Hosea 4:15
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 18
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
זֹנֶ֤ה
play the harlot
H2181
זֹנֶ֤ה
play the harlot
Strong's:
H2181
Word #:
2 of 18
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Though thou Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Though thou Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 18
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
5 of 18
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
יֶאְשַׁ֖ם
offend
H816
יֶאְשַׁ֖ם
offend
Strong's:
H816
Word #:
6 of 18
to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish
יְהוּדָ֑ה
yet let not Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֑ה
yet let not Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
7 of 18
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וְאַל
H408
וְאַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
8 of 18
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל
not ye unto Gilgal
H1537
הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל
not ye unto Gilgal
Strong's:
H1537
Word #:
10 of 18
gilgal, the name of three places in palestine
וְאַֽל
H408
וְאַֽל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
11 of 18
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תַּעֲלוּ֙
neither go ye up
H5927
תַּעֲלוּ֙
neither go ye up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
12 of 18
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
וְאַל
H408
וְאַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
15 of 18
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ
nor swear
H7650
תִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ
nor swear
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
16 of 18
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
Cross References
Hosea 12:11Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.Hosea 9:15All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.Amos 4:4Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:Jeremiah 5:2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.Amos 5:5But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.Amos 8:14They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beer-sheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.Hosea 10:8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.Hosea 5:8Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.Hosea 10:5The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
Historical Context
Gilgal, originally site of Israel's covenant renewal after Jordan crossing (Joshua 4-5), had become corrupted worship center (Hosea 9:15, Amos 4:4, 5:5). Beth-el (Bethel), where Jacob encountered God (Genesis 28:19), Jeroboam I perverted by erecting golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-29). Hosea mockingly calls it Beth-aven ('house of nothingness/wickedness'). Despite Israel's imminent fall (722 BC), Judah survived until 586 BC—partly because some kings (Hezekiah, Josiah) heeded prophetic warnings and pursued reform. Yet Judah ultimately failed similarly, proving that warnings unheeded become judgments executed. Church history parallels: denominations falling into apostasy warn others to guard truth vigilantly.
Questions for Reflection
- How should observing others' spiritual decline and judgment motivate personal vigilance and corporate reformation?
- What does it mean to invoke God's name ('The LORD liveth') while living in contradiction to His character and commands?
Analysis & Commentary
Warning to Judah: 'Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.' Despite pronouncing judgment on northern Israel, God warns southern Judah to avoid identical sin. Gilgal and Beth-aven (scornful name for Bethel, meaning 'house of vanity' instead of 'house of God') were major northern shrines. The prohibition against swearing 'The LORD liveth' refers to invoking YHWH's name in oaths while practicing idolatry—blasphemous hypocrisy. This demonstrates God's patience toward Judah and His desire that they learn from Israel's judgment. Jesus similarly warns: 'Remember Lot's wife' (Luke 17:32)—past judgments instruct the wise. Only by fleeing idolatry and clinging to Christ do we escape judgment's path.