Hosea 4:10

KJV

For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

For they shall eat {H398}, and not have enough {H7646}: they shall commit whoredom {H2181}, and shall not increase {H6555}: because they have left off {H5800} to take heed {H8104} to the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They will eat but not have enough and consort with whores but have no children, because they stopped listening to ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have stopped obeying the LORD.

American Standard Version

And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 4:10 powerfully articulates the dire consequences of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, revealing that their pursuit of physical gratification and idolatrous practices will lead to perpetual dissatisfaction and barrenness. This futility is a direct and inevitable result of their deliberate abandonment of the Lord and their refusal to heed His divine instruction, underscoring the deep spiritual decay that permeated the nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 4 marks a pivotal shift in the book, moving from the allegorical portrayal of God's covenant relationship with unfaithful Israel (chapters 1-3) to a direct divine indictment against the nation. The chapter opens with a comprehensive legal charge against Israel, declaring that "there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land" ([Hosea 4:1](/hosea/4-1 "Hosea 4:1 - God's Indictment Against Israel")). This moral and spiritual vacuum has led to widespread societal breakdown, including swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery ([Hosea 4:2](/hosea/4-2 "Hosea 4:2 - Widespread Sin in Israel")). The land itself mourns, and all its inhabitants languish, from animals to fish ([Hosea 4:3](/hosea/4-3 "Hosea 4:3 - The Land's Lament")). The prophet then turns his attention to the priests, who, instead of guiding the people, have become complicit in their sin, even profiting from their iniquity ([Hosea 4:6-8](/hosea/4-6-8 "Hosea 4:6-8 - The Priests' Failure")). Verse 10 specifically details the futile outcomes of their self-serving and idolatrous behaviors, directly linking their lack of satisfaction and increase to their abandonment of the LORD.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Hosea prophesies primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) during the 8th century BCE, a period marked by significant political instability, social injustice, and rampant religious syncretism. Following the death of Jeroboam II, a succession of weak and short-lived kings led to internal strife and external pressures from Assyria. Culturally, Israel had largely abandoned the Mosaic covenant, integrating Canaanite Baal worship into their religious practices. This involved fertility cults, ritual prostitution, and a focus on material prosperity rather than covenant faithfulness. The people believed that Baal, not Yahweh, was the source of agricultural abundance and fertility. The "whoredom" mentioned in Hosea is thus both literal (cultic prostitution) and, more significantly, metaphorical for Israel's spiritual adultery in turning away from the exclusive worship of Yahweh to pursue idolatry and foreign alliances. Their actions were a direct violation of the first commandment and the covenant relationship established at Sinai.
* **Key Themes:** Hosea 4:10 encapsulates several major themes prevalent throughout the book. Firstly, it highlights the **futility of sinful pursuits**, demonstrating that seeking satisfaction apart from God, whether through physical indulgence or idolatrous practices, inevitably leads to emptiness and dissatisfaction. The promise of blessing and multiplication under the covenant is reversed due to their unfaithfulness. Secondly, the verse underscores the concept of **spiritual barrenness** resulting from spiritual "whoredom." Despite engaging in acts intended to bring increase (both literal and ritualistic), the nation experiences a lack of true growth, blessing, or lasting fruitfulness, contrasting sharply with the covenant promises of multiplication for obedience ([Deuteronomy 28:1-14](/deuteronomy/28-1-14 "Deuteronomy 28:1-14 - Blessings for Obedience")). Finally, the verse explicitly states the **consequences of abandoning God**, identifying the root cause of their plight: "because they have left off to take heed to the LORD." This neglect of God's instruction, His covenant, and His very presence results in a life devoid of true blessing, satisfaction, and divine guidance, echoing the prophetic warnings found in other books, such as [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Israel Forsakes the Fountain of Living Waters"), where Israel is condemned for forsaking God, "the fountain of living waters," for broken cisterns.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **whoredom (Hebrew, _zânâh'_):** This primitive root signifies "to commit adultery," often of the female, and less frequently, simple fornication. Crucially, in a prophetic context like Hosea, its primary meaning is figurative: "to commit idolatry." The Jewish people are regarded as the "spouse of Jehovah," and their turning to other gods is a profound act of spiritual infidelity. This word encompasses the full spectrum of unfaithfulness, from literal prostitution to the deepest spiritual betrayal of God's covenant.
* **enough (Hebrew, _sâbaʻ'_):** This primitive root means "to sate" or "to fill to satisfaction," whether literally or figuratively. In Hosea 4:10, the negative "not have enough" indicates a perpetual state of unfulfillment, a hunger that can never be truly satisfied by their pursuits. Despite their consumption, they remain empty, highlighting the inherent inadequacy of seeking satisfaction outside of God.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** Derived from the verb "to be," this is the self-Existent or Eternal God, the personal covenant name of God for Israel. Its presence here emphasizes that Israel's failure is not merely a breaking of rules, but a betrayal of a deeply personal and exclusive relationship with their divine Husband. Their "leaving off to take heed to the LORD" is a rejection of the very source of life, blessing, and true knowledge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For they shall eat, and not have enough:"** This clause describes a state of perpetual dissatisfaction despite consumption. It speaks to the futility of seeking fulfillment in material indulgence or worldly pleasures when divorced from a right relationship with God. Their physical acts of eating, which should bring sustenance and contentment, instead lead to an insatiable hunger, symbolizing a deeper spiritual emptiness.
* **"they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase:"** This part directly links their spiritual and literal promiscuity ("whoredom," _zânâh_) to a lack of true growth or fruitfulness. In a culture where fertility and progeny were seen as divine blessings, the inability to "increase" (Hebrew, _pârats_, to break out, spread, or grow) in the context of their immoral and idolatrous practices signifies divine judgment. Their pursuit of false fertility through pagan rituals yields only barrenness, both physically and spiritually, contrasting sharply with God's covenant promises of multiplication.
* **"because they have left off to take heed to the LORD."** This final clause provides the explicit reason for the preceding judgments. Their dissatisfaction and barrenness are not arbitrary punishments but direct consequences of their deliberate abandonment of God. "Left off" (Hebrew, _ʻâzab_, to forsake or relinquish) and "take heed" (Hebrew, _shâmar_, to guard, observe, or attend to) together mean they ceased to pay attention to, obey, or care about Yahweh and His commands. This spiritual neglect is the root cause of their national and personal decay.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 4:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Antithetical Parallelism**, where the first two clauses present a cause-and-effect relationship in parallel structure: "eat, and not have enough" followed by "commit whoredom, and shall not increase." Each phrase describes a pursuit and its opposite, negative outcome, emphasizing the futility. **Metaphor** is central to the verse, particularly the use of "whoredom" to represent Israel's idolatry and spiritual infidelity to Yahweh. This powerful imagery conveys the depth of their betrayal, likening it to marital unfaithfulness. The verse also functions as a clear statement of **Cause and Effect**, explicitly linking Israel's spiritual neglect ("because they have left off to take heed to the LORD") to the negative consequences of dissatisfaction and barrenness. Finally, there is an element of **Irony** in the verse: the very acts (eating for satisfaction, whoredom for increase) that Israel pursues to find fulfillment or prosperity are precisely what lead to their opposite outcomes – insatiable hunger and barrenness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 4:10 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of true satisfaction and the devastating consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. It underscores the biblical truth that genuine fulfillment and lasting blessing are found exclusively in a devoted relationship with the one true God, Yahweh. When humanity, like ancient Israel, turns away from the Lord to pursue self-gratification, idolatry, or worldly desires, these pursuits become a source of perpetual emptiness rather than the promised satisfaction. This verse highlights God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even as He pronounces judgment for its violation, revealing His justice intertwined with His desire for His people's return. It is a timeless warning against spiritual apathy and the deceptive allure of anything that replaces God as the ultimate source of life and joy.

