Hosea 12:11

⁹ But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

¹⁰ I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

¹² Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep.

¹³ But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.
KJV: Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
WEB: If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
ASV: Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
DARBY: If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
BLB: If iniquity [is] in Gilead, surely they are worthless; In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; even their altars [are] as heaps over the furrows of the field.

ÅB: Er Gilead fullt av misgjerninger, så skal de også bli rent til intet; har de ofret okser i Gilgal, så skal og deres altere bli som steinrøyser langsmed markens furer.
OTB: Er det urett i Gilead?
Sannelig, de er uten verdi.
I Gilgal ofrer de okser,
Ja, deres altere er som steinhauger
Ved furenes kanter på en mark.
B1930: Er Gilead fullt av misgjerninger, så skal de også bli rent til intet; har de ofret okser i Gilgal, så skal og deres altere bli som stenrøser langsmed markens furer.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 4:15
Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
Read in context
Hosea 6:8
Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with footprints of blood.
Read in context
Hosea 8:11
Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.
Read in context
Hosea 9:15
All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.
Read in context
Hosea 10:1
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
Read in context
2 Kings 17:9–11
The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:20
“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
Read in context
1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
Read in context