Hosea 10:2

KJV

Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

KJV (with Strong's)

Their heart {H3820} is divided {H2505}; now shall they be found faulty {H816}: he shall break down {H6202} their altars {H4196}, he shall spoil {H7703} their images {H4676}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Their heart is divided; now they will bear their guilt. He will break down their altars and destroy their standing-stones.

Berean Standard Bible

Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.

American Standard Version

Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 10:2 delivers a stark prophetic indictment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exposing their spiritual duplicity and the inevitable judgment that follows. The verse reveals that Israel's heart is not wholly devoted to Yahweh but is divided between Him and idolatrous practices, leading to their guilt. Consequently, God promises to dismantle the very altars and images through which they sought false security, signifying the complete destruction of their idolatrous system and its associated false hopes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a broader section of Hosea (chapters 7-14) that details Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, particularly their reliance on foreign alliances and idolatry, and the impending divine judgment. Immediately preceding this verse, [Hosea 10:1](/hosea/10-1 "Hosea 10:1 - Israel as an Empty Vine") describes Israel as "an empty vine" producing fruit only for itself, highlighting their self-serving prosperity that paradoxically fueled their idolatry. The proliferation of altars and images, mentioned in [Hosea 10:1](/hosea/10-1 "Hosea 10:1 - Israel's Abundant Altars"), directly sets the stage for God's promised destruction of these very symbols in [Hosea 10:2](/hosea/10-2 "Hosea 10:2 - The Divided Heart and Its Judgment"). The subsequent verses continue to elaborate on the consequences of their sin, including the desolation of their land and the collapse of their political structures, underscoring the comprehensive nature of God's judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hosea prophesied during the tumultuous final decades of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (8th century BCE), a period marked by political instability, assassinations of kings, and a desperate oscillation between alliances with Assyria and Egypt. Economically, Israel had experienced periods of prosperity, but this wealth often led to moral decay and a syncretistic blend of Yahweh worship with Canaanite Baal worship. The "altars" and "images" (often standing stones or pillars, _matstsêbâh_) mentioned in the verse were central to Canaanite fertility cults, where Israelites sought material blessings and security from deities like Baal, believing they controlled crops and livestock. This practice was a direct violation of the Mosaic covenant, which demanded exclusive worship of Yahweh, as articulated in the [first two commandments](/exodus/20-1-6 "Exodus 20:1-6 - The First Two Commandments").
* **Key Themes:** [Hosea](/hosea/1 "The Book of Hosea") is fundamentally a book about God's covenant love (hesed) for Israel despite their spiritual adultery. A central theme is **Israel's Unfaithfulness and Spiritual Harlotry**, vividly portrayed by Hosea's own marriage to Gomer. Their "divided heart" in [Hosea 10:2](/hosea/10-2 "Hosea 10:2 - The Divided Heart") perfectly encapsulates this theme, demonstrating their inability or unwillingness to offer wholehearted devotion to God. This leads directly to the theme of **Divine Judgment**, where God, as a righteous judge, must punish their idolatry and covenant breaking. However, woven throughout the book is also the theme of **God's Enduring Love and Future Restoration**, suggesting that even in judgment, God's ultimate purpose is to bring His people back to Himself, as seen in passages like [Hosea 11:8-9](/hosea/11-8-9 "Hosea 11:8-9 - God's Compassion for Ephraim").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Heart (Hebrew, _lêb_):** This word, _lêb_, refers not merely to the physical organ but, more profoundly, to the inner being of a person—their intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. In this context, it signifies the core of Israel's spiritual and moral identity, indicating that their fundamental disposition and allegiance are compromised. A "divided heart" thus points to a deep-seated spiritual ailment, a lack of singular devotion.
* **Divided (Hebrew, _châlaq_):** The root _châlaq_ means "to be smooth," "to apportion," or "to separate." Here, it implies a splitting or portioning out of loyalty, rather than a unified, wholehearted commitment. It can also carry a nuance of flattery or duplicity, suggesting that Israel's worship of Yahweh was superficial, perhaps an attempt to appease God while simultaneously pursuing other gods for perceived benefits. Their heart was not singularly devoted but was "apportioned" between competing allegiances.
* **Found faulty (Hebrew, _ʼâsham_):** This verb, _ʼâsham_, means "to be guilty," "to be punished," or "to perish." It denotes a state of culpability before God, indicating that Israel's divided heart is not merely a spiritual misalignment but a direct transgression that incurs divine judgment. The consequence of their spiritual duplicity is a legal declaration of guilt, leading inevitably to punishment and desolation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Their heart is divided":** This clause reveals the core spiritual problem of Israel. Their inner being, the seat of their affections, will, and intellect, is not singularly devoted to Yahweh. Instead, it is split, attempting to serve both God and the pagan deities (Baals) of the surrounding cultures, a direct violation of the covenant's demand for exclusive worship. This spiritual duplicity is the root cause of their unfaithfulness.
* **"now shall they be found faulty":** The division of their heart leads directly to their culpability. Because their devotion is not wholehearted, they stand condemned before God. This signifies a divine pronouncement of guilt, indicating that their actions and internal state are in direct opposition to God's righteous standards and covenant expectations, making them liable for judgment.
* **"he shall break down their altars":** This marks the beginning of God's active judgment against Israel's idolatry. The altars, which were central to their pagan worship and symbols of their false security, will be violently dismantled and destroyed by God Himself. This action underscores God's absolute intolerance for idolatry and His commitment to purifying His people and land from such abominations.
* **"he shall spoil their images":** Following the destruction of the altars, God promises to "spoil" or devastate their images. These images (often sacred pillars or Asherah poles) represented the pagan deities and were objects of their misplaced trust. The spoiling implies a complete and utter destruction, rendering them useless and demonstrating the impotence of the false gods they represented. This act signifies the complete dismantling of Israel's idolatrous system and its accompanying false hopes.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 10:2 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of judgment. The phrase "Their heart is divided" is a powerful **Metaphor** for spiritual duplicity and lack of wholehearted devotion, contrasting with the singular loyalty God demands. The **Personification** of the "heart" as something capable of being "divided" emphasizes the internal, volitional nature of Israel's sin. The subsequent actions of God—"he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images"—utilize **Divine Judgment** as a central theme, expressed through vivid, active verbs that convey the forceful and destructive nature of God's response. The imagery of altars and images being "broken down" and "spoiled" serves as **Symbolism**, representing the complete collapse of Israel's false religious system and the futility of their trust in anything other than Yahweh.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 10:2 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that God demands exclusive, wholehearted devotion from His people. A "divided heart" is an affront to His holiness and covenant faithfulness, leading inevitably to guilt and judgment. This principle is foundational to the Old Testament, where idolatry is consistently portrayed as spiritual adultery, breaking the covenant relationship. The destruction of altars and images is not merely punitive but also a redemptive act, aiming to remove the obstacles to true worship and restore Israel to a singular relationship with their God. This verse reminds us that true worship is not merely external ritual but an internal posture of complete surrender and loyalty.

