Hosea 13:2

Hosea 13:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
• New International Version (NIV)Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, "Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!”

Context of Hosea 13:2

1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling and terror. He exalted himself [above the other tribes] in Israel; But through [the worship of] Baal he became guilty and died [spiritually, and then came ruin, sealing Israel’s doom as a nation]. And now they sin more and more, And make for themselves molten images, Idols skillfully made from their silver [as it pleased them], All of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of these [very works of their hands], “Let those who sacrifice kiss and show respect to the calves [as if they were living gods]!” 3Therefore they will be [swiftly dissipated] like the morning cloud Or like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which swirls with the whirlwind from the threshing floor, And like smoke from the chimney or through the window [worthless and without substance —they will vanish]. 4Yet I have been the Lord your God Since [the time you became a nation in] the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.

Hosea 13:2 word by word

וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ יוֹסִ֣פוּ לַחֲטֹ֗א וַיַּעְשׂ֣וּ לָהֶם֩ מַסֵּכָ֨ה מִכַּסְפָּ֤ם כִּתְבוּנָם֙ עֲצַבִּ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חָרָשִׁ֖ים כֻּלֹּ֑ה לָהֶם֙ הֵ֣ם אֹמְרִ֔ים זֹבְחֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם עֲגָלִ֖ים יִשָּׁקֽוּן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And now they sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• more and moreיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
• and have madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• them molten imagesמַסֵּכָהmassêkâh · molten metalH4541
• of their silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• idolsעָצָב‛âtsâb · idolH6091
• according to their own understandingתְּבוּנָהtâbûn tebûnâh tôbûnâh · understandingH8394
• all of it the workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of the craftsmenחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
• they sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• of them, Let the menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• that sacrificeזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• kissנָשַׁקnâshaq · to kissH5401
• the calvesעֵ֫גֶל‛êgel · calfH5695

Cross-references for Hosea 13:2

• Numbers 32:14Now look, you [the tribes of Reuben and Gad] have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel.
• 2 Chronicles 28:13and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here; for we are guilty before the Lord already, and what you intend to do will add more to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is so great that His burning anger is against Israel.”
• 2 Chronicles 33:23Further, he did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh [finally] had done, but Amon multiplied his guilt and his sin.
• Isaiah 1:5Why should you be stricken and punished again [since no change results from it]? You [only] continue to rebel. The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint and sick.
• Isaiah 30:1“Woe (judgment is coming) to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who carry out a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance [by pouring out a libation], but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;
• Romans 2:5But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
• 2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• Hosea 2:8“For she (Israel) has not noticed nor understood nor realized that it was I [the Lord God] who gave her the grain and the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal and made into his image.
• Hosea 8:4They set up kings, but not from Me [therefore without My blessing]; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and their gold they made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.
• Hosea 10:1Israel is a luxuriant and prolific vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made [to Baal]; The richer his land, The better he made the [idolatrous] pillars.
• Psalms 115:4The idols [of the nations] are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.
• Isaiah 46:6Those who lavish gold from the bag And weigh out silver on the scales Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it.
• Jeremiah 10:4They adorn the idol with silver and with gold; They fasten it with hammers and nails So that it will not fall apart.
• Habakkuk 2:18“What profit is the carved image when its maker has formed it? It is only a cast image, and a teacher of lies. For its maker trusts in his own creation [as his god] When he makes speechless idols.
• Hosea 11:6The sword will whirl against and fall on their cities, And will demolish the bars of their gates and fortifications And will consume them because of their counsels.
• Psalms 135:17They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath in their mouths.

Commentaries on Hosea 13:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2And now they sin more and more - They increase in every kind of vice, having abandoned the great Inspirer of virtue. Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves - This was the test. If there be a Jew that pretends to sacrifice, and whose conversion is dubious, let him come openly and kiss the calves. This will show what he is; no real Jew will do this. If he be an idolater, he will not scruple. This was the ancient method of adoration. They kissed the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And now they sin more and more - Sin draws on sin. This seems to be a third stage in sin. First, under Jeroboam, was the worship of the calves. Then, under Ahab, the worship of Baal. Thirdly, the multiplying of other idols (see 2 Kings 17:9-10), penetrating and pervading the private life, even of their less wealthy people. The calves were of gold; now they “made them molten images of their silver,” perhaps plated with silver. In Egypt, the mother of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The Hebrew word for idols is the same as the one used for the golden calf (Exodus 32:4, 8; see also Hosea 10:5–6; Amos 5:5–6). Kiss the calves!: Canaanite religious ceremonies involved kissing images of Baal (1 Kings 19:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. according to their own understanding--that is, their arbitrary devising. Compare "will-worship," Col 2:23. Men are not to be "wise above that which is written," or to follow their own understanding, but God's command in worship. kiss the calves--an act of adoration to the golden calves (compare 1Ki 19:18; Job 31:27; Psa 2:12).Read the comment

Topics related to Hosea 13:2

• Idolatry
• Silver
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Kiss
• Ransom
• Adoration
• Calf, Golden
• Goldsmith
• Hosea
• Idolatry
• Zechariah, Book of
• Silver

Commentaries on Hosea 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings