Hosea 8:11

Hosea 8:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
• New International Version (NIV)“Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin, They have become for him altars for sinning.

Context of Hosea 8:11

9They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers. 10Even though they have hired lovers among the nations, I will soon gather them together for judgment. Then they will begin to waste away under the oppression of a mighty king. Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning! 12I spelled out my law for him in great detail, but they regard it as something totally unknown to them! 13They offer up sacrificial gifts to me, and eat the meat, but the Lord does not accept their sacrifices. Soon he will remember their wrongdoing, he will punish their sins, and they will return to Egypt.

Hosea 8:11 word by word

כִּֽי־הִרְבָּ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם מִזְבְּחֹ֖ת לַחֲטֹ֑א הָיוּ־ל֥וֹ מִזְבְּח֖וֹת לַחֲטֹֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Because Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
• hath made manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• altarsמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
• to sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398

Cross-references for Hosea 8:11

• Hosea 10:1Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.
• Hosea 12:11Is there idolatry in Gilead? Certainly its inhabitants will come to nothing! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!
• Isaiah 10:10I overpowered kingdoms ruled by idols, whose carved images were more impressive than Jerusalem’s or Samaria’s.
• Deuteronomy 4:28There you will worship gods made by human hands – wood and stone that can neither see, hear, eat, nor smell.
• Jeremiah 16:13So I will throw you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your ancestors have ever known. There you must worship other gods day and night, for I will show you no mercy.’”

Commentaries on Hosea 8:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Many altars to sin - Though it does not appear that the Jews in Babylon were obliged to worship the idols of the country, except in the case mentioned by Daniel, yet it was far otherwise with the Israelites in Assyria, and the other countries of their dispersion. Because they had made many altars to sin while they were in their own land, they were obliged to continue in the land of their captivity a similar system of idolatry against their will. Thus they…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall indeed be unto him to sin - that is, they shall be proved to him to be so, by the punishment which they shall draw upon him. The prophet had first shown them their folly in forsaking God for the help of man; now he shows them the folly of attempting to “secure themselves by their great shew and pretences of religion and devotion in a false way.” God had appointed “one” altar at Jerusalem. There He…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-14Verses 11-14 It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. So…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin: As Israel increased its worship of other gods, the people also increased their religious activities in an attempt to remove their sin. Instead, these practices only added to their sin.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. God in righteous retribution gives them up to their own way; the sin becomes its own punishment (Pr 1:31). many altars--in opposition to God's law (De 12:5, 6, 13, 14). to sin ... to sin--Their altars which were "sin" (whatever religious intentions they might plead) should be treated as such, and be the source of their punishment (1Ki 12:30; 13:34).Read the comment

Topics related to Hosea 8:11

• Altar
• Ephraim
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Ephraim
• Ephraim, Ephraimite
• Altar
• Calf, Golden
• Hosea
• Zechariah, Book of

Commentaries on Hosea 8

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings