Hosea 8 · Verse 11

Hosea 8:11

Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
Hosea 8:11, King James Version

Hosea 8:11 in other translations

BSBThough Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.
WEBBecause Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.
ASVBecause Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning.
YLTBecause Ephraim did multiply altars to sin, They have been to him altars to sin.
DARBYBecause Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
BBEBecause Ephraim has been increasing altars for sin, altars have become a cause of sin to him.
WebsterBecause Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be to him to sin.

What does Hosea 8:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. 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).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Many 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 felt and saw the evil of their idolatry, without power to help themselves.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 8:11-14
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 long as men despise the truths and precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Hosea 8:11 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.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
הִרְבָּ֥הhir.Bahhe has multipliedH7235
אֶפְרַ֛יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraimH669
מִזְבְּחֹ֖תmiz.be.ChotaltarsH4196
לַחֲטֹ֑אla.cha.To'for sinningH2398
הָיוּ\־ha.yu-they have becomeH1961
ל֥וֹloto him
מִזְבְּח֖וֹתmiz.be.ChotaltarsH4196
לַחֲטֹֽא\׃la.cha.To'for sinningH2398

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

Cross references for Hosea 8:11

  • Hosea 12:11

    Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

  • Deuteronomy 4:28

    And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

  • Isaiah 10:10-11

    As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

  • Hosea 10:8

    The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

  • Jeremiah 16:13

    Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

  • Hosea 10:1-2

    Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
10:1,2,8; 12:11; Isa 10:10,11
altars.
De 4:28; Jer 16:13

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

Context

  • Hosea 8:10

    Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

  • Hosea 8:11

    Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

  • Hosea 8:12

    I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

Read all of Hosea 8

Hosea 8:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque multiplicó Ephraim altares para pecar, tuvo altares para pecar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car Éphraïm a multiplié les autels pour pécher, et les autels seront son péché.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn Ephraim hat die Altäre vermehrt zur Versündigung, und die Altäre sind ihm zur Versündigung geworden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quia multiplicavit Ephraim altaria ad peccandum; factæ sunt ei aræ in delictum.