Hosea 4:12

ΒΆ My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused [them] to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

My people {H5971} ask {H7592} counsel at their stocks {H6086}, and their staff {H4731} declareth {H5046} unto them: for the spirit {H7307} of whoredoms {H2183} hath caused them to err {H8582}, and they have gone a whoring {H2181} from under their God {H430}.

My people consult their piece of wood, their diviner's wand speaks to them; for the spirit of whoring makes them err, they go off whoring, deserting their God.

My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.

My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God.

Commentary

Context

Hosea 4:12 is part of a strong indictment by the prophet Hosea against the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) for their widespread moral and spiritual corruption. The entire chapter outlines God's charges against His people, including lack of truth, mercy, knowledge of God, swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. This particular verse zeroes in on their deep-seated idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness, which is presented metaphorically as "whoredom." The people had abandoned their covenant relationship with the Lord, seeking guidance and comfort from pagan sources rather than the true God.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and False Guidance: The verse vividly describes the people's reliance on inanimate objects and pagan rituals for counsel. "Stocks" refers to wooden idols or cultic poles, and "staff" points to practices of divination (rhabdomancy), where sticks were used to gain insights or make decisions. This highlights a profound rejection of God's wisdom and His Word as the ultimate guide, instead turning to superstitious and forbidden practices.
  • Spiritual Adultery: The central metaphor of Hosea is Israel as God's unfaithful bride. "The spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God" emphasizes that their idolatry was not merely a mistake but a betrayal of their divine covenant, akin to marital infidelity. This spiritual unfaithfulness led them away from the true God and into error. The concept of spiritual whoredom is echoed in other prophetic books, such as Jeremiah 3:6.
  • Divine Grief and Disappointment: The phrase "My people" underscores God's deep sorrow and disappointment over Israel's apostasy. Despite being His chosen people, they repeatedly turned away from Him, seeking counsel from lifeless objects rather than the living God who had redeemed them.

Linguistic Insights

The term "stocks" in Hebrew is ‘ets (Χ’Φ΅Χ₯), meaning "tree" or "wood," often referring to wooden idols or groves used in pagan worship. "Staff" comes from the Hebrew maqqel (מַקְלָם), a rod or stick, specifically referencing a form of divination using sticks to cast lots or interpret omens. The phrase "spirit of whoredoms" (Hebrew: ruach z'nunim) is particularly potent, indicating not just an act of unfaithfulness but a pervasive, internal disposition or spiritual inclination towards idolatry and spiritual adultery, a deep-seated corruption that led them to err.

Practical Application

Hosea 4:12 serves as a timeless warning against seeking guidance and fulfillment outside of God. While modern society may not consult wooden idols or divining staffs, the principle remains relevant. We can "ask counsel at our stocks" when we:

  • Place our trust in wealth, career, or human wisdom above God's divine guidance.
  • Seek answers from self-help philosophies, social media trends, or political ideologies that contradict biblical truth.
  • Prioritize worldly success or comfort over spiritual faithfulness and devotion to God.

This verse calls us to examine where we truly seek our counsel and stability. True wisdom and guidance come from God through His Word (Psalm 119:105) and prayer, not from the fleeting wisdom or false promises of the world. It encourages a life of genuine faithfulness, avoiding anything that would cause us to "go a whoring from under our God" and instead remain steadfast in our covenant relationship with Him.

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 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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • Hosea 5:4

    They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms [is] in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.

  • Habakkuk 2:19

    Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

  • Isaiah 44:18

    They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand.

  • Isaiah 44:20

    He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?

  • Deuteronomy 31:16

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go [to be] among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

  • Numbers 15:39

    And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
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