Hosea 10 5

Hosea 10:5 kjv

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

Hosea 10:5 nkjv

The inhabitants of Samaria fear Because of the calf of Beth Aven. For its people mourn for it, And its priests shriek for it? Because its glory has departed from it.

Hosea 10:5 niv

The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.

Hosea 10:5 esv

The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf of Beth-aven. Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests ? those who rejoiced over it and over its glory ? for it has departed from them.

Hosea 10:5 nlt

The people of Samaria tremble in fear
for their calf idol at Beth-aven,
and they mourn for it.
Though its priests rejoice over it,
its glory will be stripped away.

Hosea 10 verses

Hosea 10 5 meaning

Hosea 10:5 vividly describes the coming dread and despair over the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically its capital Samaria, when their prized idols—the golden calves, especially the one at Beth-aven (Bethel)—are taken away by their enemies. The inhabitants, including the idolatrous priests, will be struck with fear, grief, and agony over the loss of what they wrongly considered their strength and glory, revealing the utter powerlessness of their false gods.

Hosea 10 5 Context

Hosea chapter 10 is a strong prophetic indictment against Israel (the Northern Kingdom) for its unbridled idolatry and faithlessness to the Lord. The chapter begins by likening Israel to a luxuriant vine that produces abundant fruit for itself (Hos 10:1), implying their prosperity led to increased idolatry rather than devotion to God. Their divided heart—attempting to serve both the Lord and idols—is condemned (Hos 10:2). Verses 3-4 predict coming judgment and the collapse of their political system. Verse 5 specifically focuses on the emotional and spiritual catastrophe that will ensue when their false gods, the golden calves, are captured or destroyed by invaders. This leads into verse 6, which explicitly states the calf of Beth-aven will be carried to Assyria. The entire passage highlights the emptiness and destructive consequences of exchanging the living God for man-made idols, anticipating the imminent Assyrian invasion and exile.

Hosea 10 5 Word analysis

• The inhabitants of Samaria: This refers to the people of the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which stood as a symbol and center of its idolatry and political instability. It signifies the collective responsibility and impending judgment on the entire nation, not just a localized area.
• shall fear: Hebrew `יָגוּרוּ` (yāḡūru), from `גור` (gur), meaning to dread, stand in awe, or dwell. Here, it conveys an overwhelming sense of terror and trepidation. This is not the reverent fear of God, but a shaking dread over impending catastrophe, a consequence of misplaced trust.
• because of the calves: Hebrew `עֶגְלֹת` (ʿeglōth), plural for "calves." This directly refers to the golden calves established by King Jeroboam I at Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:28-30). By using the plural, Hosea highlights the system of calf worship prevalent across Israel. These were not seen merely as representations of YHWH, but as objects of syncretistic, and often, exclusive, worship, essentially functioning as idols.
• of Beth-aven: Hebrew `בֵּית־אָוֶן` (Bêth-ʾĀwen). This is a derogatory renaming by Hosea for Bethel (`בֵּית־אֵל`, Bêth-ʾĒl, "House of God"). `אָוֶן` (ʾāwen) means "wickedness," "vanity," or "iniquity." By renaming it "House of Wickedness," Hosea pointedly polemicizes against the place that was once sacred (where Jacob had his dream in Gen 28) but had become a central hub for Jeroboam's idolatrous calf worship. This highlights God's judgment on perverted worship sites.
• for its people shall mourn for it: Hebrew `יִתְאַבְּלוּ` (yitʾabbəlû), meaning to grieve, lament, or express sorrow. This denotes deep sorrow and lamentation over the loss. The "it" here refers to the calf. This demonstrates their misplaced affection and dependence on a material object, treating its removal as a personal tragedy equivalent to losing a loved one or a national treasure. Their grief underscores their deep spiritual delusion.
• and its priests shall tremble for it: Hebrew `כְּמָרָיו` (kĕmārāyw) refers to the idolatrous priests (often called "black-robed priests" or "Kĕmārim," possibly from their dark garments, though the etymology is debated). They were official administrators and beneficiaries of the calf cult. Hebrew `יָחִילוּ` (yāḥîlû) means to writhe in pain, tremble, or be in labor, suggesting an intense, almost physical, agony or fear. Their trembling is a response to the loss of their status, livelihood, and the religious system from which they profited, emphasizing the selfish motive behind their devotion.
• for its glory: Hebrew `כְּבוֹדָהּ` (kĕḇôḏāh), meaning "its splendor," "its honor," "its weightiness." Here, it refers to the supposed grandeur, efficacy, or power attributed to the idol. It's not the glory of God, but the false glory they imagined in the golden calf itself. The "glory" represented their false security, perceived power, and even the nation's spiritual pride.
• because it has departed from them: Hebrew `גָלָה` (gālâ), here in the sense of "to go into exile," "to be carried away," or "to depart." This signifies the actual physical removal or destruction of the idol. The very object of their devotion, what they believed protected them, will be taken captive itself, rendering it utterly worthless and stripping the people of their false confidence and perceived security. This public removal is the catalyst for all the fear, mourning, and trembling mentioned.

