Hosea 4:6 -- A Question

An individual once asked, “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.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

Related Article:

• “My People Are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”