What Does Hosea 4:12 Mean?

“My people”

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

“counsel at their stocks”

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

“ask”

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

“and their staff”

a shoot, i.e., stick (with leaves on, or for walking, striking, guiding, divining)

“declareth”

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

“unto them for the spirit”

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

“of whoredoms”

adultery; figuratively, idolatry

“hath caused them to err”

to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both

“and they have gone a whoring”

to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (

the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

“from under their God”

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of