Hosea8
English Standard Version
1Set the to your ! One like a is over the of the Lord, because they have my and against my .
2To me they , My , we— — you.
3 has the ; the shall him.
4They made , but not through me. They , but I it not. With their and they for their .
5I have your , O . My against them. How they be of ?
6For it is from ; a it; it is not . The of shall be .
7For they the , and they shall the . The has no ; it shall no ; it were to , would it.
8 is ; they are as a .
9For they have gone to , a wandering ; has .
10 they allies , I will them up. And the and shall because of the .
11 has for , they have become to him for .
12Were I to my by the , they would be as a thing.
13As for my , they and it, but the Lord does not them. Now he will their and their ; they shall to .
14For has his and , and has ; so I will a upon his , and it shall her .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hosea 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel. (1-4). For their idolatry. (5-10). Further threatenings for the same sins. (11-14).
vv1-4
When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?
vv5-10
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
vv11-14
It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ.
Key Words
שׁוֹפָר: a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn
חֵךְ: properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of speech, taste and kissing)
נֶשֶׁר: the eagle (or other large bird of prey)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
עָבַר: to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
בְּרִית: a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
פָּשַׁע: to break away (from just authority), i.e. trespass, apostatize, quarrel
תּוֹרָה: a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
זָעַק: to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
Cross References
Hosea 8The swift, destructive invader descending 'as an eagle' fulfills the covenant curses of Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament expression of the spiritual principle that whatever a man sows, he will also reap.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Uses identical imagery of being cast off as a broken, despised vessel wherein is no pleasure.
Supported by JFB
Ephraim's perversity in paying and hiring foreign lovers rather than being courted by them.
Supported by JFB
The command to sound the warning trumpet of judgment and imminent war.
Supported by JFB
Hypocritical professions of 'Lord, Lord' parallel Israel crying 'My God, we know thee' in distress.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
They profess to know God, but in their deeds and works they deny Him.
Supported by JFB
The description of the wild ass running headstrong and alone in the wilderness.
Supported by JFB
God gathering hostile nations to execute judgment on Israel rather than helping them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Trusting in lying words of empty religious claim while violating God's covenant.
Supported by JFB
The historical setting up of Jeroboam as king without God's sanction or appointment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The proverbial truth that those who sow iniquity shall reap vanity and trouble.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills the specific covenant threat that disobedience would result in a return to Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Judah's defensive multiplication of cities met by God's devouring fire on her palaces.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The continuing sin of making molten images of their silver according to their own understanding.
Supported by JFB