Hosea 10 KJV
1 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lord; what then should a king do to us?
4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
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.
6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
Hosea10 (Old Testament)
7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.
8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Hosea10 (Old Testament)
13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15 So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| בּוּקַק — buqqaq | Verse 1 — “Israel is an empty vine…” | Empty, poured out | Buqqaq (“empty/poured out”) signals fruitlessness (empty). Israel misuses divine blessing. The term exposes wasted grace. — Franz Delitzsch, OT Commentary (1884) |
| פְּרִי — peri | Verse 1 — “he bringeth forth fruit unto himself…” | Fruit | Peri (“fruit”) denotes results of life (fruit). Israel’s fruit is self-directed, not God-directed. The term reveals misdirected devotion. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets (1866) |
| חָלַק — chalaq | Verse 2 — “their heart is divided…” | Divide, be smooth | Chalaq (“divide/deceive”) suggests duplicitous heart (divided). Israel’s loyalty lacks integrity. The term conveys spiritual double-mindedness. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew Lexicon (1857) |
| עָוֹן — avon | Verse 8 — “the sin of Israel…” | Iniquity | Avon (“iniquity”) signifies perverse guilt (iniquity). Judgment falls upon entrenched corruption. The term emphasizes moral distortion. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
| דָּרַשׁ — darash | Verse 12 — “seek the LORD…” | Seek, inquire | Darash (“seek”) implies diligent pursuit (seek). Hosea calls Israel to genuine return. The term marks intentional repentance. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary (1884) |
| חֶסֶד — hesed | Verse 12 — “break up your fallow ground…” | Covenant love, mercy | Hesed (“covenant-love”) denotes loyal devotion (mercy). God desires steadfast love, not ceremony. The term centers ethical faithfulness. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets (1866) |
| נִיר — nir | Verse 12 — “break up your fallow ground…” | Fallow, untilled | Nir (“fallow ground”) suggests neglected potential (fallow). Hosea urges spiritual cultivation. The term evokes agricultural renewal. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon (1857) |
| קָצַר — qatsar | Verse 12 — “it is time to seek the LORD…” | Reap | Qatsar (“reap”) links sowing to outcome (reap). Seeking God yields righteousness. The term teaches spiritual reciprocity. — Franz Delitzsch, OT Commentary (1884) |
| שָׁחַת — shachat | Verse 13 — “ye have plowed wickedness…” | Destroy, ruin | Shachat (“destroy/ruin”) reveals moral devastation (ruin). Israel’s deeds sow destruction. The term reinforces cause-and-effect judgment. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
| בְּטָחָה — betachah | Verse 13 — “because thou didst trust in thy way…” | Trust, confidence | Betachah (“trust/confidence”) exposes misplaced security (trust). Israel relies on military strength, not God. The term contrasts faith with self-reliance. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets Commentary (1866) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Chapter 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Buch Hosea | The chapter presents a strong denunciation of idolatry, emphasizing Israel’s breach of covenant loyalty. |
| Johann Peter Lange (University of Bonn, 1802–1884) | Commentarius in Sacram Scripturam | Lange interprets the prophetic imagery as a critique of both spiritual and political failure. |
| Hermann Gunkel (University of Göttingen, 1862–1932) | Einleitung in die Psalmen und die alttestamentliche Poesie | Hosea’s condemnation of idols is framed poetically to intensify the moral lesson. |
| Otto Kaiser (University of Tübingen, 1855–1920) | Die Propheten des Alten Testaments | The chapter emphasizes the consequences of trusting in false gods and neglecting the covenant. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, 1826–1893) | The Book of Hosea | The narrative blends symbolic language with direct ethical instruction to Israel. |
Hosea 10: Living righteously for God.
Memory verse: 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
The act of righteousness is not something we can by human intuition achieve, but when we trust in God it becomes something achievable. I’ve heard many people during Sunday School sessions and other teaching sessions asking questions like; “ As humans, can we live righteously for God?” or “ As humans, can we live a Holy life?”. Most of the time, when such kind of question is asked, I can resonate with those people from the perspective from which are talking, however, that’s not our core objective as touching our subject.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness;…” This is to tell us that living a righteous life requires our input as an individual in Christ, we must abide in God first so that He too can abide in us. What our input connotes here is our willingness to live holy for God. God knows we can live holy for Him that’s why He commanded us to be holy and perfect in His words [Matt. 5:48, 1 Pet. 1:15-16].
“Break up your fallow ground…” the state of our heart also contributes to how much we can live holy for God. God wants a remorseful and contrite heart, not a heart full of distrust, disbelief, unforgiveness, or disinterest in God’s word. Our hearts must be soft enough to receive the rain of righteousness that God intends to rain on any heart eligible for it. When our hearts are soft to receive God's word we become imparted with His righteousness which now becomes what we live by.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
