Hosea 10 3

Hosea 10:3 kjv

For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

Hosea 10:3 nkjv

For now they say, "We have no king, Because we did not fear the LORD. And as for a king, what would he do for us?"

Hosea 10:3 niv

Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"

Hosea 10:3 esv

For now they will say: "We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD; and a king ? what could he do for us?"

Hosea 10:3 nlt

Then they will say, "We have no king
because we didn't fear the LORD.
But even if we had a king,
what could he do for us anyway?"

Hosea 10 verses

Hosea 10 3 Meaning

Israel's boast in its rulers is baseless, for they have turned away from God, leading to their eventual judgment and scattering. The prosperity and military strength they relied upon were fleeting and would not save them from divine retribution due to their idolatry and corruption.

Hosea 10 3 Context

Hosea's prophecy unfolds during the tumultuous period of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly under the reigns of kings like Jeroboam II and Pekah. This era was marked by outward prosperity and military success, which Israel attributed to their alliances and their own strength, rather than to God's covenant faithfulness. However, beneath this facade lay deep-seated spiritual apostasy, idolatry, and a pervasive corruption of justice and morality. The people and their leaders had abandoned reliance on Jehovah, turning instead to foreign powers and false deities. Chapter 10 directly addresses this betrayal, highlighting their syncretistic worship, their political instability that ultimately led to their downfall by Assyria, and their misplaced confidence in human leadership and military might. The verse in question encapsulates Israel's cynical declaration of independence from God's sovereignty, a prideful rejection that sealed their doom.

Hosea 10 3 Word analysis

• "For": Hebrew: כִּי (ki). Indicates cause or reason for the preceding statements.

• "now": Hebrew: עַתָּה (atta). Denotes the present time, emphasizing that this is their current mindset or the imminent consequence.

• "they will say": Hebrew: יֹאמְרוּ (yomru). Refers to the future declaration of the people or their leaders, reflecting their apostasy.

• "We have no king": Hebrew: אֵין לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ (ein lanu melekh). This is a profound statement of rejection. It signifies a severance from legitimate divine rule. Historically, Israel’s monarchy was intended to be a manifestation of God’s rule over them. Their saying this implies they disavow any dependence on or allegiance to a heavenly sovereign, or even a divinely sanctioned earthly ruler. This could also point to the chaos and usurpation of kings, none of whom ruled with true divine authority in their eyes, or perhaps they saw their earthly kings as useless.

• "for": Hebrew: כִּי (ki). Again, provides the reason for their statement.

• "we do not fear the LORD": Hebrew: לֹא נִירָא אֶת־יְהוָה (lo nira et-Yahweh). This is the core of their apostasy. Fear of the LORD is a fundamental concept in the Old Testament, meaning reverence, awe, obedience, and submission to God's authority. Their admission here directly confesses their rebellion and godlessness.

• "And": Hebrew: וְ (v’e). Connects the preceding statement to the following question.

• "who is our king": Hebrew: מִי מַלְכֵּנוּ (mi malkenu). A rhetorical question meant to mock or dismiss any notion of divine authority. It underscores their proud self-sufficiency and defiance. They had rejected God’s established kingship, including his covenantal oversight.

• "to save us": Hebrew: לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ (lehoshi'einu). Expresses their disbelief that any king, particularly their divinely absent or rejected one, could rescue them from the impending judgment (presumably from external enemies, represented here by "your hands").

• "from your hands": Hebrew: מִיָּדֶךָ (miyadecha). "Your hands" likely refers to the hands of the Assyrian invaders, the instruments of God's judgment upon Israel.

• Word group analysis:

  • "We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD": This entire phrase functions as a declaration of absolute defiance and autonomy. It equates the absence of an earthly king they acknowledge with a complete abandonment of God’s fear and rule.
  • "And who is our king to save us from your hands?": This represents a challenge and mockery of divine authority and power, indicating a profound rejection of God’s covenantal protection and an arrogant reliance on their own capabilities or foreign alliances.

Hosea 10 3 Bonus Section

The prophecy in Hosea 10:3 is powerfully illustrated by Israel's history, particularly during periods of weak or illegitimate kingship and the rise of the calf cults in Bethel and Dan. Scholars often connect this verse to the broader theme in the Old Testament of Israel's continuous struggle with idolatry and their resistance to acknowledging God as their ultimate king (as seen in 1 Samuel 8). The New Testament echo is found in the concept of ultimate allegiance. When Jesus declares "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), it contrasts sharply with the earthly kingdoms and political powers Israel often relied upon. Believers are called to acknowledge Christ as their King, a reign that offers true salvation not from earthly enemies, but from sin and death. The "fear of the LORD" in the Bible is consistently linked to wisdom and life (Proverbs 9:10), and its absence leads to destruction.

Hosea 10 3 Commentary

This verse captures Israel's fatal flaw: prideful independence and a rejection of God’s authority. They had replaced genuine faith and obedience with self-reliance and an idolatrous focus on their leaders and human systems. Their declaration that they have no king reflects their rejection of Yahweh as their true Sovereign, opting instead for an autonomy that, ironically, leaves them vulnerable to destruction. The statement, "we do not fear the LORD," is a confession of their rebellion, the root cause of their impending doom. The subsequent question about a king who can save them is a mockery of God's power, demonstrating their ultimate trust in worldly power structures rather than in divine intervention. Their boastful independence would ultimately lead to their subjugation and exile, a stark warning against abandoning covenant faithfulness for godless self-determination.