Hosea 4:14

Purity

¹² My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.

¹³ They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

¹⁵ Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

¹⁶ For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.
KJV: I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
WEB: I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.
ASV: I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for [the men] themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
DARBY: I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your daughters-in-law for their committing adultery; for they themselves go aside with harlots, and they sacrifice with prostitutes: and the people that doth not understand shall come to ruin.
BLB: I will not visit punishment on your⁺ daughters when they prostitute themselves, or on your⁺ brides when they commit adultery; for they themselves go off with the prostitutes, and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes, and a people without understanding will be thrown down.

ÅB: Jeg vil ikke hjemsøke deres døtre for deres hor, eller deres sønnekoner for deres ekteskapsbrudd; for mennene går selv avsides med horkvinnene og ofrer med skjøgene. Slik går det uforstandige folk til grunne.
OTB: Jeg vil ikke holde dine døtre ansvarlige når de vender seg til prostitusjon, heller ikke dine svigerdøtre når de begår ekteskapsbrudd, fordi mennene selv omgås skjøger og ofrer med tempelprostituerte; et folk som mangler forståelse vil gå til grunne.
B1930: Jeg vil ikke hjemsøke eders døtre for deres hor, eller eders sønnekoner for deres ekteskapsbrudd; for mennene går selv avsides med horkvinnene og ofrer med skjøgene. Således går det uforstandige folk til grunne.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 4:1
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!
Read in context
1 Corinthians 6:16
Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
Read in context
Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Read in context
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.
Read in context
Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
Read in context
2 Kings 23:7
He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah.
Read in context
Daniel 12:10
Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:18–20
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
Read in context