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English Standard Version

Hosea 8:4

They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Government;   Idol;   King;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Idol;   Idolatry;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ethics;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hosea;   King, Kingship;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hosea, Book of;   Images;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Messiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hosea;   Pekahiah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anthropomorphism;   Monotheism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They have installed kings,but not through me.They have appointed leaders,but without my approval.They make their silver and goldinto idols for themselvesfor their own destruction.
Hebrew Names Version
They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, That they may be cut off.
King James Version
They 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.
New American Standard Bible
They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed officials, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, So that they will be eliminated.
New Century Version
They chose their own kings without asking my permission. They chose their own leaders, people I did not know. They made their silver and gold into idols, and for all this they will be destroyed.
Amplified Bible
They 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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
They haue set vp a King, but not by me: they haue made princes, and I knew it not: of their siluer and their gold haue they made them idoles: therefore shall they be destroyed.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.
Legacy Standard Bible
They have set up kings, but not by Me;They have appointed princes, but I did not know it.With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves,That they might be cut off.
Berean Standard Bible
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
Contemporary English Version
You chose kings and leaders without consulting me; you made silver and gold idols that led to your downfall.
Complete Jewish Bible
They make kings, but without my authority; they appoint leaders, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, but these can lead only to their own destruction.
Darby Translation
They 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.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Israelites chose their kings, but they didn't come to me for advice. They chose leaders, but they didn't choose men I knew. The Israelites used their silver and gold to make idols for themselves, so they will be destroyed.
George Lamsa Translation
They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, but they did not let me know; of their silver and their gold they have made idols to themselves, that they may perish.
Good News Translation
"My people chose kings, but they did it on their own. They appointed leaders, but without my approval. They took their silver and gold and made idols—for their own destruction.
Lexham English Bible
They appointed kings, but not through me; they made officials, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves for their own destruction.
Literal Translation
They have set up kings, but not by Me. They have made rulers, but I did not know. They made idols for themselves with their silver and their gold, so that they may be cut off.
American Standard Version
They 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.
Bible in Basic English
They have put up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, but I had no knowledge of it; they have made images of silver and gold, so that they may be cut off.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
They have set up kings, but not from 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.
King James Version (1611)
They haue set vp Kings, but not by me: they haue made Princes, and I knew it not: of their siluer and their golde haue they made them idoles, that they may be cut off.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
They haue ordeyned kinges, but not through me, they haue made princes, and I knewe it not: of their siluer and golde haue they made them idols, therfore shall they be destroyed.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
They have made kings for themselves, but not by me: they have ruled, but they did not make it known to me: of their silver and their gold they have made images to themselves, that they might be destroyed.
English Revised Version
They 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.
World English Bible
They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, That they may be cut off.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thei regnyden, and not of me; thei weren princes, and Y knew not. Thei maden her gold and siluer idols to hem, that thei schulden perische.
Update Bible Version
They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I did not know it: of their silver and their gold they have made for themselves idols, that they may be cut off.
Webster's Bible Translation
They 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 for themselves idols, that they may be cut off.
New English Translation
They enthroned kings without my consent! They appointed princes without my approval! They made idols out of their silver and gold, but they will be destroyed!
New King James Version
"They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves-- That they might be cut off.
New Living Translation
The people have appointed kings without my consent, and princes without my approval. By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold, they have brought about their own destruction.
New Life Bible
They have set up kings, but not by Me. They have chosen leaders, but I did not know it. They have made false gods for themselves out of silver and gold, so they will be destroyed.
New Revised Standard
They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
They, have appointed kings, but not from me, have made rulers, but I have not acknowledged them: of their silver and their gold, they made themselves idols, to the end they might be cut off.
Douay-Rheims Bible
They have reigned, but not by me: they have been princes, and I knew not: of their silver and their gold they have made idols to themselves, that they might perish.
Revised Standard Version
They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.
Young's Literal Translation
They have made kings, and not by Me, They have made princes, and I have not known, Their silver and their gold they have made to them idols, So that they are cut off.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
They haue ordened kinges, but not thorow me: they haue made prynces, and I must not knowe of it. Of their syluer and golde haue they made them ymages, to bringe them selues to destruccion.
THE MESSAGE
"They crown kings, but without asking me. They set up princes but don't let me in on it. Instead, they make idols, using silver and gold, idols that will be their ruin. Throw that gold calf-god on the trash heap, Samaria! I'm seething with anger against that rubbish! How long before they shape up? And they're Israelites! A sculptor made that thing— it's not God. That Samaritan calf will be broken to bits. Look at them! Planting wind-seeds, they'll harvest tornadoes. Wheat with no head produces no flour. And even if it did, strangers would gulp it down. Israel is swallowed up and spit out. Among the pagans they're a piece of junk. They trotted off to Assyria: Why, even wild donkeys stick to their own kind, but donkey-Ephraim goes out and pays to get lovers. Now, because of their whoring life among the pagans, I'm going to gather them together and confront them. They're going to reap the consequences soon, feel what it's like to be oppressed by the big king.

