Hosea 6:7

Hosea 6:7

But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

a. NLT: But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust.

b. NIV: As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.

c. YLT: And they, as Adam, transgressed a covenant, There they dealt treacherously against me.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But they, like [less-privileged] men and like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt faithlessly and treacherously with Me.

e. Septuagint: But they are as a man transgressing a covenant:

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: But they, like Adam, transgressed the covenant; there they betrayed me

1. “But they like men have transgressed the covenant…”

a. But they like men [120 * ‘adam] [Strong: from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

1). Many of the translations have “like Adam”, while some have as the KJV “like men”. I prefer the translation “like Adam”, revealing that when Adam ate the fruit he broke Covenant with God. This sense explains the serious consequences for all of mankind.

2). Adam Clarke Commentary: But they like men (כאדם keadam, "like Adam") have transgressed the covenant - They have sinned against light and knowledge as he did. This is sense, the other is scarcely so. There was a striking similarity in the two cases. Adam, in Paradise, transgressed the commandment, and I cast him out: Israel, in possession of the promised land, transgressed my covenant, and I cast them out, and sent them into captivity.

b. have transgressed [5674 * ‘abar] [Strong: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be wrath.] [Outline of Biblical Usage: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress, to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over, to pass beyond, to pass through, traverse, passers-through (participle), to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant), to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by, passer-by (participle), to be past, be over, to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance, to pass away, to emigrate, leave (one's territory), to vanish, to perish, cease to exist, to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree), to be alienated, pass into other hands, to be crossed, to impregnate, cause to cross, to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote, to cause to pass through, to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by, to cause to pass away, cause to take away, to pass over.]

1). Looking at the definitions given in Outline of Biblical Usage we can see some definitions apply to some very powerful spiritual truths that Adam and Eve violated when they ate the fruit.

c. the covenant [1285 * briyth] [Strong: from 1262 (in the sense of cutting (like 1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh):--confederacy, (con-)feder(-ate), covenant, league.]

1). In Genesis the Covenant is listed as a dominion covenant over all the earth and everything in and on the earth.

a). Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

2). The Covenant extended to include all of the universe.

a). Psalm 8:1-9 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

8:9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

3). The only restriction in this Covenant was to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord warned Adam that if he violated this commandment he would die, (spiritually and physically).

a). Genesis 2:15-17  And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

4). When Adam and Eve violated the commandment spiritual death and all that accompanied it came with it.

a). Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

2. “…there have they dealt treacherously against me.”

a. there they have dealt treacherously [898 * bagad] [Strong: a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage:--deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly, man), X very.]

1). This same Hebrew word used in the Lord’s indictment of Adam and Israel, is also used against men in the marriage covenant

a). Malachi 2:14, 15  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.