Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 4

 INIQUITY UNCOVERED

They are are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. Hos. 7:4

They are all... Both spiritually and carnally, and this latter adultery is that which here is charged on the courtiers and people of Israel. Israel was a nation of adulterers. It is not clear whether general breach of covenant (cf. Hos. 6:10) or literal adultery (cf. Hos. 4:2, 4:13-14) is described here, literal in reference to spiritually.

as an oven... The wicked are compared three times to an oven becoming hot and getting out of control (Hos. 4:1-19, 6:1-11, 7:1-16). This vice is grown raging hot among them, as you see the fire in an oven, when the baker, having called up those that make the bread, to prepare all things ready. And the whole mass is leavened, he doth by continued supply of fuel to heat the oven to the highest degree. So does adultery among this people grow by degrees to raging flames. The whole mass of the people is leavened with this vice also, as well as the court. And every one inflamed with this unclean fire, as the oven heated by the baker. In either case Israel’s passion for disobedience was like a fire burning low in an oven while the baker kneads the dough and waits for the leavening process to be completed. Like an oven fire, Israel’s passion might subside for a short time, but it was ever present, ready to blaze forth when kindled (cf. Hos. 7:6).

There follows now a very difficult passage. The text is corrupt, and we have no means of determining what precise events are intended. The drift of meaning, however, is evident. The disorder and licentiousness of the people are favored in high places; the throne itself is guilty.

"With their evil they make a king glad, and princes with their falsehoods: all of them are adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker"

after he hath... Having kneaded the dough, and put in the leaven, he lets it alone to work till the whole mass is leavened, taking his rest in the meanwhile. As the former clause expresses the vehement desire of the people after adultery, spiritual or corporeal. This may signify their continuance in it; or rather the willful negligence of the king, priests, and prophets, who, instead of awaking them out of their sleep on a bed of adultery, let them alone in it, until they were all infected with it.

leaven, speaks of sin. The fact that it is leavened means it has risen to the height of sin. This adultery, again, is spiritual adultery. They are unfaithful to God. The kneading speaks of working the leaven down. It does not stay down. The sin is too great.

The wicked are compared three times to an oven becoming hot and getting out of control (Hos. 4:1-19, 6:1-11, 7:1-16).

Israel was a nation of adulterers. It is not clear whether general breach of covenant (cf. Hos. 6:10) or literal adultery (cf. Hos. 4:2, 4:13-14) is described here. In either case Israel’s passion for disobedience was like a fire burning low in an oven while the baker kneads the dough and waits for the leavening process to be completed. Like an oven fire, Israel’s passion might subside for a short time, but it was ever present, ready to blaze forth when kindled (cf. Hos. 7:6).