Hosea 10:2 - Retribution for Israel's Sin

Their hearts are devious;
This phrase highlights the inner moral and spiritual corruption of the people of Israel. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including thoughts, emotions, and will. Deviousness suggests deceit and a turning away from God’s commandments. This reflects the broader theme in Hosea of Israel's unfaithfulness, akin to spiritual adultery. The deceitful heart is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in Jeremiah 17:9, which describes the heart as "deceitful above all things."

now they must bear their guilt.
The consequence of their devious hearts is the bearing of guilt, indicating divine judgment. In the covenantal context, Israel was bound to follow God's laws, and deviation brought about consequences. This phrase underscores the principle of divine justice, where sin leads to accountability. The concept of bearing guilt is also seen in Leviticus, where the people are warned of the repercussions of disobedience. It foreshadows the ultimate judgment and the need for atonement, pointing to the necessity of a savior.

The LORD will break down their altars
The altars refer to places of worship, often associated with idolatry in Israel's history. These altars were erected to foreign gods, violating the first commandment. The breaking down of altars signifies God's direct intervention to remove idolatry and restore true worship. This act is reminiscent of the reforms of kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, who destroyed high places to purify worship. It also prefigures the cleansing work of Christ, who purifies the temple of our hearts.

and demolish their sacred pillars.
Sacred pillars were stone structures associated with pagan worship, often linked to fertility rites and the worship of Baal. Their demolition represents the eradication of false religious practices. This action is consistent with God's commands in Deuteronomy to destroy all forms of idolatry upon entering the Promised Land. The removal of these pillars symbolizes the call to holiness and exclusive devotion to God, a theme that resonates throughout the prophetic writings and is fulfilled in the call to worship in spirit and truth through Christ.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Hosea
A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope.

2. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, often referred to as Ephraim, which had turned away from God and engaged in idolatry.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is both just and merciful, calling His people back to faithfulness.

4. Altars and Sacred Stones
Objects of idolatrous worship in Israel, representing the people's unfaithfulness to God.

5. Judgment
The consequence of Israel's deceitful heart and idolatry, leading to divine punishment.

Teaching Points

The Deceitfulness of the Heart
Our hearts can lead us astray, and we must be vigilant in seeking God's truth and guidance.

Consequences of Idolatry
Idolatry, whether ancient or modern, leads to separation from God and eventual judgment.

God's Call to Repentance
Despite judgment, God desires repentance and restoration, offering hope to those who turn back to Him.

The Importance of True Worship
Worship should be genuine and from the heart, not merely external or ritualistic.

Bearing Our Guilt
Acknowledging our sin and its consequences is the first step toward forgiveness and healing.

(2) Their heart is divided is the rendering of the LXX., Raschi, Aben-Ezra, and most ancient versions. But modern expositors prefer to translate "Their heart is treacherous (smooth)." The rest of the verse should run thus:--Now shall they suffer punishment. He shall break (the horns of) their altars; he shall destroy their pillars.

Verse 2. - Their heart is divided. Here their wickedness is traced to its fountainhead; its source was in the corrupt state of the heart. Their heart was

(1) divided, and so they halted between two opinions - between the worship of Jehovah and idolatry. Chalaq is taken in this signification by the Chaldee, Syriac, Septuagint, and Jerome, as also by the Hebrew commentators. The LXX. have

(a) ἐμέρισεν in the singular, which affords some support to Hitzig's rendering, "He (God)divided their heart," - but this is unsuitable and unscriptural; another

(b) reading of the same version is ἐμέρισαν, "They have divided their hearts," which is somewhat better, yet incorrect. . . . Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Their hearts
לִבָּ֖ם (lib·bām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

are devious;
חָלַ֥ק (ḥā·laq)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2505: To be smooth, to apportion, separate

now
עַתָּ֣ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

they must bear their guilt.
יֶאְשָׁ֑מוּ (ye’·šā·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 816: To be guilty, to be punished, perish

The LORD
ה֚וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

will break down
יַעֲרֹ֣ף (ya·‘ă·rōp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6202: To break the neck, to destroy

their altars
מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֔ם (miz·bə·ḥō·w·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4196: An altar

and demolish
יְשֹׁדֵ֖ד (yə·šō·ḏêḏ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

their sacred pillars.
מַצֵּבוֹתָֽם׃ (maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·w·ṯām)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4676: Something stationed, a column, an idol

Links

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Hosea 10:2 Catholic BibleOT Prophets: Hosea 10:2 Their heart is divided (Ho Hs Hos.)