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Hosea, 8

1. [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. [He shall come] as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

1. Sound the trumpet, sentry! Warn the people of Yahweh because they have broken my covenant and are unfaithful to my Law.

2. Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

2. They cry to me, "We, Israel, acknowledge you, O God."

3. Israel hath cast off [the thing that is] good: the enemy shall pursue him.

3. But Israel rejected what is right and this is why the enemy will hunt them down.

4. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew [it] not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

4. Without my approval they set up kings and without my blessing appointed leaders. With their silver and gold they fashioned idols to their own ruin.

5. Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast [thee] off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long [will it be] ere they attain to innocency?

5. To me, Samaria, your calf is loathsome and my anger blazes against you. How long will you remain defiled?

6. For from Israel [was] it also: the workman made it; therefore it [is] not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

6. The calf is yours, Israel, a craftsman has made it; it is not God and will be broken into pieces.

7. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

7. As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Like the erect ear of corn they will bear no grain and produce no flour, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.

8. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure.

8. -

9. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

9. Israel lived apart as a wild donkey, but he was eaten up. Now they are among pagans as a worthless object. Ephraim went to Assyria with gifts.

10. Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

10. Now they have been given up to the nations and I shall gather them. For in no time they have been left with no prophets, or kings, or leaders.

11. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

11. Ephraim built many altars but his altars made him more guilty.

12. I have written to him the great things of my law, [but] they were counted as a strange thing.

12. I wrote out for him the numerous precepts of my Law, but they look on them as coming from foreigners.

13. They sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat [it; but] the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

13. They offer sacrifices to me because they are those who eat the meat, but Yahweh does not accept their sacrifices for he is mindful of their sin and remembers their wickedness. They will return to Egypt.

14. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

14. Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, but I will set fire to their towns and burn their palaces.



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Footnotes:

8:1-3 - The Lord orders the trumpet to be blown, signaling the approaching invasion and destruction. Israel has rejected God's law and, as a result, faces divine judgment. The people's sin is clear, and the consequences are inevitable (see also Amos 3:6 and Jeremiah 6:17).

8:4-6 - Israel was unfaithful in establishing kings and princes without God's direction, violating the covenant. Idolatry spread, and images of metal and gold became objects of worship. This represents a direct rejection of the Lord as the only God (see also Exodus 32:4 and Deuteronomy 4:16-18).

8:7-10 - Israel's sowing is described as ineffective because they sought help from foreign nations and rejected God's grace. Judgment will be the consequence of their dependence on external forces instead of trusting in the Lord (see also Isaiah 31:1 and Jeremiah 2:13).

8:11-14 - Israel's idolatry and altars are an affront to God. Their reliance on empty, external religious practices leads them away from true worship. The destruction of their cities and temples symbolizes punishment for their betrayal of the covenant (see also 1 Kings 12:28-31 and Ezekiel 8:5-18).

08:14 - Israel has forgotten its Creator, seeking security and prosperity in its own hands, without recognizing God's sovereignty. Destruction is imminent as a result of this trust in man rather than God (see also Psalm 9:17 and Jeremiah 2:32).

Verses related to Hosea, 8:

Hosea chapter 8 announces the imminent judgment of Israel. What are the consequences of rejecting God? This incisive text uses the metaphor of the eagle to symbolize the swiftness of the coming judgment. The chapter addresses topics such as idolatry, false religiosity and the futility of trust in human resources. Hosea 8 emphasizes that sowing the wind results in reaping the whirlwind. Consider with us five biblical passages that illuminate the fundamental principles of this cautionary chapter.

Matthew 7:23: "Then I will tell you clearly: 'I never knew you. Away from me, you who do evil!'" - It echoes God's judgment in Hosea 8:2-3 against those who claim to know Him but live in sin.

Galatians 6:7: "Don't be fooled: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." - It reflects the principle of sowing and reaping mentioned in Hosea 8:7.

1 Samuel 8:7: "And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Listen to everything the people are saying to you; It was not you they rejected as king, but me.'" - It relates to Hosea 8:4, where Israel establishes kings without God's approval.

Jeremiah 2:13: "My people have committed two sins: they have abandoned me, the source of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water." - It complements the idea in Hosea 8:14 of Israel forgetting its Creator.

Acts 7:41: "On that occasion they made an idol in the shape of a calf. They brought him sacrifices and held a celebration in honor of what his hands had done." - It refers to idolatry, a theme also present in Hosea 8:4-6.

FAQ:

What does "Israel sows the wind and reaps the whirlwind" mean?

It means that Israel, by rejecting obedience to God and following wrong paths, is sowing the seeds of its own destruction. (Hosea 8:7)

Why does God reject Israel's altars?

God rejects Israel's altars because they were being used for false worship, with rituals that were not pleasing to God but fueled idolatry. (Hosea 8:11-13)

What is the consequence of Israel's alliance with foreign peoples?

Israel's alliance with foreign nations resulted in idolatry and alienation from God. This brought God's wrath, for God had commanded Israel to be faithful to Him. (Hosea 8:9-10)

What does the expression "Ephraim is like a bird" mean?

The expression points to the frailty and inconstancy of Israel, who is being led to destruction, like a bird that flies away without direction or purpose. (Hosea 8:11-14)

Why does God say that "Israel has sinned since the days of Gibeah"?

The reference to Gibeah harks back to Israel's ancient corruption and sin, showing that the people did not learn from their history and continued to make the same mistakes. (Hosea 8:9)


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