Hosea 12 · Verse 8

Hosea 12:8

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.
Hosea 12:8, King James Version

Hosea 12:8 in other translations

BSBAnd Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”
WEBEphraim said, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”
ASVAnd Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.
YLTAnd Ephraim saith: ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours--they find not against me iniquity that is sin.'
DARBYAnd Ephraim saith, Nevertheless I am become rich, I have found me out substance; in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
BBEAnd Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.
WebsterAnd Ephraim said, Yet I have become rich, I have found for myself substance: in all my labors they shall find no iniquity in me that were sin.

What does Hosea 12:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. 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. iniquity ... that were sin--iniquity that would bring down the penalty of sin. Ephraim argues, My success in my labors proves that I am not a guilty sinner as the prophets assert. Thus sinners pervert God's long-suffering goodness (Mt 5:45) into a justification of their impenitence (compare Ec 8:11-13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 I 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 it cost me more than you offer." "I am sorry I cannot take your money; but if I did, I should lose by the article," etc., etc., etc. I have heard such language over and over, when I knew every word was false. Truth is a sacred thing in the sight of God; but who regards it as he should? There are, however, many noble exceptions among merchants and tradesmen. Bp. Newcome gives another turn to the subject, by translating: - "All his labors shall not be found profitable unto him, For the iniquity wherewith he hath sinned."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 12:7-14

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…

Read the full comment on Hosea 12:7-14 →

Hosea 12:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he has saidH559
אֶפְרַ֔יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraimH669
אַ֣ךְ'akhsurelyH389
עָשַׁ֔רְתִּי'a.Shar.tiI have become richH6238
מָצָ֥אתִיma.Tza.tiI have foundH4672
א֖וֹן'onwealthH202
לִ֑יLifor myself
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
יְגִיעַ֕יye.gi.'Aitoil<s> myH3018
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
יִמְצְאוּ\־yim.tze.'u-people will findH4672
לִ֖יlito me
עָוֹ֥ן'a.VoniniquityH5771
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
חֵֽטְא\׃Chet'[is] sinH2399

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 12:8

  • Revelation 3:17

    Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

  • Psalms 62:10

    Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

  • Deuteronomy 8:17

    And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

  • Proverbs 30:20

    Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

  • Isaiah 10:13-14

    For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

  • Proverbs 30:12

    There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

  • 1 Timothy 6:5

    Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

  • Psalms 49:6

    They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

  • Job 31:24-25

    If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

  • Psalms 52:7

    Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

  • Zechariah 11:5

    Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Yet.
Job 31:24,25; Ps 49:6; 52:7; 62:10; Zec 11:5; Lu 12:19; 16:13
1Ti 6:5,17; Re 3:17
I have.
De 8:17; Isa 10:13,14; Hab 1:16; 2:5,6
in all, etc. or, all my labours suffice me not; he shallhave punishment of iniquity in whom is sin. they.
Pr 30:12,20; Jer 2:23,35; Mal 2:17; 3:13; Lu 10:29; 16:15
that. Heb. which.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hosea 12:7

    He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

  • Hosea 12:8

    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.

  • Hosea 12:9

    And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

Read all of Hosea 12

Hosea 12:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Es mercader que tiene en su mano peso falso, amador de opresión.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
C’est un marchand; la fausse balance est dans sa main; il aime à extorquer.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ein Kaufmann ist er; in seiner Hand ist eine Waage des Betrugs, er liebt zu übervorteilen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et dixit Ephraim: Verumtamen dives effectus sum; inveni idolum mihi: omnes labores mei non invenient mihi iniquitatem quam peccavi.