What other scriptures warn against similar sins as in Hosea 6:10? Hosea 6:10—Spotlighting the Sin “In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim’s promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled.” God exposes two intertwined evils: blatant sexual immorality (“promiscuity”) and the resulting spiritual and moral defilement of the nation. Parallels in the Law The Torah warns early and often that sexual impurity and spiritual harlotry bring nationwide corruption. • Exodus 34:15-16 — “…they prostitute themselves to their gods… your sons will prostitute themselves as well.” • Leviticus 19:29 — “You must not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, so that the land does not become prostituted and filled with wickedness.” • Deuteronomy 23:17-18 — “No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute… you must not bring the wages of a prostitute… into the house of the LORD your God.” Prophetic Echoes Later prophets pick up Hosea’s theme, calling out the same sins with vivid language. • Jeremiah 3:6-9 — Israel “went up on every high hill… and was a prostitute there… Judah did not return to Me with all her heart.” • Ezekiel 16:15 — “But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame.” • Ezekiel 23 (whole chapter) — Oholah and Oholibah’s flagrant harlotry mirrors Ephraim’s. • Micah 1:7 — “From the wages of a prostitute she gathered them, and to the wages of a prostitute they will return.” • Amos 2:7 — “Father and son go to the same girl and thus profane My holy name.” • Malachi 2:11 — “Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.” Wisdom Literature’s Voice Proverbs personifies the lure and ruin of sexual sin: • Proverbs 5:3-5 — “The lips of an adulteress drip honey… her feet go down to death.” • Proverbs 7:24-27 — “…her house is an expressway to Sheol, leading down to the chambers of death.” New Testament Warnings The same Holy Spirit calls believers to flee these defiling practices. • 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 — “Flee from sexual immorality… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” • Ephesians 5:3-6 — “Among you… not even a hint of sexual immorality… because of these things the wrath of God is coming.” • Galatians 5:19-21 — “The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity…” • Colossians 3:5-6 — “Put to death… sexual immorality… because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” • Hebrews 13:4 — “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” • James 4:4 — “You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” • Revelation 2:20-22 — Jezebel “misleads My servants to commit sexual immorality.” • Revelation 17:1-2 — “The great prostitute… with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality.” Key Takeaways • God views sexual sin and idolatry as twin expressions of unfaithfulness. • These sins defile not only individuals but entire communities. • Across both covenants, Scripture consistently commands separation from impurity and wholehearted fidelity to the Lord. |
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