Contextual Overview

1 Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord , because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law. 2 To me they cry, "My God, we—Israel—know you." 3 Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. 5 I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6 For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

set: 1 Kings 12:16-20, 2 Kings 15:10-30, "Shallum, Menakem, Pekahiah." I knew. Matthew 25:12, Luke 13:25, Luke 13:27, John 10:14, Galatians 4:9

of: Hosea 2:8, Hosea 13:2, 1 Kings 12:28, 1 Kings 16:31

that they: Hosea 13:9, 1 Kings 13:34, Jeremiah 44:7, Jeremiah 44:8, Ezekiel 18:31

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:4 - calf 2 Samuel 19:10 - whom 1 Kings 12:20 - and made him 1 Kings 12:24 - for this thing 2 Chronicles 11:4 - for this thing Isaiah 17:8 - the work Isaiah 44:9 - and their Isaiah 46:6 - lavish Jeremiah 10:3 - one Jeremiah 16:20 - General Daniel 3:1 - made Hosea 7:7 - devoured Hosea 10:1 - to the multitude Hosea 13:6 - therefore Hosea 13:10 - thy judges Amos 2:6 - For three

Cross-References

Genesis 8:17
Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
Genesis 8:19
Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.
2 Kings 19:37
And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
Isaiah 37:38
And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
Jeremiah 51:27
"Set up a standard on the earth; blow the trumpet among the nations; prepare the nations for war against her; summon against her the kingdoms, Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a marshal against her; bring up horses like bristling locusts.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

They have set up kings, but not by me,.... Not by his authority, order, and command; not by asking advice of him, or his leave, but of themselves, and of their own, accord: this refers to the case of Jeroboam their first king, after their separation from the house of David, and from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; for though his becoming king of Israel was according to the secret will of God, and by his overruling providence; yet it was done without his express orders, and without asking counsel of him, or his consent, and of their own heads; and many of his successors were conspirators, and set up themselves with the consent of the people, to the dethroning of others, and upon the slaughter of them, as Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea: the people of Israel had no right to choose a king for themselves; the right was alone in the Lord; it was he that chose, appointed, and constituted their kings, Deuteronomy 17:15; thus Saul, David, and Solomon, were chose and appointed by him, 1 Samuel 10:24; it was not the person of Jeroboam chosen God disliked; but their taking it upon them to choose and set him up without his leave;

they have made princes, and knew [it] not; that is, they set up subordinate governors, judges, civil magistrates, elders of the people, over them, without his approbation, and such as were very disagreeable to him; otherwise he knew what was done by them, as being the omniscient God, but he did not approve of what they did. Some observe, that ש, in the word used, is put for ס, and should be rendered, "they have removed", so Jarchi and Japhet; that is, they have set up kings, and they have removed them; they have took it upon them to make and pose kings at pleasure, without seeking the Lord about it, when this is his prerogative, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, Daniel 2:21; which sense makes a strong and beautiful antithesis;

of their silver and their gold have they made their idols; some of their idols were made of silver, others of gold; particularly the calves at Dan and Bethel, which are called the golden calves, because made of gold; as was the calf in the wilderness, 1 Kings 12:28; see

Isaiah 46:6;

that they may be cut off: which denotes not the end, intentions, and design of making these idols of silver and gold, but the event thereof; namely, either the destruction of the idols themselves, which, for the sake of the silver and gold they were made of; were cut in pieces by a foreign enemy; or the gold and silver were cut off from the people, their riches and wealth were wasted by such means; or rather the people were cut off, everyone of them, because of their worship of them, or this would be the case.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They have set up kings, but not by ME - God Himself foretold to Jeroboam by Ahijah the prophet, that He would “rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and give ten tribes” to him, “and” would “take” him, “and” he “should reign according to all that” his soul desired and” should “be king over Israel” 1 Kings 11:31, 1 Kings 11:37; and, after the ten tribes had made Jeroboam king, God said by Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam and the two tribes, “Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me” 1 Kings 12:22-24.

