Parallel Verses
NET Bible
They consult their wooden idols, and their diviner's staff answers with an oracle. The wind of prostitution blows them astray; they commit spiritual adultery against their God.
New American Standard Bible
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,
And they have played the harlot, departing
King James Version
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
Holman Bible
and their divining rods inform them.
For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray;
they act promiscuously
in disobedience to
International Standard Version
My people seek counsel from their piece of wood, and their diviner's rod speaks to them. For a spirit of prostitution causes them to go astray; in their immorality they desert their God.
A Conservative Version
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declares to them, for the spirit of whoredom has caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, [departing] from under their God.
American Standard Version
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God.
Amplified
My people consult their [lifeless] wooden idol, and their [diviner’s] wand gives them oracles.
For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray [morally and spiritually],
And they have played the prostitute, withdrawing themselves from their God.
Bible in Basic English
My people get knowledge from their tree, and their rod gives them news; for a false spirit is the cause of their wandering, and they have been false to their God.
Darby Translation
My people ask counsel of their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredoms causeth them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God:
Julia Smith Translation
My people will ask in their counsel, and with their rod they will announce to them: for the spirit of fornications caused to err, and they will commit fornication from under their God.
King James 2000
My people ask counsel of their idols of wood, and their staff advises unto them: for the spirit of harlotry has caused them to err, and they have played the harlot against their God.
Lexham Expanded Bible
My people, consult {their wooden idols}, and their divining rod gives them oracles; because a spirit of whoredom led [them] astray, and they played the whore from under their God.
Modern King James verseion
My people seek advice from their wooden idols, and their rod declares to them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to go astray, and they have gone lusting away from under their God.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
My people ask counsel at their stocks, their staff must tell them. For a whorish mind hath deceived them, so that they commit fornication against their God.
New Heart English Bible
My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.
The Emphasized Bible
My people, of their Wood, do ask, - Let, their Staff, then tell them, - for, the spirit of unchastity, hath led them astray, and they have unchastely departed from under their God.
Webster
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth to them: for the spirit of lewdness hath caused them to err, and they have gone astray from under their God.
World English Bible
My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.
Youngs Literal Translation
My people at its staff asketh and its rod declareth to it, For a spirit of whoredoms hath caused to err, And they go a-whoring from under their God.
Themes
Adultery » A type of the apostate church when disobedient » Characterized as an adulteress
Divination » Effected through » Rods
Heart » What takes away the heart
Idolatry » Objects of, described as » Stocks
Idolatry » They who practice » Have fellowship with devils
Idolatry » They who practice » Ask counsel of their idols
Israel » A type of the apostate church when disobedient » Characterized as an adulteress
Israel » A type of the apostate church when disobedient » Adultery of
Sins » National » The jews, characterized as an adulteress
Topics
Interlinear
Sha'al
`ets
Nagad
Ruwach
Ta`ah
References
Word Count of 20 Translations in Hosea 4:12
Verse Info
Context Readings
God's Case Against The People
11 Old and new wine take away the understanding of my people. 12 They consult their wooden idols, and their diviner's staff answers with an oracle. The wind of prostitution blows them astray; they commit spiritual adultery against their God. 13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and burn offerings on the hills; they sacrifice under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is so pleasant. As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery!
Cross References
Jeremiah 2:27
They say to a wooden idol, 'You are my father.' They say to a stone image, 'You gave birth to me.' Yes, they have turned away from me instead of turning to me. Yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'
Hosea 5:4
Their wicked deeds do not allow them to return to their God; because a spirit of idolatry controls their heart, and they do not acknowledge the Lord.
Habakkuk 2:19
The one who says to wood, 'Wake up!' is as good as dead -- he who says to speechless stone, 'Awake!' Can it give reliable guidance? It is overlaid with gold and silver; it has no life's breath inside it.
Leviticus 17:7
So they must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons, acting like prostitutes by going after them. This is to be a perpetual statute for them throughout their generations.
Leviticus 20:5
I myself will set my face against that man and his clan. I will cut off from the midst of their people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution, to commit prostitution by worshiping Molech.
Numbers 15:39
You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness.
Deuteronomy 31:16
Then the Lord said to Moses, "You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going. They will reject me and break my covenant that I have made with them.
2 Chronicles 21:13
but have instead followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel. You encouraged the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the Lord, just as the family of Ahab does in Israel. You also killed your brothers, members of your father's family, who were better than you.
Psalm 73:27
Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.
Isaiah 44:18-20
They do not comprehend or understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see; their minds do not discern.
Jeremiah 3:1-3
"If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and becomes another man's wife, he may not take her back again. Doing that would utterly defile the land. But you, Israel, have given yourself as a prostitute to many gods. So what makes you think you can return to me?" says the Lord.
Jeremiah 10:8
The people of those nations are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless!
Ezekiel 16:1-63
The word of the Lord came to me:
Ezekiel 21:21
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road at the head of the two routes. He looks for omens: He shakes arrows, he consults idols, he examines animal livers.
Ezekiel 23:1-49
The word of the Lord came to me:
Hosea 9:1
O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations, for you are unfaithful to your God. You love to receive a prostitute's wages on all the floors where you thresh your grain.
Micah 2:11
If a lying windbag should come and say, 'I'll promise you blessings of wine and beer,' he would be just the right preacher for these people!
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan's working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders,