Section 4:4–11a

The Sinful Priests

In this section, the LORD promised to punish the priests more severely than anyone else, because they were the ones who led the people to worship false gods.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord Accuses the Priests (Good News Translation)
-or-
Against the Priests (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paragraph 4:4–6

In this paragraph, the LORD, speaking through Hosea, told the people not to blame one another, because the priests were responsible for leading the people astray.

4:4a

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

“But let no man contend;

let no man offer reproof,

In these lines the LORD tells the people not to blame one another for the sins that will result in his judgment.

But: This word introduces an unexpected response to what was said previously. The LORD said in 4:1–3 that the people had committed terrible sins and that everything living in the land of Israel would undergo judgment. It would be reasonable to expect the LORD to blame the people. But instead, he gave a command not to blame them.

Here is another way to introduce this unexpected response:

Don’t accuse just anyone! Not everyone is at fault. (Contemporary English Version)

Use a natural way in your language to emphasize that this response was unexpected.

contend…offer reproof: The Hebrew word translated contend is the verb form of the noun translated “case” in 4:1b. See the note on that verse. The meaning is similar here. The words offer reproof are a synonym of contend.

In some languages, it may be helpful to make explicit that the LORD is giving the command. For example:

The Lord says, “Let no one accuse the people or reprimand them (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 4:4a

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine these parallel parts into one line. For example:

“But don’t blame other people!
-or-
“No one should accuse or blame another person. (New Century Version)

4:4b

The English Standard Version has been used as the source line for 4:4b, because it follows the recommended textual option.

for: This word introduces the reason for the LORD’s command in 4:4a that the people should not accuse one another. The reason was that the LORD blamed the priests rather than the people. Some versions express this relationship explicitly. For example:

don’t accuse each other, because it is the priests who are the guilty ones

Other versions leave the relationship implied. For example:

No one should accuse other people or bring charges against them. My case is against you priests. (God’s Word)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce the reason that the people were not to blame one another.

(English Standard Version) with you is my contention, O priest: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some scholars think that the original text was “against you is my charge, O priest.” The LORD blamed the priest or priests instead of the people. For example:

my complaint is against you priests (Good News Translation)

(2) The Masoretic Text has “your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.” The LORD placed blame on the people as a group, because they rebelled against the priest (as in Deuteronomy 17:12–13). For example:

your people are like those who contend with a priest (Berean Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and many commentaries. This option offers a logical reason for the “But” in 4:4a. It also makes good sense in the context of 4:6, where the LORD then rejected the priest.

(English Standard Version) contention: See the note on 4:1b where the same Hebrew word is used.

(English Standard Version) priest: In Hebrew, the word priest is singular here and in 4:6. However, in 4:7 and 4:8, Hebrew uses plural forms for the same referent. So versions translate priest in two ways:

• As plural priests. The plural form makes explicit that the LORD is speaking to the priests as a group rather than to just one priest. For example:

my complaint is against you priests (Good News Translation)

• As singular priest. The singular form does not make explicit whether the LORD is speaking to just one priest or to priests as a group. The singular form can mean either. For example:

it is you, priest, that I denounce (New Jerusalem Bible)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate the LORD is speaking to priests as a group.

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