Hosea 4:16 · KJV
“For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.”
— Hosea 4:16
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, {yet} let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Ephraim {is} joined to idols: let him alone.
Hosea 4 — Context
I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people {that} doth not understand shall fall. {I will not: or, Shall I not} {fall: or, be punished}
15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, {yet} let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17Ephraim {is} joined to idols: let him alone.
18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers {with} shame do love, Give ye. {sour: Heb. gone} {rulers: Heb. shields}
Cross References
1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul {to be} king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
Jeremiah 3:6
The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen {that} which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Jeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Hosea 11:7
And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt {him}. {none...: Heb. together they exalted not}
Isaiah 7:21-25
And it shall come to pass in that day, {that} a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
Isaiah 5:17
Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
Jeremiah 14:7
O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou {it} for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
Leviticus 26:33
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.