Yet although here, as everywhere, man’s self-will was overruled by God’s will, and fulfilled it, it was not the less self-will, both in the ten tribes and in Jeroboam. It was so in the ten tribes. For they cast off Rehoboam, simply of their own mind, because he would not lessen the taxes, as they prescribed. If he would have consented to their demands, they would have remained his subjects 1 Kings 12:4. “They set up kings, but not by or through” God, whom they never consulted, nor asked His will about the rules of the kingdom, or about its relation to the kingdom of Judah, or the house of David. They referred these matters no more to God, than if there had been no God, or than if He interfered not in the affairs of man. It was self-will in Jeroboam himself, for he received the kingdom (which Ahijah told him, he “desired”) not from God, not requiring of him, how he should undertake it, nor anointed by Him, nor in any way acknowledging Him, but from the people. And as soon as he had received it, he set up rebellion against God, in order to establish his kingdom, which he founded in sin, whereby he made Israel to sin.

In like way, the Apostle says, “against Thy holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done” Acts 4:27, Acts 4:8. Yet not the less did they sin in this Deicide; and the Blood of Jesus has ever since, as they imprecated on themselves, been on the Jews and on their children, as many as did not repent.

As was the beginning of the kingdom of Israel, such was its course. “They made kings, but not from God.” Such were all their kings, except Jehu and his house. During 253 years, for which the kingdom of Israel lasted eighteen kings reigned over it, out of ten different families, and no family came to a close, save by a violent death. The like self-will and independence closed the existence of the Jewish people. The Roman Emperor being afar off, the Scribes and Pharisees hoped, under him, without any great control, to maintain their own authority over the people. They themselves, by their “God forbid!” Luke 20:16, owned that our Lord truly saw their thoughts and purpose, “This is the heir; come let us kill Him, that the inheritance may be ours.” They willed to reign without Christ, feared the Pagan Emperor less than the holiness of Jesus, and in the words, “We have no king but Caesar,” they deposed God, and shut themselves out from His kingdom.

And I knew it not - “As far as in them lay, they did it without His knowledge” John 8:54. They did not take Him into their counsels, nor desire His cognizance of it, or His approbation of it. If they could, they would have had Him ignorant of it, knowing it to be against His will. And so in His turn, God knew it not, owned it not, as He shall say to the ungodly, “I know you not” Matthew 25:12.

Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols - God had multiplied them, (as He said before Hosea 2:8), and they ungratefully abused to the dishonor of the Giver, what He gave them to be used to His glory.

That they may be cut off - Literally, “that he may be cut off.” The whole people is spoken of as one man, “one and all,” as we say. It is a fearful description of obstinate sin, that their very object in it seemed to be their own destruction. They acted with one will as one man, who had, in all he did, this one end - to perish. : “As if on set purpose they would provoke destruction, and obstinately run themselves into it, although forewarned thereof.” Holy Scripture speaks of that as people’s end, at which all their acts aim. “They see, not, nor know, that they may be ashamed” Isaiah 44:9; i. e., they blind themselves, as though their whole object were, what they will bring upon themselves, their own shame. “They prophesy a lie in My Name, that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you” Jeremiah 27:15. This was the ultimate end of those false prophecies. The false prophets of Judah filled them with false hopes; the real and true end of those prophecies, that in which they ended, was the ruin of those who uttered, and of those who listened to them. We ourselves say almost proverbially, “he goes the way to ruin himself;” not that such is the man’s own object, but that he obstinately chooses a course of conduct, which, others see, must end in utter ruin. So a man chooses destruction or hell, if he chooses those tilings which, according to God’s known law and word, end in it. Man bides from his own eyes the distant future, and fixes them on the nearer objects which he has at heart. God lifts the veil, and discovers to him the further end, at which he is driving, which he is, in fact, compassing, and which is in truth the end, for his own fleeting obiects perish in the using; this and this alone abides.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hosea 8:4. They have set up kings, but not by me — Properly speaking, not one of the kings of Israel, from the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David, was the anointed of the Lord.

I knew it not — It had not my approbation. In this sense the word know is frequently understood.

That they may be cut off. — That is, They shall be cut off in consequence of their idolatry.


 
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