Hosea 8:9
7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel.
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.
10 Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.
11 Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.
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
- For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.
- KJV
- For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
- WEB
- For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
- ASV
- For they are gone up to Assyria, [like] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
- DARBY
- For they are gone up [to] Assyria [as] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
- BLB
- For they have gone up to Assyria; a wild donkey isolated by himself; Ephraim, they have hired lovers.
- ÅB
- for de dro opp til Assur lik et villesel, som går sine egne veier; Efra'im tinger om elskov;
- OTB
- For de har dratt opp til Assyria,
Som et ensomt vilt esel;
Efraim har leid elskere. - B1930
- for de drog op til Assur lik et villesel, som går sine egne veier; Efra'im tinger om elskov;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 2:24
a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
Read in contextEzekiel 16:33–34
Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.
Read in contextHosea 7:11
So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove— calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
Read in contextHosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
Read in context2 Kings 15:19
Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom.
Read in contextIsaiah 30:6
This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
Read in contextHosea 12:1
Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
Read in contextHosea 2:5–7
For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
Read in context