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Hosea 8
New English Translation
Hosea 8
New English Translation
God Will Raise Up the Assyrians to Attack Israel
8 Sound the alarm![a]
An eagle[b] looms over the temple of the Lord!
For they have broken their covenant with me[c]
and have rebelled against my law.
2 Israel cries out to me,
“My God, we acknowledge you!”
3 But Israel has rejected what is morally good;
so an enemy will pursue him.
The Political and Cultic Sin of Israel
4 They enthroned kings without my consent.[d]
They appointed princes without my approval.[e]
They made idols out of their silver and gold,
but they will be destroyed![f]
5 O Samaria, he has rejected your calf idol.
My anger burns against them!
They will not survive much longer without being punished,[g]
even though they are Israelites!
6 That idol was made by a workman—it is not God!
The calf idol of Samaria will be broken to bits.
The Fertility Cultists Will Become Infertile
7 They sow the wind,
and so they will reap the whirlwind!
The stalk does not have any standing grain;
it will not produce any flour.
Even if it were to yield grain,
foreigners would swallow it all up.
8 Israel will be swallowed up among the nations;
they will be like a worthless piece of pottery.
Israel’s Hired Lovers
9 They have gone up to Assyria,
like a wild donkey that wanders off.
Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers.[h]
10 Even though they have hired lovers among the nations,[i]
I will soon gather them together for judgment.[j]
Then[k] they will begin to waste away
under the oppression of a mighty king.[l]
Sacrifices Ineffective without Moral Obedience
11 Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings,
these have become altars for sinning.
12 I spelled out my law for him in great detail,
but they regard it as something totally unknown[m] to them.
13 They offer up sacrificial gifts to me
and eat the meat,
but the Lord does not accept their sacrifices.[n]
Soon he will remember their wrongdoing,
he will punish their sins,
and they will return to Egypt.
14 Israel has forgotten his Maker and built royal palaces,
and Judah has built many fortified cities.
But I will send fire on their cities;
it will consume their royal citadels.
Footnotes
- Hosea 8:1 tn Heb “A horn unto your gums!”; cf. NAB “A trumpet to your lips!”
- Hosea 8:1 tn Or perhaps: “A vulture.” Some identify the species indicated by the Hebrew term נֶשֶׁר (nesher) as the griffon vulture (cf. NEB, NRSV).
- Hosea 8:1 tn Heb “my covenant” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV); cf. TEV “the covenant I made with them.”
- Hosea 8:4 tn Heb “but without me”; cf. NCV “without asking my permission,” and CEV “without consulting me.”
- Hosea 8:4 tn Heb “but I did not know”; cf. NRSV “but without my knowledge.”
- Hosea 8:4 tn Heb “in order to be cut off.” The text gives the impression that they made the idols for this purpose, but the language is ironic and sarcastic, bringing out the futility of their efforts. One could paraphrase, “they made idols…but only so that they might be destroyed.” Though they had other plans for the idols, God’s judgment would bring their intentions to naught.
- Hosea 8:5 tn Heb “How long will they be able to be free from punishment?” This rhetorical question affirms that Israel will not survive much longer until God punishes it.
- Hosea 8:9 tn Or “has hired herself out to lovers”; cf. NIV “has sold herself to lovers.”
- Hosea 8:10 tn Or “they have hired themselves out to lovers”; cf. NASB “they hire allies among the nations.”
- Hosea 8:10 tn The Piel stem of קָבַץ (qavats) is often used in a positive sense, meaning “to regather” a dispersed people (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ 3.a; BDB 868 s.v. קָבַץ 1.α). However, in Hosea 8:10 it is used in a negative sense, meaning “to assemble (people) for judgment” (e.g., Ezek 20:34; Hos 9:6; HALOT 1063 s.v. 3.e.i). Cf. JPS “I will hold them fast” (in judgment; see the parallel in 9:6).
- Hosea 8:10 tn The vav consecutive + preterite וַיָּחֵלּוּ (vayyakhellu, Hiphil preterite third person common plural from חָלַל, khalal, “to begin”]) denotes temporal subordination to the preceding clause: “then…” (so NLT); cf. TEV, CEV “Soon.”
