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Hosea 10:15

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So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

So {H3602} shall Bethel {H1008} do {H6213} unto you because {H6440} of your great {H7451} wickedness {H7451}: in a morning {H7837} shall the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} utterly {H1820} be cut off {H1820}.

Thus will be done to you, Beit-El, because of your great wickedness; at dawn the king of Isra'el will be completely cut off.

Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.

So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

Commentary

Hosea 10:15 delivers a stark prophetic warning from God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, specifically focusing on the city of Bethel and the impending doom for its leadership.

Context

This verse concludes a chapter filled with God's indictment against Israel for their idolatry, spiritual unfaithfulness, and political instability. The prophet Hosea continually calls Israel back to covenant loyalty, but they persistently refuse, clinging to false gods and foreign alliances rather than relying on the Lord. Hosea 10:1 describes Israel as a "vining empty vine," producing fruit only for itself, not for God. The specific mention of Bethel is highly significant. Its name means "House of God" (Genesis 28:19), recalling Jacob's encounter with God there. However, under King Jeroboam I, Bethel became a notorious center for idolatry, housing one of the golden calves that led Israel astray (1 Kings 12:29). Thus, the place once sacred to God became a symbol of Israel's "great wickedness," and it is fitting that judgment would emanate from or be directed at this corrupted center.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Idolatry: The phrase "So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness" underscores that the very places of their sin will become the scene or instrument of their punishment. Their idolatry, particularly at Bethel, was a profound betrayal of their covenant with God.
  • Sudden and Utter Destruction: The phrase "in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off" emphasizes the swiftness and completeness of the impending judgment. This points to the Assyrian conquest, which would indeed bring a sudden and decisive end to the Northern Kingdom's monarchy and national independence (2 Kings 17:6). The "king of Israel" represents the entire corrupt political and spiritual system.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: The verse highlights the direct link between Israel's "great wickedness"—their persistent unfaithfulness, idolatry, and rejection of God's ways—and the severe consequences they would face. God's justice ensures that sin does not go unpunished.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cut off" (נִדְמָה, nidmah) can convey a sense of being silenced, destroyed, or brought to an end. It suggests a complete cessation, emphasizing the finality of the king's and kingdom's demise. The phrase "in a morning" (בַּשַּׁחַר, bashachar) literally means "at dawn," vividly portraying the unexpected and sudden nature of the catastrophe, much like a surprise attack or an abrupt end to night.

Practical Application

Hosea's prophecy serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of spiritual compromise and the consequences of turning away from God. For believers today, this verse reminds us:

  • God is Just: While God is merciful and long-suffering, He is also just. Persistent sin, especially idolatry (whether of physical idols or modern substitutes like wealth, power, or self), eventually brings consequences.
  • The Seriousness of Unfaithfulness: What we call "small compromises" can lead to "great wickedness" over time, corrupting even sacred spaces and institutions.
  • The Call to Repentance: Though this verse speaks of judgment, Hosea's broader message includes a call to return to the Lord with true repentance. God desires restoration, but it requires genuine turning from sin.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 10:5 (4 votes)

    The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

  • Hosea 10:7 (3 votes)

    [As for] Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

  • Hosea 10:3 (2 votes)

    For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

  • Romans 7:13 (2 votes)

    Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

  • Amos 7:9 (2 votes)

    And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

  • Amos 7:17 (2 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

  • Isaiah 16:14 (2 votes)

    But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant [shall be] very small [and] feeble.