Hosea 4:6 — A Question
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles, uncategorizedA querist asks, “In Hosea 4:6, the text says that God’s people were to be ‘destroyed’ for their lack of knowledge. Does this term suggest complete annihilation — a state of non-existence?”
The text in Hosea 4:6 states:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.“
In the Hebrew, the word “destroyed” in this text simply means “cut off” — to be separated from a state of spiritual well-being. For a better understanding, a good parallel verse would be the first part of Isaiah 5:13 which states:
“Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge….“
Thus, the term “destroyed” in Hosea 4:6), is equal to the phrase “gone into captivity” in Isaiah 5:13).
Because of their continued disobedience, God’s people (Israel and Judah) would be “cut off” or separated from a state of spiritual well-being when they went into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity. They would not experience a state of non-existence.
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