Hosea 4:7 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

As they were increased - in numbers, wealth, and power. Compare Hosea 4:6, "thy children," to which their "increase" in numbers refers. God had designed that the larger were their numbers, and the greater their wealth, the more should there be to praise Him, and the greater would be their means of glorifying Him; but the more children God gave Israel, the more rebels opposed Him; and the greater their wealth became, the more power had they to dishonour God.

So they sinned against me - (cf. Hosea 10:1, "According to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars;" and 13:6, "They were filled, and their heart, was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me").

Therefore will I change their glory into shame - i:e, I will strip them of all they now glory in (their numbers and power), and give them shame instead. A just retribution, as they changed their glory into shame by idolatry (Psalms 106:20; Jeremiah 2:11; Romans 1:23; Philippians 3:19, "whose glory is in their shame").

Hosea 4:7

7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.