Hosea 4:16
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.
15 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.
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.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
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
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
Read in contextJeremiah 5:6
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
Read in contextZechariah 7:11
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Read in contextJeremiah 7:24
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Read in contextLeviticus 26:33
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
Read in contextJeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Read in contextJeremiah 3:6
The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Read in contextIsaiah 7:21–25
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
Read in context