Hosea 8

King James Version

Full text for Hosea Chapter 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.

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

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

4They 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.

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

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

7For 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.

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

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

10Yea, 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.

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

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

13They 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.

14For 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Hosea 8 pronounces divine judgment upon Israel for their persistent transgression of God's covenant and law. They are condemned for setting up kings without divine approval, creating idols from their wealth, and forgetting their Maker. As a consequence, an enemy is poised to strike, and their efforts will be futile, leading to their scattering among the nations.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a warning, likened to an eagle's swift attack, against Israel for breaking God's covenant and law. Despite their claim to know God, Israel has rejected what is good, leading to pursuit by an enemy. They are rebuked for establishing kings and princes without divine sanction and for fashioning idols from their silver and gold, particularly the calf of Samaria, which is destined for destruction. Their actions are compared to sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind, signifying the futility and destructive consequences of their spiritual apostasy. God declares that Israel will be swallowed up and become like a despised vessel among the Gentiles, facing judgment for their many altars made for sin and their disregard for His law.

Long Summary

Hosea 8 opens with a command to sound the trumpet, signaling an imminent attack, likened to an eagle, upon the house of the LORD because Israel has transgressed His covenant and law. Though Israel may cry out, claiming to know God, they have cast off what is good, ensuring their pursuit by an enemy. The LORD condemns their practice of setting up kings and princes without His authority, and their creation of idols from their precious metals, which will ultimately lead to their downfall. Specifically, the calf of Samaria is highlighted as an object of divine anger, and its destruction is foretold, emphasizing that it is merely a man-made object, not God. The prophet uses the metaphor that they have sown the wind and shall reap the whirlwind, illustrating the barren and destructive outcome of their spiritual infidelity; their efforts will yield no sustenance, and any produce will be consumed by strangers. Israel is declared to be swallowed up, destined to be among the Gentiles as a vessel of no value, partly due to their reliance on Assyria and their spiritual unfaithfulness, described as Ephraim hiring lovers. Despite their many altars for sin, these altars will only serve to condemn them further. God laments that His great laws, though written for them, were regarded as strange. Their sacrifices are unacceptable, and God will remember their iniquity and visit their sins, leading them to return to Egypt. The chapter concludes by stating that Israel has forgotten its Maker by building temples, and Judah, despite multiplying fenced cities, will face divine judgment as fire is sent upon their cities, devouring their palaces.

Core Concepts

  • Covenant TransgressionIsrael is condemned for breaking God's covenant and trespassing against His law, which is the foundational reason for the impending judgment.
  • Unauthorized KingshipThe people are rebuked for establishing kings and princes without divine approval, indicating a rejection of God's ultimate sovereignty over their governance.
  • Idolatry and False WorshipIsrael's practice of making idols from silver and gold, particularly the calf of Samaria, is a central sin, demonstrating their spiritual apostasy and misdirection of worship.
  • Futility of Sinful ActionsThe metaphor of 'sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind' illustrates that their unfaithful actions will yield no positive outcome but rather destructive consequences and barrenness.
  • Divine Judgment and ExileGod's anger is kindled, leading to Israel being 'swallowed up' and scattered among the Gentiles as a 'vessel wherein is no pleasure,' signifying their impending national humiliation and displacement.
  • Rejection of God's LawDespite God writing 'the great things of my law,' Israel counted them as 'a strange thing,' indicating a deliberate disregard for divine instruction and guidance.
  • Spiritual ForgettingIsrael is accused of forgetting its Maker by building temples and multiplying altars for sin, highlighting their profound spiritual amnesia and misplaced devotion.