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 (Is 57:10; Jr 2:23), thy worship of false gods. This was their internal safeguard, as their external was "the multitude of their mighty men."