As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
Parallel translations
- WEB As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.
- BSB The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.
- NKJV “The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
- NASB ¶The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
- NLT The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As the priests increased, so did their sin, so God will turn their honor into shame. Greater privilege without faithfulness brings greater disgrace.
Overview
The more the priesthood multiplied and prospered, the more it sinned against God, abusing its standing rather than serving Him. In response God will exchange their 'glory' for 'shame,' reversing the honor of their office. The verse warns that increased blessing or status, when divorced from faithfulness, only deepens guilt and invites humiliation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Hos 13:6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
- Phil 3:19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
- 1 Sam 2:30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
- Hos 10:1Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
- Mal 2:9Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
- Hos 4:10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
- Jer 2:26–27As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
- Ezra 9:7Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
- Hos 5:1Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
- Hab 2:16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
- Hos 6:9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
- Hos 13:14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
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Christ at the center
God's relentless love for an unfaithful bride dramatizes the gospel: 'Out of Egypt I called my son' is fulfilled in Jesus, who redeems an adulterous people at his own cost.
How Hosea 4:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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