* [Proverbs 13:25](/proverbs/13-25 "Proverbs 13:25 - The Righteous Eat to Satisfaction")
* [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Israel Forsakes the Fountain of Living Waters")
* [Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 4:10 resonates deeply with contemporary life, offering a timeless warning against misplaced priorities and the pursuit of false satisfactions. In a world saturated with consumerism and the constant pursuit of more—more possessions, more experiences, more validation—this verse reminds us that true "enoughness" is not found in accumulation or indulgence, but in spiritual contentment derived from a relationship with God. Similarly, the "whoredom" of our age might manifest not just in sexual immorality, but in any devotion or pursuit that displaces God from the center of our lives—be it career, reputation, entertainment, or even ministry itself when it becomes an idol. When we "leave off to take heed to the LORD," we inevitably find ourselves in a cycle of dissatisfaction, always consuming but never truly full, always striving but never truly increasing in what truly matters. This verse calls us to a radical re-evaluation of our desires and allegiances, urging us to re-center our lives on God as the sole source of lasting joy, purpose, and true abundance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in my life am I seeking "enough" or "increase" apart from God, and what is the fruit of those pursuits?**
* **In what ways might I be committing "whoredom" (spiritual unfaithfulness) by prioritizing worldly desires or idols over my relationship with the LORD?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "take heed to the LORD" more diligently in my daily life, and how might this re-prioritization lead to true satisfaction and spiritual fruitfulness?**

### FAQ

**Does "whoredom" in Hosea 4:10 refer only to literal sexual immorality?**

Answer: While "whoredom" (Hebrew, _zânâh_) certainly includes literal sexual immorality and cultic prostitution, in the prophetic context of Hosea, its primary and more profound meaning is **spiritual adultery**. Israel, as the covenant bride of Yahweh, had turned away from exclusive devotion to Him and engaged in idolatry, worshipping foreign gods like Baal. This betrayal of their covenant relationship is consistently depicted as spiritual prostitution throughout the book of Hosea. Thus, the verse refers to both the physical acts of immorality prevalent in their society and, more significantly, the nation's profound unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and reliance on foreign alliances, which were also considered acts of spiritual "whoredom" against the Lord ([Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - God Commands Hosea to Marry a Harlot")).

**How does "not have enough" relate to "not increase" in this verse?**

Answer: These two phrases describe different facets of the same divine judgment and futility. "Not have enough" (Hebrew, _sâbaʻ_) speaks to a perpetual state of dissatisfaction despite consumption or indulgence. It highlights the inherent emptiness of seeking fulfillment outside of God; no matter how much they "eat," they remain spiritually hungry. "Not increase" (Hebrew, _pârats_) refers to a lack of true growth, blessing, or fruitfulness, particularly in the context of their "whoredom." In ancient Israel, fertility and multiplication were seen as blessings from God. Their idolatrous practices, often tied to fertility cults, were meant to bring increase, but instead, they resulted in barrenness. Together, the phrases illustrate a comprehensive judgment: their pursuits yield neither personal satisfaction nor communal prosperity, a direct consequence of their spiritual abandonment of the LORD.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 4:10, with its stark portrayal of Israel's spiritual barrenness and perpetual dissatisfaction due to their abandonment of the LORD, finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Israel's "whoredom" was their turning away from the true God to false idols, seeking life and satisfaction where it could not be found. Jesus, as the true and faithful Bridegroom, comes to reclaim His unfaithful people, offering the true "increase" and "enoughness" that the old covenant system, broken by human sin, could not provide. He is the "bread of life" who declares, "whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), directly addressing the "eat, and not have enough" curse. Furthermore, Jesus embodies the perfect "taking heed to the LORD," living a life of absolute obedience and devotion to the Father, thus reversing Israel's failure to "take heed." Through His atoning sacrifice, He cleanses us from our spiritual "whoredom" (idolatry and sin) and imputes His righteousness, enabling us to bear true spiritual fruit (increase) through the Holy Spirit ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Jesus, the True Vine")). In Christ, the insatiable hunger of the human heart is finally satisfied, and true, eternal fruitfulness is made possible, not through human effort or false gods, but through union with Him, the one who perfectly fulfilled the Law and restored our relationship with the Father.

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 6:14

Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down [shall be] in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and [that] which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

Leviticus 26:26

[And] when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver [you] your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.

Psalms 36:3

The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good.

Malachi 2:1

¶ And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you.

Malachi 2:3

Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the dung of your solemn feasts; and [one] shall take you away with it.

Hosea 9:11

¶ [As for] Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.