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Hosea 4:12

Hosea 4:12
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.

My Notes

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Baptist theologian, 1697–1771

Gill's Exposition

My people ask counsel at their stocks,.... Or "at his wood" (a), or stick; his wooden image, as the Targum; their wooden gods, their idols made of wood, mere stocks and blocks, without life or sense,…

Presbyterian pastor, 1798–1870

Barnes' Notes

My people ask counsel at - (literally, “on”) their stocks They ask habitually ; and that, in dependence “on their stocks.” The word “wood” is used of the idol made of it, to bring before them the…

Methodist theologian, 1762–1832

Adam Clarke

At their stocks - They consult their wooden gods.

And their staff declareth - They use divination by rods; see the note on Ezekiel 21 (note), where this sort of divination (rabdomancy) is explained.

Nonconformist minister, 1662–1714

Matthew Henry

Hosea 4:12-19

In these verses we have, as before,

I. The sins charged upon the people of Israel, for which God had a controversy with them, and they are,

1. Spiritual whoredom, or idolatry. They have in them a…

Academic commentary, 1882–1921

Cambridge Bible

My people ask counsel at their stocks Lit., -My people he asketh counsel at his wood." Jehovah alone can give oracular -counsel"; not the teraphim, nor yet the bull-images of Jehovah. The latter did,…