TRV
Hosea 4:18
Bible Versions
Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers [with] shame do love, Give ye.
When they finish carousing, they start their whoring; their rulers deeply love dishonor.
When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
Their drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love shame.
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Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. -
Exodus 23:8
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. -
Jeremiah 2:21
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? -
Micah 7:3
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge [asketh] for a reward; and the great [man], he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. -
Hosea 4:2
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. -
Hosea 4:10
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. -
2 Kings 17:7
¶ For [so] it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
Context
Hosea 4:18 is part of a powerful indictment by God against the people of Israel, particularly the northern kingdom of Ephraim, for their widespread spiritual and moral corruption. Chapter 4 begins with God's lawsuit against the nation, stating there is "no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land" (Hosea 4:1). The prophet details how sin has permeated every level of society, from the common people to the priests and rulers. This verse specifically highlights the bitter consequences of their persistent sin and the deep-seated corruption among their leaders, who actively embraced shameful practices.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The term "whoredom" translates the Hebrew word zanah (זָנָה), which literally means "to commit fornication" or "to be a harlot." In prophetic literature, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe spiritual apostasy and idolatry, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and Israel as a marriage bond. The phrase "Their drink is sour" carries the sense of something spoiled or repulsive, indicative of the bitter fruit of their sinful choices. The latter part of the verse, "her rulers [with] shame do love, Give ye," is notoriously difficult to translate precisely, but the essence conveyed is that Israel's leaders were eager for disgraceful gain, symbolized by their love for "shame" and their demand for "Give ye" (likely referring to bribes or illicit tribute).
Practical Application
Hosea 4:18 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of spiritual compromise and corrupt leadership. For believers today, the concept of "whoredom" extends beyond literal idolatry to anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives—be it money, power, pleasure, or self-interest. When we pursue these things above God, our "drink" can indeed become "sour," leading to dissatisfaction and bitter consequences. Furthermore, the verse reminds us of the profound impact of leadership, both in the church and in society. Leaders are called to integrity and righteousness, not to love shame or illicit gain. This passage encourages self-examination, calling us to prioritize a genuine "knowledge of God" and to reject all forms of spiritual and moral corruption, seeking instead to live righteously and honorably before Him (Micah 6:8).