Hosea 8:1-11

1 A trump be in thy throat, as an eagle on the house of the Lord; for that that they went over my bond of peace, and brake my law. (Let a trumpet be at thy lips, like an eagle on the House of the Lord; for they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my teaching.)

2 They called me to help, (and said,) A! my God, we Israel have known thee. (They called to me for help, and said, O! my God, we Israel have known thee.)

3 Israel hath cast away good [thing], the enemy shall pursue him. (But Israel hath thrown away a good thing, and the enemy shall pursue them.)

4 They reigned, and not of me; they were princes, and I knew not. They made their gold and silver (into) idols to them, that they should perish. (They reigned, but not by me; they ordained rulers, but I did not know them. They made their silver and gold into idols for themselves, and so now they shall perish.)

5 A! Samaria, thy calf is cast away; my strong vengeance is wroth against them. How long may they not be cleansed? (O! Samaria, thy calf is thrown away; my strong vengeance is raging against them. How long until they be cleansed?)

6 for also it is of Israel. A craftsman made it, and it is not (a) god; for the calf of Samaria shall be into webs of araneida. (for it is also of Israel. A craftsman made it, and it is not God; for the calf of Samaria shall be like spider webs.)

7 For they shall sow wind, and they shall reap whirlwind. A stalk standing (up) is not in them, the seed shall not make meal; that if also it maketh meal, aliens shall eat it. (For they shall sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. A standing stalk is not among them, the seed shall not make meal, or grain; and even if it maketh meal, foreigners, or strangers, shall eat it up.)

8 Israel is devoured; now Israel is made as an unclean vessel among nations (and now Israel is made like an unclean, or a worthless, vessel among the peoples),

9 for they ascended to Assur. Ephraim is a wild ass, solitary to himself (for they went up to Assyria. Ephraim is like a wild donkey, alone unto itself). They gave gifts to [their] lovers;

10 but also with meed they hired nations (and with money they hired men from among the nations). Now I shall gather them together, and they shall rest a little from (the) burden of the king and of (the) princes.

11 For Ephraim multiplied altars to do sin, altars were made to him into trespass. (For Ephraim multiplied altars to do sin, yea, altars were made for them to do sin.)

Hosea 8:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 8

This chapter treats of the sins and punishment of Israel for them, as the preceding; it is threatened and proclaimed that an enemy should come swiftly against them, because of their transgression of the covenant and law of God, Ho 8:1; their hypocrisy is exposed, Ho 8:2; they are charged with the rejection of that which is good, and therefore should be pursued by the enemy, Ho 8:3; with setting up kings and princes without consulting the Lord, Ho 8:4; and with making of idols, particularly the golden calves, which would be of no use to them, disappoint them, and at last be broke to pieces, Ho 8:4-6; their seeking to their neighbours for help, and entering into alliances with them, are represented as vain and fruitless, and issuing in their ruin and destruction, Ho 8:7-10; their sins of multiplying altars, contrary to the law of God, and in contempt of it, and offering sacrifices to the Lord, are observed; and they with a visitation from him, Ho 8:11-13; and the chapter is concluded with some notice and Judah, the one building temples, and multiplying fenced cities, which should be by fire, Ho 8:14.