King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Efrayim is joined to idols; let him alone!
Berean Standard Bible:
Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
American Standard Version:
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ephraim{H669} is joined{H2266} to idols{H6091}: let him alone{H3240}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 81:12
- So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: [and] they walked in their own counsels.
Revelation 22:11
- He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Hosea 4:4
- Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people [are] as they that strive with the priest.
Matthew 15:14
- Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Hosea 13:2
- And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, [and] idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
Hosea 12:1
- ¶ Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
Hosea 11:2
- [As] they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
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Commentary for Hosea 4:17
Hosea 4:17 is a part of the larger prophetic book of Hosea, which is set in the eighth century BCE during a time of great political instability and moral decline in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, also known as Ephraim after its dominant tribe. The verse succinctly captures the essence of the spiritual crisis that Hosea condemns throughout his prophecy: the people of Ephraim have forsaken their covenant with God and instead "joined to idols," engaging in pagan worship and practices that were antithetical to the laws and worship of Yahweh.
The historical context of this verse is significant. During this period, the Northern Kingdom was deeply influenced by the surrounding cultures and religions, particularly those of the Canaanites and Assyrians. The people had begun to adopt foreign gods and idols, setting them up in shrines and high places, and integrating them into their religious life. This syncretism was seen as spiritual adultery by the prophets, a betrayal of the exclusive relationship that Israel was supposed to have with God, as symbolized by the covenant at Sinai.
In Hosea 4:17, the phrase "let him alone" suggests a divine judgment where God is withdrawing His protection and guidance from Ephraim, allowing the people to face the consequences of their idolatry. It is a pronouncement of abandonment, reflecting the idea that because the people have chosen idols over God, God will grant them their desire by no longer intervening in their affairs. This verse encapsulates the themes of apostasy, divine judgment, and the heartbreak of a spurned God who longs for the return and repentance of His people. Hosea's message is a call to return to the covenant relationship with God, emphasizing that true restoration and peace can only come through fidelity to the one true God of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H669
There are 313 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶפְרַיִם
Transliteration: ʼEphrayim
Pronunciation: ef-rah'-yim
Description: dual of masculine form of אֶפְרָת; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Ephraim, Ephraimites. - Strong's Number: H2266
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָבַר
Transliteration: châbar
Pronunciation: khaw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to join (literally or figuratively); specifically (by means of spells) to fascinate; charm(-er), be compact, couple (together), have fellowship with, heap up, join (self, together), league. - Strong's Number: H6091
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָצָב
Transliteration: ʻâtsâb
Pronunciation: aw-tsawb'
Description: from עָצַב; an (idolatrous) image; idol, image. - Strong's Number: H3240
There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָנַח
Transliteration: yânach
Pronunciation: yaw-nakh'
Description: a primitive root; to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay; bestow, cast down, lay (down, up), leave (off), let alone (remain), pacify, place, put, set (down), suffer, withdraw, withhold. (The Hiphil forms with the dagesh are here referred to, in accordance with the older grammarians; but if any distinction of the kind is to be made, these should rather be referred to נוּחַ, and the others here.)