Bible Strands
Hosea 4:9
And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord speaks through the prophet Hosea to Israel and its religious leadership during a covenant lawsuit. The declaration follows an indictment of priests who profit from the people’s sin and precedes a warning of unfulfilled consumption and spiritual barrenness.
The words — וְ/הָיָ֥ה (ve./ha.Yah) translates literally to “and it will be,” establishing the inevitable outcome. וּ/פָקַדְתּ֤י (u./fa.kad.Ti) means “and I will visit,” denoting divine judgment directed at the offender.
The thread — This parallel judgment appears in Isaiah 24:2, where people and priest face equal consequence, and Jeremiah 5:31, which condemns priests and prophets who rule by their own authority. Jesus echoes the warning in Matthew 15:14 against blind guides who lead others into ruin.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that religious office confers greater accountability, not immunity. It requires readers to examine their own actions against divine standards rather than relying on position or tradition.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
- Isaiah 24:2 people and priest alike, servant and master, maid and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.
- Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- Jeremiah 23:11 “For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
- Hosea 1:4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
- Psalms 109:17 The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
- Proverbs 5:22 The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
- Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Isaiah 9:14 So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.
- Jeremiah 8:10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.