Hosea 4:15

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

Though thou, Israel {H3478}, play the harlot {H2181}, yet let not Judah {H3063} offend {H816}; and come {H935} not ye unto Gilgal {H1537}, neither go ye up {H5927} to Bethaven {H1007}, nor swear {H7650}, The LORD {H3068} liveth {H2416}.

If you, Isra'el, prostitute yourself, still Y'hudah has no need to incur such guilt. Don't go to Gilgal or up to Beit-Aven, and don't swear, "As ADONAI lives."

Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.

Hosea 4:15 serves as a stark warning from God through the prophet Hosea, primarily addressing the Southern Kingdom of Judah amidst the rampant spiritual decline of the Northern Kingdom, Israel.

Context

The Book of Hosea chronicles God's unwavering love for unfaithful Israel, portrayed through the prophet's own marriage to an unfaithful wife. Chapters 1-3 establish this prophetic analogy, while Chapter 4 begins a series of indictments against Israel for their widespread moral and spiritual corruption. Israel (the Northern Kingdom) had deeply engaged in idolatry, forsaking the Lord for Baal worship and other pagan practices. This verse specifically warns Judah (the Southern Kingdom), which had, at this point, maintained a relatively stronger adherence to the covenant, not to follow Israel's destructive path. The historical setting is the 8th century BC, a time of political instability and spiritual apostasy in Israel, leading up to their Assyrian exile.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: Israel is explicitly accused of "playing the harlot," a powerful metaphor for their profound spiritual unfaithfulness to God, who is depicted as their husband. This highlights their breach of the covenant relationship.
  • Warning to Judah: The core message is a plea for Judah to remain faithful and not be corrupted by Israel's apostasy. It emphasizes the danger of association with those who have abandoned true worship.
  • Condemnation of False Worship Centers:
    • Gilgal: Once a significant historical site where Israel renewed their covenant with God (Joshua 5:9) and where Saul was made king, it had become a center for idolatrous worship.
    • Bethaven: Meaning "house of wickedness" or "house of vanity," this is a derogatory name for Beth-el ("house of God"), where Jeroboam I had set up one of the golden calves for worship (1 Kings 12:29). It represents a place of corrupt worship.
  • Hypocritical Oath: The command "nor swear, The LORD liveth" while engaging in idolatry points to the hypocrisy of attempting to combine the worship of God with pagan practices. True worship demands exclusive devotion.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "play the harlot" translates from the Hebrew verb zanah (זָנָה), which is frequently used in prophetic literature to describe spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. It vividly portrays the betrayal of the exclusive covenant relationship between God and His people, akin to a marital betrayal. The renaming of Beth-el to Bethaven (literally "house of vanity" or "house of iniquity") by Hosea is a prophetic pun, highlighting the emptiness and wickedness of the worship conducted there, a stark contrast to its original meaning of "house of God."

Practical Application

Hosea 4:15 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It underscores the importance of maintaining spiritual purity and avoiding practices or associations that compromise one's faith. Just as Judah was warned against Israel's idolatry, believers are called to discern and resist influences that lead away from worship in spirit and truth. The verse reminds us that true worship requires exclusive devotion to God, without mixing it with worldly values or practices. It's a call to examine our own hearts and ensure our commitment to God is undivided, learning from the spiritual pitfalls of others rather than repeating them.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hosea 9:15

    All their wickedness [is] in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes [are] revolters.

  • Hosea 12:11

    [Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

  • Amos 4:4

    Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes after three years:

  • Jeremiah 5:2

    And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

  • Hosea 10:5

    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.

  • Amos 8:14

    They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

  • Amos 5:5

    But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

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