I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

HOSEA 6:10KJV
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Hosea 6:10 (KJV)

What does Hosea 6:10 mean?

Hosea 6:10 describes how God has seen something terrible among the people of Israel: the unfaithfulness of Ephraim, which has led to the corruption of all Israel. The verse shows that the actions of one group have defiled the entire nation in God’s eyes.

In this verse, the prophet Hosea is speaking God’s words to the people of Israel during a time when they had turned away from God and were practicing things he considered unfaithful. Ephraim, representing the largest tribe in the northern kingdom, is singled out for its "whoredom," a word often used in the prophets to describe spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry. The verse emphasizes that this unfaithfulness is not hidden—God sees it clearly—and it affects the whole community.

The Hebrew behind Hosea 6:10

  • "seen" (רָאָה, ra'ah): This word means to see or observe. The verse stresses that God is not unaware or distant; He is actively watching what happens among His people.
  • "whoredom" (תַּזְנוּת, taznut): This word refers to unfaithfulness, often used in the prophets for idol worship or breaking covenant with God. It paints a strong picture of betrayal, not just a casual mistake.
  • "defiled" (נָטָמֵא, nitma): This word means to become unclean or polluted. The use of this word shows that the consequences of Ephraim’s actions are serious—they have made all Israel spiritually impure.

Why Hosea 6:10 matters

  • Hosea 6:10 makes clear that spiritual unfaithfulness is not just a private matter; it affects the whole community and is seen by God.
  • The verse highlights that God holds the entire nation responsible when its leaders or major tribes stray, showing the deep interconnectedness of the people.
  • This verse connects to the wider message of Hosea, where the prophet calls out Israel’s unfaithfulness and warns of the consequences, urging the people to return to God.

Where else these words appear

“thing” Hebrew H8186 · used in 4 verses

  • Jeremiah 5:30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
  • Jeremiah 18:13 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
  • Jeremiah 23:14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

“whoredom” Hebrew H2184 · used in 9 verses

  • Numbers 14:33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
  • Jeremiah 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
  • Ezekiel 43:7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

“defiled” Hebrew H2930 · used in 142 verses

  • Genesis 34:5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
  • Leviticus 15:19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
  • Numbers 35:34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.