SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:1
¶ Oíd palabra del SEÑOR, hijos de Israel, porque el SEÑOR pleitea con los moradores de la tierra; porque no hay verdad, ni misericordia, ni conocimiento de Dios en la tierra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 4:1
Verse 1. The Lord hath a controversy] byr rib, what we should call a lawsuit, in which God is plaintiff, and the Israelites defendants. It is Jehovah versus Israel and Judah. But when has God a controversy with any land?-Answer. When there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. These refer to the minds of the people. But wherever these righteous principles are wanting, there will soon be a vicious practice; hence it is added,
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel , etc.] The people of the ten tribes, as distinct from Judah, ( Hosea 4:15), the prophet having finished his parables he was ordered to take up and deliver, and his explanations of them, and concluded with a gracious promise of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, enters upon a new discourse, which begins with reproof for various sins; since what had been delivered in parables and types had had no effect upon them, they are called upon to hear what the Lord would say to them by the prophet, in more clear and express terms; silence is ordered, and attention required to what follows: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land ; the land of Israel; against him they had sinned, before him they stood guilty; he had something, yea, many things, against them; a charge is brought into open court, the indictment is read, an answer must be made: God is the antagonist, that moves and brings on the controversy in a judicial way, and who can answer him for one of a thousand? or stand before him, or in court with him, when he marks iniquity? the charge is as follows, because there is no truth ; none that do or speak truth; that are true and faithful men, true to their word, and faithful to their trust; no truth of grace in them, nor truth of doctrine held and received by them; truth failed from among them, and none were valiant for it; no truth or civil faith with respect to men, nor any truth of word or worship with respect to God: nor mercy : to poor and indigent creatures; no compassion shown them; no offices of humanity or acts of beneficence exercised towards them; though these are more desirable by the Lord than, and are preferred by him to, all ceremonial sacrifices, ( Hosea 6:6), or no piety, religion, godliness, powerful godliness, which has the promise of this life, and that to come: nor knowledge of God in the land ; in the land of Israel, where God was used to be known; where he had been worshipped; were his word had been dispensed, and his prophets had been sent, and his saints that knew him, and his mind and will, formerly had dwelt; but now a company of atheists, at least that lived as such, and had no true spiritual saving knowledge of God, and communion with him; they had not true love to him, nor a godly reverence of him, which this implies; and that was the source of all the wickedness committed by them, afterwards expressed. The Targum is, “there are none that do truth, nor dispense mercy, nor walk in the fear of the Lord, in the land.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
The prophet enters into a new contract, representing the graciou manner in which God will again restore Israel under a new covenant.
Hos. 3:1-3 The dislike of men to true religion is because they love objects and forms, which allow them to indulge, instead of mortifyin their lusts. How wonderful that a holy God should have good-will to those whose carnal mind is enmity against Him! Here is represente God's gracious dealings with the fallen race of mankind, that had gon from him. This is the covenant of grace he is willing to enter int with them, they must be to him a people, and he will be to them a God They must accept the punishment of their sin, and must not return to folly. And it is a certain sign that our afflictions are means of goo to us, when we are kept from being overcome by the temptations of a afflicted state.
Hos. 3:4-5 Here is the application of the parable to Israel. They mus long sit like a widow, stripped of all joys and honours; but shall a length be received again. Those that would seek the Lord so as to fin him, must apply to Christ, and become his willing people. Not only ar we to fear the Lord and his greatness, but the Lord and his goodness not only his majesty, but his mercy. Even Jewish writers apply thi passage to the promised Messiah; doubtless it foretold their futur conversion to Christ, for which they are kept a separate people. Thoug the first fear of God arise from a view of his holy majesty an righteous vengeance, yet the experience of mercy and grace throug Jesus Christ, will lead the heart to reverence so kind and glorious Friend and Father, and to fear offending him __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
שׁמעו 8085 דבר 1697 יהוה 3068 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 כי 3588 ריב 7379 ליהוה 3068 עם 5973 יושׁבי 3427 הארץ 776 כי 3588 אין 369 אמת 571 ואין 369 חסד 2617 ואין 369 דעת 1847 אלהים 430 בארץ׃ 776
