Hosea 4:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Both priest and prophet will stumble, by day and by night, and the nation pictured as a mother will be brought down.
What Does Hosea 4:5 Mean?
The address narrows to the leaders, the priest by day and the false prophet by night, who should have guided the people but instead led them astray. Their fall is certain. 'Thy mother' likely pictures the nation itself, the community that birthed and nourished its children, now facing ruin.
When those entrusted to teach forsake the truth, the whole household suffers. Leadership is a sacred trust, and Scripture takes it seriously. Yet even here the warning is mercy in disguise, spoken so that shepherds and people alike might return before the day and the night close in.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 4:5
What does Hosea 4:5 mean?
Both priest and prophet will stumble, by day and by night, and the nation pictured as a mother will be brought down.