Hosea 6:9

Hosea 6:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
• New International Version (NIV)As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Priests form bands of robbers, waiting in ambush for their victims. They murder travelers along the road to Shechem and practice every kind of sin.

Context of Hosea 6:9

7“But like men they transgressed the covenant; There they dealt treacherously with Me. 8Gilead is a city of evildoers And defiled with blood. As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they commit lewdness. 10I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: There is the harlotry of Ephraim; Israel is defiled. 11Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you, When I return the captives of My people.

Hosea 6:9 word by word

וּכְחַכֵּ֨י אִ֜ישׁ גְּדוּדִ֗ים חֶ֚בֶר כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים דֶּ֖רֶךְ יְרַצְּחוּ־שֶׁ֑כְמָה כִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה עָשֽׂוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And as troopsגְּדוּדgedûd · bandH1416
• of robbers waitחָכָהchâkâh · to waitH2442
• for a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• the companyחֶ֫בֶרcheber · spellH2267
• of priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• murderרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523
• in the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
• by consentשְׁכֶםshekem · ShechemH7927
• by consentשְׁכֶםshekem · shoulderH7926
• for they commitעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• lewdnessזִמָּהzimmâh zammâh · wickednessH2154

Cross-references for Hosea 6:9

• Hosea 7:1“When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria. For they have committed fraud; A thief comes in; A band of robbers takes spoil outside.
• Ezra 8:31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.
• Job 1:15when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
• Proverbs 1:11If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
• Hosea 5:1“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For yours is the judgment, Because you have been a snare to Mizpah And a net spread on Tabor.
• Jeremiah 11:9And the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
• Ezekiel 22:27Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
• Micah 3:9Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity,
• Zephaniah 3:3Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning.
• Mark 14:1After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.
• Luke 22:2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
• John 11:47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.
• Acts 4:24So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
• 1 Kings 12:25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel.

Commentaries on Hosea 6:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9As troops of robbers - What a sad picture is this of the state of the priesthood! The country of Gilead was infamous for its robberies and murders. The idolatrous priests there formed themselves into companies, and kept possession of the roads and passes; and if they found any person going to Jerusalem to worship the true God, they put him to death. The reason is given: - For they commit lewdness - They are gross idolaters.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent - Or (more probably) “in the way to Shechem.” Shechem too was a “city of refuge” John 20:7, and so also a city of Levites and priests John 21:21. It was an important city. For there Joshua assembled all Israel for his last address to them, and made a covenant with them 1 Kings 12:1, and was rejected by them. There Jeroboam after the schism, for a time, made his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-11Verses 4-11 Sometimes Israel and Judah seemed disposed to repent under their sufferings, but their goodness vanished like the empty morning cloud, and the early dew, and they were as vile as ever. Therefore the Lord sent awful messages by the prophets. The word of God will be the death either of the sin or of the sinner. God desired mercy rather than sacrifice, and that knowledge of him which produces holy fear and love. This exposes the folly of those…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests: Hosea again condemns the religious leaders for their crimes (see Hosea 4:4–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. company--"association" or guild of priests. murder by consent--literally, "with one shoulder" (compare Zep 3:9, Margin). The image is from oxen putting their shoulders together to pull the same yoke [Rivetus]. Maurer translates, "in the way towards Shechem." It was a city of refuge between Ebal and Gerizim; on Mount Ephraim (Jos 20:7; 21:21), long the civil capital of Ephraim, as Shiloh was the religious capital; now called Naploos; for a time the…Read the comment

Topics related to Hosea 6:9

• Backsliders
• Minister, Christian
• Robbers
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Consent
• Follow
• Robbery
• Company
• Enormity
• Hosea
• Lewd; Lewdness
• Money
• Murder
• Untoward

Commentaries on Hosea 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings