Thoughts on Hosea 4:1-2 and 4:11-12

Thoughts on Hosea 4:1-2 and 4:11-12 by John W. Ritenbaugh

"Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel,
For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
Hosea 4:11-12
"Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them.
For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God."

The Hebrew word zanah, translated as "harlotry," is not the word used to indicate a single act of adultery. Instead, it means "sexually wanton," meaning something done repeatedly as a way of life. Ultimately, it is understood spiritually to signify idolatry. Hosea 4:11-12 defines it in this manner: "Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. My people ask counsel from the wooden idols, and their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, and they have played the harlot against their God."

By linking zanah, harlotry, with wine and new wine, God is showing that this spiritual harlotry has addictive power. "Enslave the heart" illustrates that this faithless spirit bends the heart to obey its desires, and in the process, it destroys discretion and understanding.

Recall that Psalm 119 repeatedly states that meditating on God's Word and obeying His commandments give understanding, indicating a major way in which we come to know God.

However, if a person practices faithlessness, loss of understanding results. No constructive wisdom ever results from breaking any of God's commands.