Hosea 12:8

Hosea 12:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
• New International Version (NIV)Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Ephraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin."
• New Living Translation (NLT)Israel boasts, “I am rich! I’ve made a fortune all by myself! No one has caught me cheating! My record is spotless!”

Context of Hosea 12:8

6So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually. 7“A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’ 9“But I am the Lord your God, Ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, As in the days of the appointed feast. 10I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.”

Hosea 12:8 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶפְרַ֔יִם אַ֣ךְ עָשַׁ֔רְתִּי מָצָ֥אתִי א֖וֹן לִ֑י כָּל־יְגִיעַ֕י לֹ֥א יִמְצְאוּ־לִ֖י עָוֹ֥ן אֲשֶׁר־חֵֽטְא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Yet I am become richעָשַׁר‛âshar · to enrichH6238
• I have found me outמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• substanceאוֹן'ôn · strengthH202
• all my laboursיְגִיעַyegîya‛ · toilH3018
• none iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
• sinחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399

Cross-references for Hosea 12:8

• Job 31:24“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
• Psalms 49:6Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,
• Psalms 52:7“Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
• Psalms 62:10Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
• Zechariah 11:5whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich’; and their shepherds do not pity them.
• Luke 12:19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
• Luke 16:13“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
• 1 Timothy 6:5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
• Revelation 3:17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
• Deuteronomy 8:17then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
• Isaiah 10:13For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
• Habakkuk 1:16Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.
• Habakkuk 2:5“Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples.
• Proverbs 30:12There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
• Jeremiah 2:23“How can you say, ‘I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley; Know what you have done: You are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways,
• Malachi 2:17You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the Lord, And He delights in them,” Or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Commentaries on Hosea 12:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8I am become rich - They boasted in their riches, notwithstanding the unjust manner in which they were acquired. In all my labors they shall find none iniquity in me - This is frequently the language of merchants, tradesmen, etc. None are so full of professions of equity and justice, while all the time they are endeavoring to overreach, both in buying and selling. "Sir, I cannot afford it at that price." "It is not mine for that money." "I assure you that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And Ephraim said, Yet am I become rich - Literally, “I am simply rich.” As if he said, “the only result of all this, with which the prophets charge me, is that I am become rich:‘ and since God thus prospers me, it is a sure proof that he is not displeased with me, that no iniquity‘ can be found in me;‘” the ordinary practical argument of men, as long as God withholds His punishments, that their ways cannot be so displeasing to Him. With the people of this…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-14Verses 7-14 Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies a Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles, covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, and falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shall have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a mighty prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8During the reign of Jeroboam II (793–753 BC), Israelite merchants became very wealthy. They often used deceitful business practices like dishonest scales (see Amos 8:5–6). The Hebrew term for merchants is kena‘an (“Canaan”). Canaanite traders were known in the ancient world for their crafty dealings. The Israelites imitated their pagan neighbors in both religion and commerce.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. And--that is, Notwithstanding. Yet I am ... rich--I regard not what the prophets say: I am content with my state, as I am rich (Re 3:17). Therefore, in just retribution, this is the very language of the enemy in being the instrument of Israel's punishment. Zec 11:5: "They that sell them say ... I am rich." Far better is poverty with honesty, than riches gained by sin. my labours--my gains by labor. they shall find none--that is, none shall find any…Read the comment

Topics related to Hosea 12:8

• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Measure
• Riches
• Self-Delusion
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Ephraim
• Commerce
• Hosea
• Zechariah, Book of

Commentaries on Hosea 12

• 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