Hosea 13 2

Hosea 13:2 kjv

And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

Hosea 13:2 nkjv

Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, "Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!"

Hosea 13:2 niv

Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, "They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!"

Hosea 13:2 esv

And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, "Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!"

Hosea 13:2 nlt

Now they continue to sin by making silver idols,
images shaped skillfully with human hands.
"Sacrifice to these," they cry,
"and kiss the calf idols!"

Hosea 13 verses

Hosea 13 2 Meaning

This verse describes the consequence of Israel's deep involvement with idolatry, stating that their sacrifices to the calves of Samaria are like offerings of straw that provide no substance or sustenance. Eating them renders one with a belly full of wind, symbolizing emptiness, delusion, and a lack of true nourishment for the soul.

Hosea 13 2 Context

Hosea 13 is part of a prophetic oracle delivered to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of significant spiritual and political turmoil, likely in the mid-8th century BC, shortly before the Assyrian conquest. The chapter is characterized by strong rebukes and pronouncements of judgment against Israel's persistent idolatry and rebellion against God. This specific verse (v. 2) highlights the self-deception and spiritual bankruptcy resulting from their devotion to idols, particularly the golden calves established in Bethel and Dan by Jeroboam. The worship of these calves is presented as a mockery of true worship, leading only to emptiness and eventual destruction. The historical context includes Israel's history of alternating between periods of covenant faithfulness and severe backsliding, often influenced by surrounding Canaanite practices.

Hosea 13 2 Word Analysis

• וְעַתָּה (v'atta): "And now" - a temporal conjunction indicating a transition to the present situation, emphasizing the current state of sin and its consequences.
• יֶחֶטְאוּ (yeḥet'u): "they sin" - from the root חָטָא (ḥaṭa), meaning to miss the mark, transgress, to do wrong. The consecutive imperfect tense suggests a continuous and intensifying pattern of sinning.
• עֹ֣ד (od): "again," "more," "still" - intensifies the previous statement, indicating that their sinning is persistent and increasing.
• וְיַעֲשׂוּ (v'ya'asu): "and they make" - from the root עָשָׂה (a'sah), to do, make, fashion. Emphasizes their active participation in creating and continuing their idolatrous practices.
• לָהֶם (lahem): "for themselves" - highlights that these idols are their own creation and are produced for their own perceived benefit and worship, indicating self-deception.
• מַסֵּכָה (masekah): "molten image" - from the root נָסַס (nasas), to pour. Specifically refers to an idol cast from molten metal, a common form of illicit worship.
• וּשְׁבוּ (ush'vu): "and an image" - from the root שֶׁבֶר (shever), meaning a fragment or a likeness. It refers to a fashioned, graven, or shaped image.
• שְׁקָרִים (sh'qorim): "lies," "falsehoods" - plural of שֶׁקֶר (sheqer), referring to something that is not true. The idols are deceptive representations of deity.
• חֵ֣לֶק (ḥeleq): "portion," "part" - the idols are what they portion out for themselves as divine representation or assistance.
• מִיָּדָם (miyadaṁ): "from their hand" - indicating they are their own creation, made and handled by human hands. This contrasts with God who is Spirit and transcends human manipulation.
• תּוֹקִיעֶנּוּ (toqī‘ennu): "they will fasten it," "they will pierce it," or "they will worship it." This word is debated. Common interpretations link it to driving something into the ground or, by association with roots meaning "to strike" or "pierce," can imply an act of dedicating or even painfully adoring. Some scholars suggest a meaning related to firmly establishing or relying upon. The sense of violent, misguided devotion or misplaced reliance is strong.
• יֹאכְלוּ (yō’akh'lu): "they shall eat" - literal eating is unlikely. It refers metaphorically to consuming the "food" provided by these idols, implying they partake of the benefits or spiritual sustenance derived from their idolatry.
• לָהֶם (lahem): "them" - referring back to the calves or the molten images.
• הֵם (hem): "they" - referring to the people of Israel.
• כַּגַּף (ka’gaph): "as fodder," "as hay," "as chaff" - from the root קָצַר (qatsar), to cut, reap, or related to straw used for fodder. Implies that what they consume from their idols is worthless, unsubstantial, and will soon perish.
• וּכְסָפָס (u’khəsaphas): "and as dry grass," "and as fodder," "and as scattered straw." Similar meaning to the previous word, reinforcing the theme of worthlessness and ephemerality.
• בַּעֲלֵיהֶם (ba‘alihem): "their owners," "their lords," or more contextually, "those to whom they are devoted" (their idols).
• כִּי (kī): "because," "for" - introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
• אִשְׁפָּה (’ishpa): "dung heap," "refuse," "worthless thing" - further emphasizes the absolute worthlessness and reviled nature of their idol worship.
• עָגְלָה (ag’lah): "heifer," "calf" - specifically referencing the golden calves, a prominent symbol of Israel's apostasy, as established by Jeroboam I in Dan and Bethel.
• סָמַרְקַנְדּ (samar’qand): This is a less common and debated reading in some traditions or a scribal error/variant reading in others. However, the Masoretic Text reads סָמְרוּ (samrū) - "they became proud" or "they were hardened" or "they departed," referring to their apostasy. The prevalent understanding based on strong textual evidence points to Samaria as the context of this idol worship, though not directly a word in this particular phrase. If samar’qand were present, it would point to a specific foreign location associated with idolatry. Based on the dominant understanding of the text, the focus is on the activity of apostasy connected with calves, potentially associated with Samaria as the capital. Assuming סָמְרוּ (samrū), the idea is that their ancestors/leaders “departed” or were “hardened” in their pursuit of calves.

