Hosea 4:1

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֣י רִ֤יב לַֽיהוָה֙ עִם־יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֠י אֵין־אֱמֶ֧ת וְֽאֵין־חֶ֛סֶד וְאֵֽין־דַּ֥עַת אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

Transliteration

Shimʿû dəbar-YHWH bənê Yiśrāʾēl kî rîb l-YHWH ʿim-yôšbê hāʾāreṣ kî ʾên-ʾĕmet wə-ʾên-ḥesed wə-ʾên-daʿat ʾĕlōhîm bāʾāreṣ

Grammar Details

• *Shimʿû*: imperative, masculine plural - hear/listen
• *dəbar*: construct state, masculine singular - word/speech of
• *YHWH*: divine name, subject of construct chain
• *bənê*: construct state, masculine plural - sons/children of
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *kî*: conjunction - because/for
• *rîb*: noun, masculine singular - dispute/controversy/lawsuit
• *l-YHWH*: preposition + divine name - belonging to YHWH
• *ʿim*: preposition - with
• *yôšbê*: participle construct, masculine plural - inhabitants/dwellers of
• *hāʾāreṣ*: noun with definite article - the land
• *ʾên*: particle of negation - there is not
• *ʾĕmet*: noun, feminine singular - truth/faithfulness
• *wə-*: conjunction - and
• *ḥesed*: noun, masculine singular - steadfast love/covenant loyalty/mercy
• *daʿat*: noun, feminine singular - knowledge
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural form (divine singular) - God
• *bāʾāreṣ*: preposition + noun with definite article - in the land

Word Meanings

• *dəbar*: word/speech/matter/thing
• *rîb*: dispute/lawsuit/controversy/quarrel
• *ḥesed*: steadfast love/covenant loyalty/kindness/mercy
• *daʿat*: knowledge/insight/understanding
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods (grammatically plural but referring to the singular deity)
• *ʾāreṣ*: land/earth/ground/territory

Referenced Verses

• Jer 4:22 : 22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
• Mic 6:2 : 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
• Isa 3:13-14 : 13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
• Jer 5:4 : 4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.
• Jer 25:31 : 31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
• Hos 12:2 : 2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
• Amos 7:16 : 16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
• Jer 34:4 : 4 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:
• Hos 5:1 : 1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
• Mic 7:2-5 : 2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. 4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. 5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
• John 8:55 : 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
• Rom 1:28 : 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
• 1 Cor 15:34 : 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
• Rev 2:11 : 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
• Rev 2:29 : 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
• Jer 6:13 : 13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
• Jer 7:2-6 : 2 Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. 3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. 5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; 6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
• Jer 7:28 : 28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
• Jer 9:20 : 20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
• Jer 19:3 : 3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
• Jer 4:28 : 28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
• 1 Kgs 22:19 : 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
• Isa 1:10 : 10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
• Isa 1:18 : 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
• Isa 5:3 : 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
• Isa 28:14 : 14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
• Isa 34:1 : 1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
• Isa 34:8 : 8 For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
• Isa 59:13-15 : 13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
• Isa 66:5 : 5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
• Jer 2:4 : 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: