Hosea 8 4

Hosea 8:4 kjv

They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

Hosea 8:4 nkjv

"They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves? That they might be cut off.

Hosea 8:4 niv

They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.

Hosea 8:4 esv

They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

Hosea 8:4 nlt

The people have appointed kings without my consent,
and princes without my approval.
By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold,
they have brought about their own destruction.

Hosea 8 verses

Hosea 8 4 Meaning

This verse declares that Israel has rejected the LORD, their Maker. Their actions show a deep departure from Him. They have forged kings and princes, not appointed by divine authority.

Hosea 8 4 Context

Hosea 8 is a stark pronouncement of judgment against Israel. The chapter details their apostasy, their reliance on self-made alliances, and their worship of idols. The verse specifically addresses their kings and princes, highlighting that these leaders were chosen through their own political machinations and not through divine appointment. This rejection of God's authority, coupled with their idolatry and unfaithfulness, leads to destruction and exile. The historical backdrop is the tumultuous period in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, marked by political instability and a pervasive drift into pagan practices, ultimately paving the way for the Assyrian conquest.

Hosea 8 4 Word analysis

• They made kings (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ מְלָכִים - vayasu mlachim):

  • "They made" (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - vayasu) signifies a willful act of creation or establishment, not a divinely ordained process.
  • "Kings" (מְלָכִים - mlachim) refers to rulers, sovereign authorities.

• but not by me (בְּלִי־בַעַל - bli-ba'al):

  • "but not" (בְּלִי - bli) indicates a negation or absence.
  • "by me" (בַּעַל - ba'al) means "by the LORD" or "with my consent/knowledge." The term "Baal" is also a significant Hebrew word, meaning lord or master, which itself became a focal point of idolatry, making this phrase particularly potent in its critique of their actions and their adherence to false masters.

• they appointed princes (וַיָּסֹמּוּ שָׂרִים - yasomu sarim):

  • "they appointed" (וַיָּסֹמּוּ - yasomu) implies installation or setting in place, again, without divine sanction.
  • "princes" (שָׂרִים - sarim) refers to leaders or officials.

• but I knew it not (וַאֲנִי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי - va'ani lo yada'ti):

  • "but I" (וַאֲנִי - va'ani) emphasizes God's personal disassociation.
  • "knew it not" (לֹא יָדַעְתִּי - lo yada'ti) conveys ignorance on God's part, not in the sense of lacking omniscience, but of not recognizing or acknowledging their illegitimate authority. This means God did not sanction, approve, or claim them as His own.

• words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "They made kings, but not by me; they appointed princes, but I knew it not": This phrase starkly contrasts Israel's human-centered, unauthorized leadership choices with God's sovereign will. It means they elevated their own men to positions of power, and God deliberately estranged Himself from these appointments. Their governance and leadership structures were entirely divorced from divine authority and recognition.
  • "That they may add guilt to their guilt": This signifies that their self-appointed leaders and the ensuing actions of the nation are cumulative sins, increasing their accountability before God and deepening their spiritual rebellion.
  • "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge": This highlights a critical failure to know and understand God's word, His will, and His ways. This spiritual ignorance leads to their demise.
  • "They have made them idols of silver and gold to cut them off": This describes the concrete act of idolatry. Their golden calves and other silver and gold cult objects are instruments of their own destruction because they replace God with lifeless, man-made things.
  • "Israel has set a snare for his own life": This portrays Israel's rebellion as a self-inflicted trap, a spiritual suicide leading to inevitable destruction.
  • "They have poured out their blood to the very last drop": This depicts the completeness of their destruction, both the shedding of innocent blood within the nation due to internal strife and sin, and the outpouring of their own lifeblood under divine judgment.
  • "My own possession they have made a thing of naught": God views Israel as His special possession. By their disobedience and idolatry, they treat this divine relationship and status as worthless and insignificant.
  • "They worship other gods to their own destruction": This reiterates the consequence of turning to false deities. Such worship is not just futile but actively leads to their downfall.
  • "They have made gods that will never be of any use to them": This emphasizes the utter uselessness of idols, contrasting them with the life-giving power of the true God.

Hosea 8 4 Bonus section

The concept of "knowing" in the Old Testament ("I knew it not") carries implications beyond mere intellectual awareness; it includes intimate relationship, recognition, and approval. When God says He did not "know" these kings and princes, it signifies a complete severance of any covenantal relationship or divine endorsement. This resonates with passages where God explicitly appoints kings, like David (1 Samuel 16:1). Conversely, unapproved leaders represent a step away from God's covenant.

The phrase "to add guilt to their guilt" highlights the compounding nature of sin. Each act of rebellion, each turning to false gods or self-appointed rulers, builds upon the previous transgression, increasing the severity of their judgment.

The idols made of "silver and gold" not only represent the material wealth Israel prized and devoted to false worship but also their focus on tangible, man-made security over the intangible, living presence of God. These idols are powerless, and their devotion leads to being "cut off"—exiled and destroyed—a complete annihilation of their divine lineage and inheritance.

Israel being God's "possession" (Hebrew: segulah) emphasizes a unique and intimate relationship established through covenant. Their actions treat this divine covenant as trivial or meaningless, leading to their depreciation in God’s estimation and eventual destruction.

Hosea 8 4 Commentary

Hosea 8:4 is a profound statement about rebellion against divine authority. Israel, in its apostasy, usurped God’s prerogative by selecting their own kings and princes. This action signifies not just a political deviation but a deep spiritual disassociation from the LORD. God’s declaration, "I knew it not," means He did not approve, recognize, or authorize these leaders. Their rise to power was contrary to His will and covenant relationship.

This rejection of God's designated authority, coupled with the creation of idols, is presented as an accumulation of sin. The phrase "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" points to the core issue: ignorance of God and His commands. Their devotion to idols, made of precious materials, ultimately leads to their undoing, framing their pursuit of power and worship as a self-imposed trap. Their spiritual emptiness and disloyalty to God make them worthless in His eyes, and their eventual demise is complete and final, with no spiritual sustenance derived from their idols.

This verse serves as a timeless warning: leadership and societal structures built without regard for God's sovereignty are ultimately built on sand and destined for collapse. Spiritual decay often stems from a fundamental misunderstanding or rejection of who God is and His rightful place in human affairs.