Hosea 4:16
14 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!’
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
18 When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
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
- For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
- KJV
- For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
- WEB
- For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?
- ASV
- For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
- DARBY
- For Israel is refractory as an untractable heifer; now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a wide [pasture].
- BLB
- For being stubborn like a heifer, Israel is stubborn; now will YHWH let them graze like a lamb in a broad pasture?
- ÅB
- For Israel er som en ustyrlig ku; men nå skal Herren la dem beite som lam på den vide mark.
- OTB
- For Israel er sta, som en sta kvige. Hvordan kan da Herren gjete dem som lam på en vid eng?
- B1930
- For Israel er som en ustyrlig ku; men nu skal Herren la dem beite som lam på den vide mark.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Samuel 15:11
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
Read in contextJeremiah 5:6
Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
Read in contextZechariah 7:11
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
Read in contextJeremiah 7:24
Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
Read in contextLeviticus 26:33
But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
Read in contextJeremiah 3:8
She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well.
Read in contextJeremiah 3:6
Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there.
Read in contextIsaiah 7:21–25
On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep,
Read in context