Hos 10:4, 13 | JFB | STEP | 4. words —mere empty words. swearing falsely in making a covenant —breaking their engagement to Shalmaneser ( ), and making a covenant with So, though covenants with foreigners were forbidden. judgment . . . as hemlock —that is, divine judgment shall spring up as rank, and as deadly, as hemlock in the furrows ( ). GESENIUS translates, "poppy." GROTIUS , "darnel."

Hosea 10:4

4. words—mere empty words.

swearing falsely in making a covenant—breaking their engagement to Shalmaneser (2Ki 17:4), and making a covenant with So, though covenants with foreigners were forbidden.

judgment . . . as hemlock—that is, divine judgment shall spring up as rank, and as deadly, as hemlock in the furrows (De 29:18; Am 5:7; 6:12). GESENIUS translates, "poppy." GROTIUS, "darnel."

Hosea 10:13

13. reaped iniquity—that is, the fruit of iniquity; as "righteousness" (Ho 10:12) is "the fruit of righteousness" (Job 4:8; Pr 22:8; Ga 6:7, 8).

lies—false and spurious worship.

trust in thy way—thy perverse way (Isa 57:10; Jer 2:23), thy worship of false gods. This was their internal safeguard, as their external was "the multitude of their mighty men."