Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:20
This verse contradicts Hosea 4:9 as it states that individuals will bear their own sins and not be punished for the sins of others, unlike the notion of collective judgment in Hosea 4:9.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Contradiction with Jeremiah 31:30
This verse emphasizes personal responsibility for one's own sin, whereas Hosea 4:9 implies that people suffer collectively for the sins of others.
Jeremiah 31:30: But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Contradiction with Galatians 6:5
This verse highlights personal accountability, stating that each man shall bear his own burden, which contrasts with the collective consequence mentioned in Hosea 4:9.
Galatians 6:5: For every man shall bear his own burden.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 24:16
This verse explicitly states that children shall not be punished for the sins of their parents, which contradicts the communal suffering described in Hosea 4:9.
Deuteronomy 24:16: The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Contradiction with Proverbs 11:21
This verse suggests that the wicked will not go unpunished but does not imply collective punishment, which is a theme in Hosea 4:9.
Proverbs 11:21: [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Paradox #1
Hosea 4:9 implies that the behavior and fate of the priests and the people are closely linked, suggesting that both will experience the same consequences for their actions. A potential contradiction could be seen in comparison to other parts of the Bible where leaders, especially spiritual ones, are held to a higher standard and are judged more strictly. This could create an apparent inconsistency regarding the level of accountability for priests versus the general population.
Paradox #2
The contradiction in Hosea 4:9 could be seen as the idea that the leaders and the people face the same consequences for wrongdoing, despite having different roles and levels of responsibility. This could seem inconsistent, as leaders might be expected to be held to higher standards or be more accountable for their actions than ordinary people.