¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

My people {H5971} are destroyed {H1820} for lack of knowledge {H1847}: because thou hast rejected {H3988} knowledge {H1847}, I will also reject {H3988} thee, that thou shalt be no priest {H3547} to me: seeing thou hast forgotten {H7911} the law {H8451} of thy God {H430}, I will also forget {H7911} thy children {H1121}.

My people are destroyed for want of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as cohen for me. Because you forgot the Torah of your God, I will also forget your children.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

Commentary on Hosea 4:6

Hosea 4:6 delivers a powerful and sobering indictment against ancient Israel, particularly the Northern Kingdom, for their profound spiritual decay and disregard for God's truth. This verse encapsulates the core message of Hosea's prophecy, highlighting the dire consequences of a nation's departure from divine knowledge.

Context

The prophet Hosea ministered during a turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by political instability, idolatry, and moral corruption, preceding the Assyrian conquest and exile. Chapter 4 begins with God's "controversy" or lawsuit against the inhabitants of the land, listing a litany of sins: swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and committing adultery. The verse specifically targets the spiritual leadership, the priests, who were meant to be guardians and teachers of God's law (Malachi 2:7), but had themselves become complicit in the nation's spiritual decline.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Ignorance and its Consequences: The opening phrase, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," is central. This "knowledge" (Hebrew: da'ath) is not merely intellectual information, but an intimate, experiential understanding of God's character, His covenant, and His revealed will—His law. Without this vital relationship and adherence to truth, the people were perishing, both spiritually and eventually, nationally.
  • Rejection of Divine Truth: The verse clarifies that this lack of knowledge was not accidental but a deliberate choice: "because thou hast rejected knowledge." This indicates an active turning away from God's instruction and a refusal to acknowledge His authority.
  • Priestly Accountability and Failure: The priests were specifically held responsible: "I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me." Their primary role was to preserve and teach God's law (Leviticus 10:11), but they had neglected this duty, leading the people astray. Their rejection of God's knowledge led to God's rejection of their priestly function.
  • Intergenerational Impact: The chilling consequence, "seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children," underscores the ripple effect of spiritual negligence. The sins of one generation, particularly the failure to transmit divine truth, would have devastating consequences for future generations. This highlights the importance of passing on spiritual heritage (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "knowledge," da'ath (דַּעַת), signifies a deep, personal acquaintance and understanding, not just intellectual assent. It implies moral discernment and obedience. To "reject" (ma'as, מָאַס) is a strong term meaning to despise, scorn, or refuse something valuable. The word "destroyed" (damah, דָּמָה) can mean to be silent, cut off, or perish, indicating a cessation of life and function, leading to ruin.

Practical Application

Hosea 4:6 serves as a timeless warning. For believers today, it emphasizes the critical importance of pursuing a deep, personal knowledge of God and His Word. Spiritual ignorance, especially if it stems from a deliberate rejection of truth, leads to destructive outcomes in personal lives, families, and communities. This verse calls us to:

  • Prioritize God's Word: Actively engage with Scripture to understand God's will and character.
  • Embrace Truth: Be open to biblical truth and allow it to transform our lives, rather than rejecting it for personal comfort or worldly ideologies.
  • Teach the Next Generation: Parents and spiritual leaders have a profound responsibility to pass on a genuine knowledge of God to children, lest they too be "forgotten" in a spiritual sense.
  • Seek Discernment: In an age of abundant information, discerning true spiritual knowledge from misinformation is paramount.

Ultimately, the verse reminds us that a vibrant relationship with God, founded on knowing and obeying Him, is essential for flourishing, while spiritual apathy and rejection of truth lead to ruin.

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.
  • Isaiah 5:13

    Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because [they have] no knowledge: and their honourable men [are] famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
  • Proverbs 19:2

    ¶ Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.
  • Hosea 6:6

    For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
  • 2 Corinthians 4:3

    But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
  • 2 Corinthians 4:6

    For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  • Hosea 4:1

    ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
  • Matthew 15:8

    This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.

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