Hosea 8:4
2 Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!”
3 But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
5 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6 For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.
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
- They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- They set up kings, and not from Me; they made princes, and not ones I knew. With their silver and gold they made for themselves idols, that it might be cut off.
- ÅB
- De har valgt seg konger, som ikke kom fra meg, de har satt inn fyrster, uten at jeg visste om det. Av sitt sølv og gull har de gjort seg avgudsbilder, så de skulle bli utryddet.
- OTB
- De har satt opp konger, men ikke ved min autoritet;
De har utnevnt embetsmenn, men jeg ble ikke konsultert.
Med sitt sølv og gull har de laget seg avguder,
Slik at de vil bli fjernet. - B1930
- De har valgt sig konger, som ikke kom fra mig, de har satt inn fyrster, uten at jeg visste om det. Av sitt sølv og gull har de gjort sig avgudsbilleder, så de skulde bli utryddet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 13:9–10
You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me— against your helper.
Read in context2 Kings 15:10–30
Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.
Read in contextHosea 13:2
Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”
Read in context1 Kings 12:16–20
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,
Read in contextJohn 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
Read in contextHosea 2:8
For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold— which they crafted for Baal.
Read in context1 Kings 16:31
And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
Read in contextLuke 13:25
After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
Read in context