Hosea 8:2 kjv
Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
Hosea 8:2 nkjv
Israel will cry to Me, 'My God, we know You!'
Hosea 8:2 niv
Israel cries out to me, 'Our God, we acknowledge you!'
Hosea 8:2 esv
To me they cry, "My God, we ? Israel ? know you."
Hosea 8:2 nlt
Now Israel pleads with me,
'Help us, for you are our God!'
Hosea 8 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 8:2 | Israel cries, "Our God, we acknowledge you, Israel is your people." | Explaining identity and acknowledgment of God |
| Hosea 5:15 | God will return to his place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek Him. | God's patience and expectation of acknowledgment |
| Psalm 50:15 | Call upon God in distress; He will rescue and honor you. | God hears pleas in times of trouble |
| Psalm 106:4 | Remember me, Lord, when you favor your people. | Prayer for remembrance and favor |
| Isaiah 43:1 | "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." | God's redemptive call and possession |
| Jeremiah 3:23 | Truly the noisy shouting on the hills is not the cry of God. | Contrasting sincere pleas with false worship |
| Jeremiah 30:22 | "You will be my people, and I will be your God." | Covenant renewal and relationship |
| Jeremiah 31:18-19 | Ephraim confesses, "You corrected me... turn me again... after I had learned." | Repentance and seeking divine instruction |
| Jeremiah 31:20 | "Is not Ephraim my dear son, my darling child?... I will surely have mercy on him." | God's fatherly compassion and mercy |
| Ezekiel 36:28 | "You shall live in the land I gave to your fathers; you shall be my people, and I will be your God." | Restoration of land and covenant relationship |
| Daniel 9:4-5 | Daniel confesses Israel's sin and acknowledges God's righteousness. | Confession and acknowledgment of God's justice |
| Hosea 1:10-11 | Prophecy of becoming "children of the living God." | Future identity as God's people |
| John 1:12 | To all who received Him, He gave power to become children of God. | New Testament believers as God's children |
| Romans 9:25-26 | Quoting Hosea, showing God's call to both Jews and Gentiles. | Inclusion of Gentiles into God's people |
| 1 Peter 2:10 | You who were once not a people but are now the people of God. | Identity shift for believers |
| Acts 2:21 | "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." | Universal call to salvation |
| Psalm 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? | God as the source of salvation |
| Isaiah 61:10 | I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God. | Joy in God as redeemer |
| Psalm 79:9 | Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. | Plea for help based on God's name |
| Luke 1:49 | "For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." | Acknowledgment of God's mighty works |
Hosea 8 verses
Hosea 8 2 Meaning
Israel cried out to God for deliverance, recognizing their misguided ways. The verse conveys a powerful plea for salvation and restoration from a desperate nation acknowledging their deep sin.
Hosea 8 2 Context
Hosea's prophecy is directed towards the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of political instability and spiritual apostasy. The people of Israel had turned away from the LORD, engaging in idolatry and seeking alliances with foreign nations instead of relying on God. This verse captures a moment where, amidst their suffering and the consequences of their sin, there's a cry of desperation and a hesitant recognition of their identity as God's people. This cry is not necessarily full repentance, but a desperate acknowledgment born from distress, contrasting with their habitual rejection of God's covenant.
Hosea 8 2 Word Analysis
Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): "God strives" or "prince of God." Refers to the descendants of Jacob. In this context, it represents the covenant people who have failed in their relationship with God.
cried (צָעֲקָה - tza'akah): A strong cry, a loud exclamation of distress or desperation. Indicates a significant level of suffering or urgency driving the utterance.
our (אָנוּ - anu): First person plural pronoun, emphasizing a collective, shared identity and plight.
God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The majestic and powerful name for God, often used in the Old Testament to emphasize His creative power and sovereignty. Here, it's an appeal to this ultimate authority.
know (יָדַעְנוּ - yada'nu): "to know," "to acknowledge," "to recognize." It implies not just intellectual awareness, but a deeper understanding and perhaps a dawning recognition of reality, possibly out of sheer necessity due to their dire circumstances.
Thee (אָתָּה - atah): Direct address to God, singular.
O Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): Again, addressing the nation collectively.
know (יָדַעְתִּי - yada'ti): First person singular, "I have known," indicating a personal, though perhaps reluctant or forced, recognition by the nation as a whole.
thy (אַתָּה - atah): Possessive, referring to God.
people (עַמֶּךָ - ammecha): "your people" or "your nation." Highlights the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
Group of words: "Our God, we know Thee...": This phrase signifies a confession, however incomplete or motivated by distress. It's a return to the basic assertion of God's existence and their perceived relationship to Him, even after prolonged rebellion. The urgency of their "crying out" suggests this acknowledgment comes from a place of great need, rather than deep contrition.
Group of words: "...Israel is your people": This phrase reinforces the identity of Israel as set apart by God. It's a declaration of their covenant status, even in their brokenness. It acknowledges that their problems stem, in part, from their departure from this fundamental relationship.
Hosea 8 2 Bonus Section
The cry of Israel in Hosea 8:2 can be seen as a foreshadowing of humanity's recurring pattern of turning to God only in times of crisis. While the verse speaks of Israel's specific covenant relationship, the underlying theme of needing divine intervention resonates broadly. This sentiment echoes the parable of the prodigal son, who only remembered his father's house and sought his father when he was in his deepest need (Luke 15:11-24). The acknowledgment here, though possibly reluctant, is a critical first step toward potential restoration. It is important to note the tension: the cry is for help, and the acknowledgment of God is linked to their identity as His people. This implies that their identity itself is tied to God's action on their behalf.
Hosea 8 2 Commentary
This verse highlights the reactive nature of faith for many. When times are good, Israel forgot God. In their distress, they cry out, remembering their foundational identity as God's people and acknowledging Him as their God. This acknowledgment is not necessarily full repentance, but a desperate grasp for help born from the dire consequences of their disobedience. The verse suggests that even in the midst of judgment, God remains God, and His people retain their covenant identity, waiting for a responsive plea for His intervention. It speaks to the persistent nature of God’s claim on Israel, even when they have strayed. The call implies a basic understanding of who God is and what His relationship to them entails.