Word Group Analysis:

• "And now they sin more and more" (וְעַתָּה יֶחֶטְאוּ עֹד): This phrase establishes the progressive and relentless nature of Israel's spiritual decay. It’s not a momentary lapse but a deepening spiral into sin.
• "and have made for themselves a molten image and an image of lies" (וְיַעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם מַסֵּכָה וּשְׁבוּ שְׁקָרִים): This describes the active human creation of false deities. The use of "molten image" and "image of lies" underscores both the physical form and the inherent deceptive nature of these objects of worship.
• "It is all the work of the craftsmen" (חֵלֶק מִיָּדָם): This phrase emphasizes the entirely human origin of their idols. They are man-made, limited, and thus utterly incapable of divine action or sustenance. This also highlights the pride of the craftsmen who thought they could fashion gods.
• "Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!" (תּוֹקִיעֶנּוּ יוֹאכְלוּ לָהֶם): This is the most interpretive part. The action of "kissing" signifies worship and homage. The latter part implies they will "eat them," which metaphorically means to derive nourishment or satisfaction from their idols. The conjunction of "kiss" and "eat" linked to the "calves" and the ensuing consequence of having a belly full of "fodder/wind" illustrates a perverse form of communion with their false gods that yields only emptiness. The connection to ag’lah (heifer/calf) points to the specific cultic practices initiated by Jeroboam.

Hosea 13 2 Bonus Section

The imagery of "eating" something that turns out to be worthless or even harmful echoes themes found throughout Scripture. Just as physical food that is spoiled or empty cannot sustain life, so too does spiritual "food" derived from idols lead to a spiritually bankrupt existence. The "wind" (רוּחַ - ruach) in the belly can also signify empty breath or spirit, a mirroring of the "spirit" (רוּחַ - ruach) that is lacking in the idols themselves. The "calves" are particularly significant given their association with the golden calf incident in the wilderness (Exodus 32) and Jeroboam's later establishment of calf worship as a political and religious institution to keep the tribes of Israel from returning to Jerusalem. The repetition of this sin demonstrates a deep-seated corruption and a refusal to learn from past judgments. The critique here is not just against material wealth but against the misapplication of resources and ingenuity towards things that ultimately offer no true life or hope.

Hosea 13 2 Commentary

Hosea declares that Israel's sin is ongoing and deepening, culminating in the creation of idols that are "lies" and ultimately made by human hands. This act of self-creation and reliance on idols leads to a pathetic form of "worship." The command to "kiss the calves" represents a profound act of idolatrous devotion, while the subsequent "eating" of them speaks to deriving spiritual sustenance or validation from these false gods. However, Hosea contrasts this supposed nourishment with what it truly is: worthless "fodder" or "chaff." Their sustenance is found in "dung heaps," signifying utter worthlessness and disgust in the eyes of God. The ultimate result is a belly filled with "wind," representing spiritual emptiness, delusion, and utter futility. Their supposed gains from idolatry are in reality leading to their destruction and nothingness, like a belly full of air that cannot sustain life. This highlights the profound delusion and the catastrophic spiritual consequences of turning away from the living God to dead, man-made idols. It’s a warning against finding identity or sustenance in anything less than the Creator Himself.