Hosea 4:13 kjva — They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, becaus…

King James Version with Apocrypha

"They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery."

— Hosea 4:13, King James Version with Apocrypha

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Hosea 4:13 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.”

  • ASV

    “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery. ”

  • WEB

    “They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.”

  • NET

    “They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and burn offerings on the hills; they sacrifice under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is so pleasant. As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery!”

  • DRB

    “They offered sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burnt incense upon the hills: under the oak, and the poplar, and the turpentine tree, because the shadow thereof was good: therefore shall your daughters commit fornication, and your spouses shall be adulteresses.”

  • BBE

    “They make offerings on the tops of mountains, burning perfumes in high places, under trees of every sort, because their shade is good: and so your daughters are given up to loose ways and your brides are false to their husbands.”

Hosea 4 — Context

10

For 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.

11

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

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.

13

They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

14

I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

15

Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth–aven, nor swear, The Lord liveth.

16

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Hosea 4:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Hosea 4:13 say?
Hosea 4:13 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.”
Where is Hosea 4:13 in the Bible?
Hosea 4:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Hosea, chapter 4, verse 13.
Who wrote Hosea?
Hosea is traditionally attributed to Hosea son of Beeri. It was written c. 755–710 BC.
What is the book of Hosea about?
Hosea is commanded to marry an unfaithful woman as a living picture of God's steadfast love for an unfaithful Israel. Through heartbreak and pursuit, he proclaims that the LORD will not give up on his people even when they have given up on him.
What are the major themes of Hosea?
Hosea explores themes including Steadfast Love, Idolatry as Adultery, Pursuit, Repentance, Restoration. These themes shape the meaning and context of Hosea 4:13.
What translation should I read Hosea 4:13 in?
Hosea 4:13 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Hosea 4:13?
Hosea 4:13 reads (KJVA): “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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