Hosea 8 1

Hosea 8:1 kjv

Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

Hosea 8:1 nkjv

"Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law.

Hosea 8:1 niv

"Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the LORD because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.

Hosea 8:1 esv

Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law.

Hosea 8:1 nlt

"Sound the alarm!
The enemy descends like an eagle on the people of the LORD,
for they have broken my covenant
and revolted against my law.

Hosea 8 verses

Hosea 8 1 Meaning

This verse announces impending judgment upon Israel, delivered through the mouth of the prophet Hosea. The declaration is God's direct accusation, highlighting their rebellion and the inevitable consequence of their unfaithfulness.

Hosea 8 1 Context

Hosea 8:1 stands as the opening declaration of a powerful judgment oracle against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This chapter depicts Israel's deep-seated apostasy, their reliance on false alliances and idols, and the divine wrath that will consequently fall upon them. The historical backdrop is the era of Assyrian ascendancy, a formidable power that posed a significant threat to the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Israel, despite prophetic warnings, repeatedly turned to foreign powers for aid and worshiped a multitude of gods, abandoning their covenant relationship with Yahweh. This verse, therefore, serves as a clarion call of impending doom, an immediate divine response to Israel's pervasive betrayal.

Hosea 8 1 Word Analysis

• "Set" (sûm): Placed, put, appointed. It signifies an authoritative command, an action taken with purpose.

• "the trumpet" (šôpār): A ram's horn, used for signaling, warning, and calling to arms. Here, it symbolizes an urgent alarm and announcement of impending war or judgment.

• "to" (lĕ): To, toward. Indicates the recipient or direction of the action.

• "your mouth" (piḵâ): Literally "your mouth," but in this context, it represents the instrument through which the divine message (the trumpet blast) will be conveyed.

• "He" (hûʾ): Refers to the coming enemy, depicted as an invading force. The pronoun emphasizes the imminent and direct nature of the threat.

• "is coming" (bāʾ): Present participle, indicating an action already in progress or imminent. It conveys a sense of inevitability and closeness.

• "like an eagle" (kĕnĕšer): The eagle was a symbol of strength, speed, and rapacity. In ancient Near Eastern imagery, it often represented powerful empires or divine judgment descending. The comparison highlights the swift, predatory, and overwhelming nature of the coming force.

• "against" (ʿal): Upon, over. Denotes the target of the attack.

• "the LORD's house" (bêt-Yahweh): This phrase can refer to the Temple in Jerusalem, but in the context of Hosea's ministry primarily to the Northern Kingdom (which had its own places of worship), it more broadly signifies the people of Israel themselves as God's covenant people, the dwelling place of His presence. It emphasizes that the judgment is directed at God's own covenant community due to their sin.

• "because" (ʿal-ḵên): Therefore, for this reason. Introduces the cause for the impending judgment.

• "they have transgressed" (ʿāḇĕrû): They have passed over, transgressed, sinned against. It highlights the active breaking of a covenant or law.

• "my covenant" (bĕrîtî): God's covenant, particularly the Mosaic covenant established with Israel at Sinai. This underscores that their sin is not just general wrongdoing but a direct violation of their sworn allegiance to God.

• "and rebelled" (ûmĕrĕdû): And acted rebelliously, persistently against. It denotes active defiance and insubordination.

• "against" (bĕ): Against, in, by.

• "my law" (tôrâṯî): My teaching, my instruction. This refers to God's commandments and the entirety of His revealed will, given to guide their lives and maintain their covenant relationship.

• Phrase Analysis:

  • "Set the trumpet to your mouth!": This is a military command, echoing the sound of a shofar (ram's horn) that signaled danger and imminent attack. It's not a literal instruction for someone to blow a trumpet but a divine declaration that the signal of judgment has been given.
  • "He is coming like an eagle against the LORD's house": The "eagle" imagery conveys a swift, powerful, and decisive force. This is likely a reference to the Assyrian army, known for its military prowess. The "LORD's house" signifies that this judgment is falling upon God's chosen people, emphasizing the consequences of their covenant betrayal.
  • "because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law.": This clause explicitly states the reason for God's judgment. Israel has broken their covenant vows and rejected God's authoritative teachings and commandments. This highlights the judicial basis for the impending doom.

Hosea 8 1 Bonus Section

The trumpet sound is a recurring motif in biblical prophecy, often heralding judgment or significant divine intervention (e.g., Joel 2:1, 1 Cor 15:52). The eagle as a symbol of judgment or powerful kingdoms is also present in other prophetic texts (Deuteronomy 28:49, Jeremiah 48:40). This verse highlights God's sovereignty not only in blessing but also in executing judgment through human instruments. The concept of a "transgressed covenant" is central to understanding Old Testament theology, as Israel's relationship with God was defined by covenantal promises and obligations. Their failure to uphold their end brought forth God's promised curses. The repetition of "against my covenant and against my law" underscores the deep and systemic nature of their disobedience.

Hosea 8 1 Commentary

Hosea 8:1 acts as a powerful, urgent pronouncement of doom against Israel. God, through Hosea, commands an invisible signal to be blown – the trumpet call of impending judgment. This trumpet signals not a mere earthly invasion but divine retribution manifested through a powerful foreign entity, likened to a swift, predatory eagle. This imagery powerfully conveys the overwhelming and inescapable nature of the judgment. The reason for this drastic measure is clearly stated: Israel's persistent breach of their covenant with Yahweh and their outright rebellion against His law. This verse encapsulates the core message of Hosea: unfaithfulness to God brings severe, deserved consequences, even within His own chosen people. The "eagle" represents the Assyrian empire, whose rise was a palpable threat. The "LORD's house" points to the nation of Israel itself, the community entrusted with God's covenant. Their transgression and rebellion meant they forfeited the blessings of the covenant and opened themselves to its curses.