Hosea 6:7

The contrast between Israel's conduct and Jehovah's requirements.

But they like men Literally, But they they like (other) men transgress the covenant (or, perhaps, the ordinance, see on Hosea 8:1). The word rendered -men" ("âdâm) means ordinary or less privileged men, as in Psalms 82:7 and most probably Job 31:33, -If I covered like (common) men my transgressions." It is assumed (as in Job l.c.) that ordinary men are addicted to certain vices, and that such privileged persons as Job or the Israelites ought to act up to a higher standard. The mention of the transgressions of -(other) men" reminds us of Isaiah 24:5, where the inhabitants of the world are said to have -transgressed commandments, violated the statute, broken the perpetual covenant", partly perhaps with reference to the -law written in the heart", and partly to Genesis 9:1-16. The Targum, the Talmud, and the Vulgate (followed by Delitzsch on Job 31:33) render, -like Adam", but the Book of Genesis says nothing of a -covenant" with Adam.

there Implying a gesture of indignation. The divine speaker points to the northern kingdom as the scene of the unfaithfulness (comp. -there" in Hosea 6:10).