Hosea 4:7

7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God^[a] for something disgraceful.

Hosea 4:7 in Other Translations

7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.

7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols.

7 The more priests, the more sin. They traded in their glory for shame.

7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me. I will change their honor into disgrace.

Hosea 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 4:7

As they were increased, so they sinned against me
As the children of the priests increased and grew up, they sinned against the Lord, imitating their parents; they were as many sinners as they were persons, not one to be excepted: this expresses their universal depravity and corruption. Some understand it of their increase, as in number, so in riches, wealth, honour, dignity, and authority, and yet they sinned more and more; which shows their ingratitude. So the Targum,

``as I have multiplied fruits unto them''

Therefore will I change their glory into shame,
take away their priesthood from them, so that they shall be no more priests, and as if they never had been; and reduce them to a state of poverty, meanness, and disgrace; and cause them to go into captivity with the meanest of the people; and be in no more honour, but subject to as much scorn and contempt as they.

Hosea 4:7 In-Context

5 You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother—

6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.

8 They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.

9 And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

Cross References

• 1. Habakkuk 2:16
• 2. Hosea 9:11; Hosea 10:1,6; Hosea 13:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Syriac (see also an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition); Masoretic Text "me;" / "I will exchange their glory"