field to eat because they are stubborn. Alternate translation: "Yahweh will not shepherd a rebellious people." or "Therefore Yahweh will not continue to take care of them." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
How can Yahweh
Here Yahweh is speaking of himself in the third person. It can be stated in the first person. Alternate translation: "How can I" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)
Hosea 4:17
General Information:
Yahweh is talking about Israel.
Ephraim united himself with idols; leave him alone
Here "Ephraim" represents the whole northern kingdom of Israel, which is a metonym for the people who live there. They chose to worship idols, instead of Yahweh. Yahweh is commanding Hosea to not try to correct them. The people of Israel will not listen. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hosea 4:18
her rulers dearly love their shame
The rulers are not ashamed of what they are doing when they worship idols and turn against Yahweh.
Hosea 4:19
The wind will wrap her up in its wings
Here "wind" represents God's judgment and anger against the nation of Israel. Yahweh will allow the enemy army to defeat the people of Israel and take them as captives. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)