Hosea 7 · Verse 8

Hosea 7:8

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
Hosea 7:8, King James Version

Hosea 7:8 in other translations

BSBEphraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
WEBEphraim mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.
ASVEphraim, he mixeth himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
YLTEphraim! among peoples he mixeth himself, Ephraim hath been a cake unturned.
DARBYEphraim, he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
BBEEphraim is mixed with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
WebsterEphraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

What does Hosea 7:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. mixed ... among the people--by leagues with idolaters, and the adoption of their idolatrous practices (Ho 7:9, 11; Psa 106:35). Ephraim ... cake not turned--a cake burnt on one side and unbaked on the other, and so uneatable; an image of the worthlessness of Ephraim. The Easterners bake their bread on the ground, covering it with embers (1Ki 19:6), and turning it every ten minutes, to bake it thoroughly without burning it.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 A cake not turned - In the East having heated the hearth, they sweep one corner, put the cake upon it, and cover it with embers; in a short time they turn it, cover it again, and continue this several times, till they find it sufficiently baked. All travelers into Asiatic countries have noted this.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 7:8-16
Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Though they may howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, they seldom cry to God with their hearts. Even their prayers for earthly mercies only seek fuel for their lusts. Their turning from one sect, sentiment, form, or vice, to another, still leaves them far short of Christ and holiness. Such are we by nature. And such shall we prove if left to ourselves. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Hosea 7:8 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.

אֶפְרַ֕יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraimH669
בָּעַמִּ֖יםba.'a.Mimamong the peoplesH5971
ה֣וּאhu'heH1931
יִתְבּוֹלָ֑לyit.bo.Lalhe mixes himselfH1101
אֶפְרַ֛יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraimH669
הָיָ֥הha.Yahhe has becomeH1961
עֻגָ֖ה'u.Gaha bread cakeH5692
בְּלִ֥יbe.LinotH1097
הֲפוּכָֽה\׃ha.fu.Khahturned overH2015

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

Cross references for Hosea 7:8

  • Psalms 106:35

    But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

  • Ezra 9:12

    Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

  • Nehemiah 13:23-25

    In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

  • Ezra 9:1

    Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

  • Malachi 2:11

    Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

  • 1 Kings 18:21

    And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

  • Matthew 6:24

    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

  • Zephaniah 1:5

    And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham;

  • Hosea 5:7

    They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

  • Hosea 8:2-4

    Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. 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.

  • Hosea 9:3

    They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

  • Hosea 5:13

    When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he hath.
5:7,13; 9:3; Ezr 9:1,12; Ne 13:23-25; Ps 106:35; Eze 23:4-11
Mal 2:11
a cake.
8:2-4; 1Ki 18:21; Zep 1:5; Mt 6:24; Re 3:15,16

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

Context

  • Hosea 7:7

    They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

  • Hosea 7:8

    Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

  • Hosea 7:9

    Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

Read all of Hosea 7

Hosea 7:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Ephraim se envolvió con los pueblos; Ephraim fué torta no vuelta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Éphraïm s’est mêlé avec les peuples; Éphraïm est un gâteau qu’on n’a pas retourné.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ephraim vermischt sich mit den Völkern; Ephraim ist wie ein Kuchen geworden, der nicht umgewendet ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ephraim in populis ipse commiscebatur; Ephraim factus est subcinericius panis, qui non reversatur.