Hosea 5:2

And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

And the revolters - apostates.

Are profound - deeply-rooted (Calvin), and sunk to the lowest depths; excessive in their idolatry (; ). (Henderson.) From the antithesis (), "not hid from me." I prefer explaining, profoundly cunning in their idolatry. Jeroboam thought it a profound piece of policy to set up golden calves to represent God in Dan and Bethel, in order to prevent Israel's heart from turning again to David's line by going up to Jerusalem to worship. So Israel's subsequent. idolatry was grounded by their leaders on various pleas of state expediency (cf. ).

To make slaughter. He does not say 'to sacrifice,' for their so-called sacrifices were butcheries rather than sacrifices: there was nothing sacred about them, being to idols instead of the holy God.

Though I have been a rebuker of them all - literally, a rebuke: God's prominent attribute in relation to them had been rebuke. Maurer translates, 'and (in spite of their hope of safety through their slaughter of victims to idols) I will be a chastisement to them all.' The English version is good sense: They have deeply revolted, notwithstanding all my prophetic warnings.