• The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: This phrase establishes the cause-and-effect. The people of the idolatrous capital will experience dread, directly linked to their false objects of worship—the golden calves—located at Beth-aven, a former sacred site turned center of apostasy. It highlights a nation-wide judgment rooted in collective spiritual infidelity.
• its people shall mourn for it, and its priests shall tremble for it: This grouping emphasizes the widespread and deeply personal impact of the idol's removal. Both the general populace (its people) and the religious leadership (its priests) share in the despair, though perhaps for different reasons – the former for a perceived loss of protection or divine presence, the latter for the loss of power, prestige, and financial support.
• for its glory, because it has departed from them: This specifies the object of their despair. Their lamentation is over the disappearance of the idol's supposed splendor or effectiveness, precisely because this "glory" (their false god itself) will be physically taken away. This highlights the ironic and tragic end of idol worship: what was revered as glorious and powerful proves powerless to protect itself or its worshipers.

Hosea 10 5 Bonus section

The derogatory renaming of Beth-el to Beth-aven is a potent prophetic tool, demonstrating God's rejection of their worship. Beth-el, meaning "House of God," held profound significance in Israel's history as a place of divine encounter for Jacob (Gen 28:10-22). Its transformation into Beth-aven, "House of Vanity/Wickedness," signifies a profound theological reversal; where God once revealed Himself, Israel erected an empty idol. This verbal assault is not merely a name change but an active judgment, declaring the spiritual emptiness and moral depravity that now characterized the former sanctuary. The calves were not just inanimate objects but represented a form of idolatry that involved spiritual prostitution (harlotry), breaking Israel's covenant fidelity to Yahweh, as frequently condemned throughout Hosea. The lament and fear shown for the idols' removal stand in stark contrast to their consistent lack of fear and repentance toward the true God, exposing the profound spiritual blindness and misplaced devotion of the nation.

Hosea 10 5 Commentary

Hosea 10:5 starkly portrays the national humiliation awaiting Israel, centered on the fate of their golden calves. For generations, these idols, especially the one at Beth-aven (Bethel), were the focus of a deeply ingrained and persistent idolatry, instituted to secure political unity and independence from Judah by diverting worship from Jerusalem. Israel, therefore, invested national and spiritual identity into these images. The prophecy here asserts that the very idols in which they placed their hope and found their "glory" will become the source of their profound fear and anguish. The people and priests will lament not for their sin against God, but for the removal of their inanimate, man-made god, a tragic reversal where the worshipped object becomes the object of shame and sorrow. This reveals the true nature of idolatry: it substitutes transient human creations for the eternal divine, leading ultimately to utter desolation when those false supports collapse, taking with them all perceived glory and security.