Hosea 5:10
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The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The scope of this chapter is the same with that of the foregoing chapter, to discover the sin both of Israel and Judah, and to denounce the judgments of God against them. I. They are called to hearken to the charge (Hos 5:1, Hos 5:8). II. They are accused of many sins, which are here aggravated. 1. Persecution (Hos 5:1, Hos 5:2). 2. Spiritual whoredom (Hos 5:3, Hos 5:4). 3. Pride (Hos 5:5). 4. Apostasy from God (Hos 5:7). 5. The tyranny of the princes, and the tameness of the people in submitting to it (Hos 5:10, Hos 5:11). III. They are threatened with God's displeasure for their sins; he knows all their wickedness (Hos 5:3) and makes known his wrath against them for it (Hos 5:9). 1. They shall fall in their iniquity (Hos 5:5). 2. God will forsake them (Hos 5:6). 3. Their portions shall be devoured (Hos 5:7). 4. God will rebuke them, and pour out his wrath upon them (Hos 5:9, Hos 5:10). 5. They shall be oppressed (Hos 5:11). 6. God will be as a moth to them in secret judgments (Hos 5:12) and as a lion in public judgments (Hos 5:14). IV. They are blamed for the wrong course they took under their afflictions (Hos 5:13). V. It is intimated that they shall at length take a right course (Hos 5:15). The more generally these things are expressed of so much the more general use they are for our learning, and particularly for our admonition.
Open source ↗5:10 thieves (literally those who move a boundary marker): The Lord was the owner of the land, which he entrusted to the tribes following the conquest (see Josh 13:8–19:51). To move a boundary marker and change God’s allotted boundaries was to steal from God (Deut 19:14). Such an act rightly invoked divine punishment (Deut 27:17).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.
‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Very soon I will pour out My wrath upon you and vent My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.