Hosea 4:15

¹³ They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

¹⁴ 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.

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

¹⁶ For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

¹⁷ Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

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: 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!’
KJV: Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
WEB: “Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As the LORD lives.’
ASV: Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.
DARBY: Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, let not Judah trespass; and come ye not unto Gilgal, neither go up to Beth-aven, nor swear [As] Jehovah liveth!
BLB: Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, do not let Judah become guilty; and do not come to Gilgal, and do not go up [to] Beth-Aven, and do not swear an oath, ‘As YHWH lives.’

ÅB: Om enn du, Israel, driver hor, så må ikke Juda gjøre seg skyldig i slikt! Gå ikke til Gilgal og dra ikke opp til Bet-Aven[^2] og sverg ikke[^3]: Så sant Herren lever!
OTB: Selv om du, Israel, begår ekteskapsbrudd, la ikke Juda bli skyldig. Gå ikke til Gilgal, gå heller ikke opp til Bet Aven, og sverg ikke: 'Så sant Herren lever!'
B1930: Om enn du, Israel, driver hor, så må ikke Juda gjøre sig skyldig i sådant! Gå ikke til Gilgal og dra ikke op til Bet-Aven og sverg ikke: Så sant Herren lever!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 9:15
All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
Read in context
Hosea 12:11
Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
Read in context
Amos 4:4
Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
Read in context
Amos 5:5
But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.
Read in context
Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Read in context
Hosea 10:8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
Read in context
Hosea 10:5
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
Read in context
Jeremiah 5:2
And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
Read in context