Hosea 4:8
New International Version
They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.

New Living Translation
“When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed. So the priests are glad when the people sin!

English Standard Version
They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.

Berean Standard Bible
They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.

King James Bible
They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

New King James Version
They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.

New American Standard Bible
They feed on the sin of My people, And long for their wrongdoing.

NASB 1995
They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.

NASB 1977
They feed on the sin of My people, And direct their desire toward their iniquity.

Legacy Standard Bible
They eat the sin of My people And lift up their soul toward their iniquity.

Amplified Bible
They (the priests) feed on the sin offering of My people And set their heart on their wickedness.

Christian Standard Bible
They feed on the sin of my people; they have an appetite for their iniquity.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They feed on the sin of My people; they have an appetite for their transgressions.

American Standard Version
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

Contemporary English Version
You encourage others to sin, so you can stuff yourselves on their sin offerings.

English Revised Version
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They feed on the sins of my people, and they want them to do wicked things.

Good News Translation
You grow rich from the sins of my people, and so you want them to sin more and more.

International Standard Version
They feed on the sin of my people; they purpose in their heart to transgress.

Majority Standard Bible
They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.

NET Bible
They feed on the sin offerings of my people; their appetites long for their iniquity!

New Heart English Bible
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

Webster's Bible Translation
They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

World English Bible
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The sin of My people they eat, "" And to their iniquity lift up their soul.

Young's Literal Translation
The sin of My people they do eat, And unto their iniquity lift up their soul.

Smith's Literal Translation
They will eat up the sin of my people, and they will lift up their soul to their iniquity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They shall eat the sins of my people, and shall lift up their souls to their iniquity.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They will devour the sins of my people, and they will lift up their souls towards their iniquity.

New American Bible
They feed on the sin of my people, and are greedy for their iniquity.

New Revised Standard Version
They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They devoured my people unmercifully, and they have engulfed themselves in their iniquity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They consumed the sin of my people and their souls have offered their evil
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They feed on the sin of My people, And set their heart on their iniquity.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They will devour the sins of my people, and will set their hearts on their iniquities.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Charges Against Israel
7The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. 8They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. 9And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.…

Cross References
Leviticus 6:26
The priest who offers it shall eat it; it must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.

Leviticus 7:6-7
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. / The guilt offering is like the sin offering; the same law applies to both. It belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it.

1 Samuel 2:12-17
Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD / or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. ...

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Isaiah 56:11
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

Jeremiah 6:13
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

Ezekiel 22:25-27
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. / Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Malachi 1:12-13
“But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’ / You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.

Malachi 2:7-8
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 23:25
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Matthew 23:28
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 16:14
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.

John 10:12-13
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.


Treasury of Scripture

They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

eat.

Leviticus 6:26
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Leviticus 7:6,7
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy…

set their heart on their iniquity.

1 Samuel 2:29
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Psalm 24:4
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Psalm 25:1
A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

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Hosea 4
1. God denounces judgments on Israel, for their aggravated impieties and iniquities.
12. He exposes the ignorance and wickedness of the priests,
13. and moral dissolution of the people,
14. he will leave their wives and daughters to commit lewdness, without present punishment.
15. He warns Judah, not to imitate Israel's crimes, which are still further reproved.














They feed on the sins of My people
The phrase "They feed" suggests a consumption or indulgence, indicating that the priests or leaders are not merely passive observers but active participants in the sinful practices of the people. The Hebrew root for "feed" is "אָכַל" (akal), which means to eat or consume. This implies a voracious appetite for the very sins that should be condemned. Historically, the priests were meant to guide the people in righteousness, but here they are depicted as exploiting the people's transgressions for their gain. This reflects a deep corruption within the spiritual leadership, where instead of leading the people away from sin, they are complicit in it.

on the sins of My people
The "sins" refer to the moral and spiritual failings of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "sins" is "חַטָּאָה" (chatta'ah), which encompasses both intentional and unintentional transgressions against God's law. The phrase "My people" emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel, highlighting the betrayal of this relationship by both the people and their leaders. In the historical context, Israel was meant to be a holy nation, set apart for God's purposes, yet they have fallen into idolatry and immorality, which the priests are exploiting rather than correcting.

and set their hearts on their iniquity
The phrase "set their hearts" indicates a deliberate and willful choice. The Hebrew root "שִׂים" (sim) means to place or set, suggesting an intentional focus or desire. This is not a passive inclination but an active pursuit of wrongdoing. "Iniquity" is translated from the Hebrew "עָוֹן" (avon), which refers to guilt or perversity. It conveys a deeper level of moral corruption, where sin is not just an act but a state of being. The leaders' hearts are aligned with iniquity, showing a complete moral decay. In a scriptural context, the heart is the center of will and emotion, and setting one's heart on iniquity indicates a profound spiritual rebellion against God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They feed on
יֹאכֵ֑לוּ (yō·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

the sin
חַטַּ֥את (ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

of My people
עַמִּ֖י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and set
יִשְׂא֥וּ (yiś·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

their heart
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

on
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

iniquity.
עֲוֺנָ֖ם (‘ă·wō·nām)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity


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OT Prophets: Hosea 4:8 They feed on the sin of my (Ho Hs Hos.)
Hosea 4:7
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