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

9Like a wild donkey looking for a mate, they have gone up to Assyria. The people of Israel have sold themselves— sold themselves to many lovers. 10But though they have sold themselves to many allies, I will now gather them together for judgment. Then they will writhe under the burden of the great king. “Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! 12Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don’t apply to them. 13The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. 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 10:1How prosperous Israel is— a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
• Hosea 12:11But the people of Gilead are worthless because of their idol worship. And in Gilgal, too, they sacrifice bulls; their altars are lined up like the heaps of stone along the edges of a plowed field.
• Isaiah 10:10Yes, we have finished off many a kingdom whose gods were greater than those in Jerusalem and Samaria.
• Deuteronomy 4:28There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.
• Jeremiah 16:13So I will throw you out of this land and send you into a foreign land where you and your ancestors have never been. There you can worship idols day and night—and I will grant you no favors!’

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