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.

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}.

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

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

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

Hosea 4:10 in the King James Version describes a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness to God: their pursuits will be ultimately unsatisfying and fruitless.

Context

Chapter 4 of Hosea begins God's indictment against Israel for their spiritual decay. The land mourns because there is "no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God" (Hosea 4:1). The people have abandoned the LORD, engaging in widespread sin including idolatry (spiritual "whoredom"), lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. The priests, who should have guided them, have become part of the problem, profiting from the people's sin. Verse 10 specifically details the futility of their actions – their eating and their promiscuity – as a direct result of neglecting their relationship with God.

Key Themes

  • Futility of Sinful Pursuits: The verse highlights how chasing physical or worldly desires apart from God leads to emptiness and dissatisfaction ("shall eat, and not have enough").
  • Spiritual Barrenness: The phrase "shall not increase" in the context of "whoredom" (spiritual and literal) points to a lack of true growth, blessing, or lasting fruitfulness, contrasting with the covenant promise of multiplication.
  • Consequences of Abandoning God: The core reason for their plight is explicitly stated: "because they have left off to take heed to the LORD." Neglecting God's instruction and relationship results in a life devoid of true blessing and satisfaction. This mirrors the warning found in Jeremiah 2:13 where Israel forsakes the fountain of living waters.

Linguistic Insights

The term "whoredom" (Hebrew: zanah) is used extensively in Hosea. While it includes literal prostitution, its primary meaning in this prophetic context is spiritual adultery – turning away from exclusive devotion to the LORD and engaging in idolatry and alliance with foreign gods and nations. The phrase "left off to take heed" implies ceasing to pay attention to, obey, or care about the LORD and His commands.

Reflection and Application

Hosea 4:10 serves as a timeless warning. When individuals or societies prioritize material consumption ("eat") or immoral/idolatrous pursuits ("whoredom") over a relationship with God, they will find themselves perpetually unsatisfied and lacking true increase or blessing. True fulfillment and lasting fruitfulness come from seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This verse calls us to examine where we are seeking satisfaction and reminds us that neglecting our walk with the LORD leads to spiritual emptiness.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Micah 6:14 (6 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    [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 (4 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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

  • Malachi 2:1 (2 votes)

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

  • Malachi 2:3 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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