- Hosea 8:10 tn Heb “a king of princes” (cf. KJV, NASB); cf. TEV “the emperor of Assyria.”
- Hosea 8:12 tn Heb “foreign” or “alien”; cf. NASB, NRSV “as a strange thing.”
- Hosea 8:13 tn Heb “does not accept them”; the referent (their sacrifices) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
Hosea 8
New International Version
Hosea 8
New International Version
Israel to Reap the Whirlwind
8 “Put the trumpet(A) to your lips!
An eagle(B) is over the house of the Lord
because the people have broken my covenant(C)
and rebelled against my law.(D)
2 Israel cries out to me,
‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
3 But Israel has rejected what is good;
an enemy will pursue him.(E)
4 They set up kings without my consent;
they choose princes without my approval.(F)
With their silver and gold
they make idols(G) for themselves
to their own destruction.
5 Samaria, throw out your calf-idol!(H)
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of purity?(I)
6 They are from Israel!
This calf—a metalworker has made it;
it is not God.(J)
It will be broken in pieces,
that calf(K) of Samaria.(L)
7 “They sow the wind
and reap the whirlwind.(M)
The stalk has no head;
it will produce no flour.(N)
Were it to yield grain,
foreigners would swallow it up.(O)
8 Israel is swallowed up;(P)
now she is among the nations
like something no one wants.(Q)
9 For they have gone up to Assyria(R)
like a wild donkey(S) wandering alone.
Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.(T)
10 Although they have sold themselves among the nations,
I will now gather them together.(U)
They will begin to waste away(V)
under the oppression of the mighty king.
11 “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,
these have become altars for sinning.(W)
12 I wrote for them the many things of my law,
but they regarded them as something foreign.(X)
13 Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,
and though they eat(Y) the meat,
the Lord is not pleased with them.(Z)
Now he will remember(AA) their wickedness
and punish their sins:(AB)
They will return to Egypt.(AC)
14 Israel has forgotten(AD) their Maker(AE)
and built palaces;
Judah has fortified many towns.
But I will send fire on their cities
that will consume their fortresses.”(AF)
Hosea 8
New King James Version
Hosea 8
New King James Version
The Apostasy of Israel
8 “Set the [a]trumpet to your mouth!
He shall come (A)like an eagle against the house of the Lord,
Because they have transgressed My covenant
And rebelled against My law.
2 (B)Israel will cry to Me,
‘My God, (C)we know You!’
3 Israel has rejected the good;
The enemy will pursue him.
4 “They(D) set up kings, but not by Me;
They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.
From their silver and gold
They made idols for themselves—
That they might be cut off.
5 Your [b]calf [c]is rejected, O Samaria!
My anger is aroused against them—
(E)How long until they attain to innocence?
6 For from Israel is even this:
A (F)workman made it, and it is not God;
But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.
7 “They(G) sow the wind,
And reap the whirlwind.
The stalk has no bud;
It shall never produce meal.
If it should produce,
(H)Aliens would swallow it up.
8 (I)Israel is swallowed up;
Now they are among the Gentiles
(J)Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria,
Like (K)a wild donkey alone by itself;
Ephraim (L)has hired lovers.
10 Yes, though they have hired among the nations,
Now (M)I will gather them;
And they shall [d]sorrow a little,
Because of the [e]burden of (N)the king of princes.
11 “Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin,
They have become for him altars for sinning.
12 I have written for him (O)the great things of My law,
But they were considered a strange thing.
13 For the sacrifices of My offerings (P)they sacrifice flesh and eat it,
(Q)But the Lord does not accept them.
(R)Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.
They shall return to Egypt.
14 “For(S) Israel has forgotten (T)his Maker,
And has built [f]temples;
Judah also has multiplied (U)fortified cities;
But (V)I will send fire upon his cities,
And it shall devour his [g]palaces.”
