Hosea 9:7

5 What will you do on the appointed day, on the day of the LORD’s feast?

6 For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents.

The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.

8 The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!

9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.

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
The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
KJV
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
WEB
The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great.
ASV
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the abundance of thine iniquity, and because the enmity is great.
DARBY
The days of visitation are come; the days of recompence are come: Israel shall know [it]: the prophet is a fool, the inspired man is mad, because of the greatness of thine iniquity, and the great enmity.
BLB
The days of punishment have come in; the days of recompense have come in. let Israel knows the prophet [is] a fool, the man of the spirit is insane over the abundance of your iniquity, and the greatness of your hatred.
ÅB
Kommet er hjemsøkelsens dager, kommet er gjengjeldelsens dager; Israel skal få merke det: En dåre er profeten, avsindig er åndens mann, fordi din misgjerning er så stor og ditt fiendskap så sterkt.
OTB
Straffens dager er kommet,
Gjenlønnelsens dager er kommet;
La Israel vite dette!
Profeten blir ansett som en narr,
Den inspirerte personen som en galning,
På grunn av grovheten i din ugjerning,
Og fordi din fiendtlighet er så stor.
B1930
Kommet er hjemsøkelsens dager, kommet er gjengjeldelsens dager; Israel skal få merke det: En dåre er profeten, avsindig er åndens mann, fordi din misgjerning er så stor og ditt fiendskap så sterkt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 26:24–25

    At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

    Read in context
  • Micah 7:4

    The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.

    Read in context
  • Mark 3:21

    When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 9:11

    When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 13:3

    This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 10:3

    What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 14:9–10

    But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

    Read in context
  • Lamentations 2:14

    The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

    Read in context