Hosea 4:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Therefore you will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you at night. "I will destroy your mother.

Berean Standard Bible:

You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Therefore shalt thou fall^{H3782} in the day^{H3117}, and the prophet^{H5030} also shall fall^{H3782} with thee in the night^{H3915}, and I will destroy^{H1820} thy mother^{H517}.

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Commentary for Hosea 4:5

Hosea 4:5 is a verse from the Old Testament book of Hosea, which is part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The book is a prophetic text attributed to the prophet Hosea, who lived during the 8th century BCE, making it one of the earliest writings in the prophetic books. Hosea's ministry was primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel, which had turned away from God and was deeply entrenched in idolatry, moral decay, and social injustice.

The verse itself is a pronouncement of judgment against the priests of Israel, who are held responsible for the spiritual downfall of the people. The phrase "Therefore shalt thou fall in the day" suggests that the priests will be punished during the daytime, a period of activity and visibility, symbolizing the public nature of their fall. The addition "and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night" indicates that even the prophets, who should be guiding the people spiritually, will not escape judgment; their downfall will be less visible, happening under the cover of darkness, but it will be no less severe.

The final part of the verse, "and I will destroy thy mother," intensifies the message of judgment. The "mother" in this context likely refers to the nation of Israel or perhaps the capital city of Samaria, which is personified as a mother figure. The destruction of the mother signifies the complete collapse of the nation's religious and social structures, which were supposed to nurture and sustain the people. This verse reflects the broader themes of the book of Hosea, which includes the condemnation of religious hypocrisy, the call for repentance, and the assurance of God's enduring love for His people despite their unfaithfulness.

In summary, Hosea 4:5 is a stark warning to the religious leaders of Israel, declaring that they will not escape divine judgment for leading the people astray. It speaks to the gravity of their failure to uphold God's law and the dire consequences that will follow, both for them and for the nation as a whole. The historical context underscores the urgency of Hosea's message as he sought to bring about spiritual reform before the inevitable fall of the northern kingdom.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3782
   There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּשַׁל
   Transliteration: kâshal
   Pronunciation: kaw-shal'
   Description: a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall; bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, [idiom] utterly, be weak.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5030
   There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָבִיא
   Transliteration: nâbîyʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-bee'
   Description: from נָבָא; a prophet or (generally) inspired man; prophecy, that prophesy, prophet.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3915
   There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לַיִל
   Transliteration: layil
   Pronunciation: lah'-yil
   Description: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season).
   
5. Strong's Number: H1820
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּמָה
   Transliteration: dâmâh
   Pronunciation: daw-mam'
   Description: a primitive root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy; cease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone, [idiom] utterly.
   
6. Strong's Number: H517
   There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵם
   Transliteration: ʼêm
   Pronunciation: ame
   Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting.