Hosea 6:8 (GNV)

Passage

Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with blood.

Nearby Context

Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercie, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offrings.

Hosea 6:7 But they like men haue transgressed the couenant: there haue they trespassed against me.

Hosea 6:8 Gilead is a citie of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with blood.

Hosea 6:9 And as the eues waite for a man, so the companie of Priestes murder in the way by consent: for they worke mischiefe.

Hosea 6:10 I haue seene vileny in the house of Israel: there is ye whoredome of Ephraim: Israel is defiled.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "gilead", "citie", "worke", "iniquitie", "polluted", and "blood". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "gilead" and "citie", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "But they like men haue transgressed the..." into verse 9's "And as the eues waite for a...", so "gilead" and "citie" belong inside that flow. In Hosea context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "gilead" and "citie" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.