Footnotes
- Hosea 8:1 ram’s horn, Heb. shophar
- Hosea 8:5 Golden calf image
- Hosea 8:5 Or has rejected you
- Hosea 8:10 Or begin to diminish
- Hosea 8:10 Or oracle or proclamation
- Hosea 8:14 Or palaces
- Hosea 8:14 Or citadels
Hosea 8
English Standard Version
Hosea 8
English Standard Version
Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind
8 Set (A)the trumpet to your lips!
One (B)like a vulture is over the house of the Lord,
because (C)they have transgressed my covenant
and rebelled against my law.
2 To me they cry,
(D)“My God, we—Israel—know you.”
3 Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.
4 (E)They made kings, (F)but not through me.
They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.
5 (G)I have[a] spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
(H)How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6 For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
it is not God.
(I)The calf of Samaria
(J)shall be broken to pieces.[b]
7 For (K)they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
(L)strangers would devour it.
8 (M)Israel is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as (N)a useless vessel.
9 For (O)they have gone up to Assyria,
(P)a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10 Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And (Q)the king and princes (R)shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.
11 Because Ephraim (S)has multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12 (T)Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings,
(U)they sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
(V)Now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
(W)they shall return to Egypt.
14 For (X)Israel has forgotten (Y)his Maker
and (Z)built palaces,
and (AA)Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
so (AB)I will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
Oseas 8
Palabra de Dios para Todos
Oseas 8
Palabra de Dios para Todos
Adorar ídolos lleva a la destrucción
8 »Toca la trompeta para dar una advertencia.
Sé como un águila sobre la casa del SEÑOR[a]
porque los israelitas han roto mi pacto
y han desobedecido mis leyes.
2 Ellos gritan y me dicen:
“¡Oh, Dios de Israel, nosotros te conocemos!”
3 Pero Israel ha rechazado el bien
y por eso el enemigo lo persigue.
4 Sin contar conmigo, escogieron a algunos para que fueran sus reyes;
nombraron príncipes que yo no conocía.
Con su oro y con su plata hicieron estatuas de sus ídolos.
Por eso Israel será destruido.
5 Samaria, yo he rechazado tu becerro.[b]
Estoy muy enojado con tu pueblo.
¿Hasta cuándo seguirán pecando?
6 Ese becerro fue hecho por un artesano de Israel; no es Dios.
Por eso el becerro de Samaria será roto en 1000 pedazos.
7 »Ellos plantarán
cuando el viento esté soplando fuerte.
Cosecharán
cuando haya un viento fuerte y poderoso.
Lo que plantaron crecerá
pero no dará frutos.
No producirá grano,
y en caso de que produzca algo,
los extranjeros lo devorarán.
8 Israel ha sido destruido.
Su pueblo está disperso entre las naciones como un pedazo de chatarra.
9 Israel insiste en ir a Asiria.
Son tercos como mulas.
El pueblo de Efraín ha contratado amantes.
10 Buscaron amantes entre las naciones.
Así que yo voy a juntarlos con sus amantes,
y sufrirán bajo el peso del emperador[c].
11 »Todos los altares que Efraín construyó
para borrar los pecados
se convirtieron en altares
para cometer pecados.
12 Aunque les escribiera 10 000 leyes,
las tratarían como algo extraño.
13 Hacen sacrificios con lo que yo les di.
Hacen ofrendas de carne y se las comen.
Al SEÑOR no le gusta esa gente;
él recuerda sus pecados
y por eso los castigará.
Serán llevados como prisioneros a Egipto.
14 Israel olvidó a su creador y construyó palacios
mientras Judá hacía muchas fortalezas.
Pero yo enviaré fuego sobre esas ciudades,
un fuego que devorará sus fortalezas».
Footnotes
- 8:1 Sé como […] SEÑOR o como un guardia sobre la casa del SEÑOR.
- 8:5 Samaria […] tu becerro Samaria era la capital de Israel. En Israel la gente hacía estatuas de becerros y las colocaba en los templos en Dan y Betel. No está claro si estas estatuas representaban al Señor o a algún dios falso. De cualquier forma, Dios no quería que la gente usara esas estatuas. Ver 1 R 12:26-30.
- 8:10 emperador Se refiere al rey de Asiria.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Palabra de Dios para Todos (PDT)
© 2005, 2015 Bible League International