BibleWord.ai› Bible› Hosea› Chapter 10› Verse 2

Hosea 10:2

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Hosea 10:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.
Hosea 10:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Hosea 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.
2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.
3Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?
4They speak [vain] words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
← Hosea 10:1Hosea 10:3 →
← Full Chapter 10 Hosea Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Their heart is divided, etc.] Some say from Hoshea their king, who would have reformed them from their idolatry, and returned them to the true worship of God; but of that there is no proof; better from one another, their affections being alienated from each other, by their discords and animosities, their conspiracies against their kings, and the murders of them, and the civil wars among themselves; they also not being of one mind, but disagreeing in their sentiments about their idols; some being for one, and some for another: or rather from God himself, from the fear of him, from his worship and service; or from the law, as the Targum; or their hearts were divided between God and their…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“heart . . . divided-- (Kg1 18:21; Mat 6:24; Jam 4:8). now--that is soon. he--Jehovah. break down--"cut off," namely the heads of the victims. Those altars, which were the scene of cutting off the victims' heads, shall be themselves cut off.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Their heart is divided - Between God and their idols, in that they would not wholly part with either, as Elijah upbraided them, “How long halt ye between the two opinions?” 1 Kings 18:21. When the pagan, by whom the king of Assyria replaced them, had been taught by one of the priests whom the king sent back, in order to avert God’s judgments, they still propagated this division. Like Jeroboam 2 Kings 17:32-33, 2 Kings 17:41, they became fearers of the Lord,” His worshipers, “and made to themselves out of their whole number (i. e., indiscriminately) priests of the high places. They were fearers of the Lord, and they were servers of their gods, according to the manner of the nations whom they…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Is divided - From God and his worship. Faulty - As this was their sin, so the effects hereof should manifestly prove them faulty. He - God. Hosea 10:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Their heart is divided: or, He hath divided their heart, Hos 7:8; Kg1 18:21; Isa 44:18; Zep 1:5; Mat 6:24; Luk 16:13; Th2 2:11, Th2 2:12; Jam 1:8, Jam 4:4; Jo1 2:15; Rev 3:15, Rev 3:16 break down: Heb. behead, Hos 10:5-8, Hos 8:5, Hos 8:6; Sa1 5:4; Jer 43:13; Mic 5:13; Zac 13:2 Hosea 10:3”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Hosea 10 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification