Hosea 4:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Though the northern kingdom has been unfaithful, Judah is warned not to follow into the corrupted shrines or to swear hollow oaths.
What Does Hosea 4:15 Mean?
Hosea ministered to the northern kingdom, called Israel, but here he turns a warning toward the southern kingdom of Judah: do not catch the same disease. Gilgal and Bethaven, 'house of vanity,' a bitter renaming of Bethel, 'house of God,' were sites of corrupted worship. Even to swear 'The LORD liveth' there would mock His name.
Sin is contagious, and the verse pleads with the one still standing to keep clear of the other's fall. There is a holy caution in refusing to take God's name on our lips while our hearts are far from Him. Worship offered in the wrong spirit, even with true words, dishonors the One it claims to honor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 4:15
What does Hosea 4:15 mean?
Though the northern kingdom has been unfaithful, Judah is warned not to follow into the corrupted shrines or to swear hollow oaths.