Hosea 4:1

Hear the word. This chapter begins a new division of Hosea’s prophecies. The prophet discontinues his use of figure and symbol, and now employs plain, literal prose.

It seems evident from their contents that the messages of chs. 4-14 came much later than the time of Jeroboam II (see ch. 1:1).

The Lord hath a controversy. God’s people are called upon to give heed to the charge preferred against them, and to the sentence pronounced. As Heaven’s spokesman Hosea presents the case against Israel, vindicating the divine justice in dealing with her.

As here used, “controversy” is equivalent to the first meaning of the metaphorical name Jezreel (see on ch. 1:3). The ideas of “scatter” and “controversy” stand parallel to each other.

No truth. The prophet begins by declaring that his people lack the essentials of true religion. Without these essentials, the worship of God is nothing but empty pretense.

Mercy. Heb. chesed, for a definition of which see Additional Note Psalm 36.