* [Deuteronomy 6:4-5](/deuteronomy/6-4-5 "The Shema: Love God with All Your Heart")
* [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "No One Can Serve Two Masters")
* [James 1:8](/james/1-8 "A Double-Minded Man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 10:2 serves as a timeless mirror for believers today, challenging us to honestly examine the state of our own hearts. Is our devotion to God truly undivided, or are there competing loyalties that subtly draw our affections and priorities away from Him? Modern "altars" and "images" may not be physical idols, but they can manifest as an excessive pursuit of wealth, status, comfort, or even self-righteousness, all of which can subtly usurp God's rightful place in our lives. The call to an undivided heart is a call to radical discipleship, where every aspect of our being—our thoughts, desires, resources, and time—is submitted to Christ. When our hearts are divided, we become "faulty" in God's sight, hindering our spiritual growth and effectiveness. This verse urges us to identify and dismantle any "altars" of compromise or "images" of false security in our lives, trusting solely in God for our provision, identity, and ultimate hope.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might my heart be divided, preventing wholehearted devotion to God?**
* **What "altars" or "images" (modern idols) might I be building or relying on instead of God?**
* **How does a "divided heart" manifest in my daily decisions and spiritual practices?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more undivided heart toward God?**

### FAQ
**What does "their heart is divided" mean in a spiritual sense?**

Answer: In a spiritual sense, "their heart is divided" means that Israel's loyalty and devotion were split between Yahweh, the one true God, and the pagan deities (like Baal and Asherah) worshipped by the surrounding nations. It signifies a lack of singular, exclusive commitment to God, which is a core requirement of the Mosaic Covenant as highlighted in passages like [Deuteronomy 6:5](/deuteronomy/6-5 "Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart"). Instead of wholehearted worship, they practiced syncretism, attempting to serve two masters, which the Bible consistently condemns as spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness.

**Why did God promise to "break down their altars" and "spoil their images"?**

Answer: God promised to "break down their altars" and "spoil their images" as an act of divine judgment against Israel's pervasive idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness. These altars and images were not merely religious symbols; they represented Israel's rebellion against the covenant and their misplaced trust in false gods for prosperity and security. By destroying them, God was demonstrating His absolute sovereignty, the impotence of the idols, and His intolerance for anything that competed with His exclusive claim on His people's worship. This act was both punitive and purifying, aiming to remove the sources of their spiritual corruption and restore the possibility of true worship, as seen in similar actions throughout Israel's history, such as the destruction of the golden calf in [Exodus 32:20](/exodus/32-20 "Moses Destroys the Golden Calf").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 10:2, with its indictment of Israel's divided heart and the subsequent judgment on their idolatry, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant demanded an undivided heart, yet Israel consistently failed, demonstrating humanity's inherent inability to perfectly love God with all their heart, soul, and might ([Deuteronomy 6:5](/deuteronomy/6-5 "The Greatest Commandment")). Jesus, however, perfectly embodied this undivided heart, living a life of complete obedience and singular devotion to the Father ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). Furthermore, Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross broke down the "altars" of sin and the "images" of self-reliance and false worship that divide our hearts. Through His death, He took away the guilt (being "found faulty") that results from our spiritual adultery ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's blood, promises a new heart—a heart of flesh instead of stone—that is enabled by the Holy Spirit to truly love and obey God ([Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26-27 "A New Heart and Spirit")). Thus, what Israel could not achieve through the Law, believers now receive by grace through faith in Christ: the power to serve God with an undivided heart, worshipping Him in spirit and truth ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "True Worshipers")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Micah 5:13

Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.

1 Kings 18:21

¶ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

James 4:4

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 1:8

A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.

Zephaniah 1:5

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Revelation 3:15

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Revelation 3:16

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.