Hosea 8 6

Hosea 8:6 kjv

For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

Hosea 8:6 nkjv

For from Israel is even this: A workman made it, and it is not God; But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

Hosea 8:6 niv

They are from Israel! This calf?a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.

Hosea 8:6 esv

For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

Hosea 8:6 nlt

This calf you worship, O Israel,
was crafted by your own hands!
It is not God!
Therefore, it must be smashed to bits.

Hosea 8 verses

Hosea 8 6 meaning

Hosea 8:6 pronounces a stark condemnation of Israel's idolatry, specifically the worship of the golden calf, asserting its non-divine nature and inevitable destruction. The verse clarifies that this idol is a product of human hands and thought, originating entirely from within Israel, rather than being from God. Therefore, it possesses no inherent power or godhood, leading to its prophesied violent shattering, especially the prominent calf of Samaria, symbolizing the nation's spiritual apostasy.

Hosea 8 6 Context

Hosea chapter 8 opens with a warning to "sound the trumpet" due to Israel's rebellion and covenant breach. The nation has rejected God's law and good, pursued alliances with foreign powers, and critically, indulged in self-appointed kings and the manufacture of idols. Verse 6 directly addresses one of their most prominent sins: the worship of the golden calves, initially introduced by Jeroboam I in Bethel and Dan to prevent the northern tribes from going to Jerusalem for worship (1 Kgs 12:26-30). This idolatry became deeply embedded in the religious life of the Northern Kingdom. Hosea 8:6 specifically condemns this practice by highlighting the human origin of these "gods" – they are crafted objects, not divine beings. This passage falls within a larger prophetic context where Hosea consistently indicts Israel for spiritual adultery, likening their pursuit of other gods to unfaithfulness to Yahweh, the true God. The reference to "the calf of Samaria" makes it particularly pertinent to the capital and, by extension, the entire kingdom in the decades leading up to its destruction by Assyria in 722 BCE, a judgment for these very sins.

Hosea 8 6 Word analysis

• For from Israel is even this:

  • "from Israel" (מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, miYisra'el): Emphasizes the origin. This idolatry does not come from God or from divine revelation but springs entirely from within the nation itself. It's a self-wrought problem, reflecting their own sinful inclination and rejection of God's ways. This directly links the sin to their national identity and responsibility.
  • "is even this": Implies the brazenness and pervasive nature of the idolatry, highlighting that even such a blatant act against God's covenant is found amongst them, the chosen people.

• the craftsman made it, therefore it is not God:

  • "the craftsman" (חָרָשׁ, ḥarash): Refers to a skilled artisan or engraver. This highlights the human, mundane nature of the idol. It's a product of human labor and tools, not divine creation or power. This detail serves as a strong polemic against its claimed divinity.
  • "made it" (עָשָׂהוּ, ‘aśahu): A simple verb for "made" or "did." Its human fabrication utterly negates any pretense of its being divine or possessing any inherent life.
  • "therefore it is not God" (לֹא אֱלֹהִים הוּא, lo elohim hu): A definitive, uncompromising declaration. The premise is that anything made by human hands cannot be God. This is the central theological assertion, directly refuting Israel's syncretistic beliefs. It draws a clear boundary between the Creator and the created.

• surely the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

  • "surely" / "for" (כִּי, ki): Connects the non-divinity of the idol to its inevitable fate. The outcome is certain.
  • "the calf" (עֵגֶל, ‘egel): Specifically names the object of worship, referring to the golden calves, a blatant violation of the first two commandments. It's a derogatory term, indicating a young animal, emphasizing its inferiority and vulnerability.
  • "of Samaria" (שֹׁמְרוֹן, Shomron): Identifies the location and principal city of the Northern Kingdom, making the prophecy directly applicable to Israel's capital. This underscores the national scope of the idolatry and the judgment.
  • "shall be broken to pieces" (יִתְפָּרְקָשׁ, yitpārkash): This verb suggests violent, forceful breaking or shattering into fragments. It signifies utter destruction, making the idol unusable and proving its powerlessness. It implies the futility of relying on such an impotent "god."

Hosea 8 6 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "broken to pieces" (יִתְפָּרְקָשׁ, yitpārkash) is quite unique in the Bible, appearing only here. Its root pārak (פָּרַק) generally means to tear, break off, or strip, often used for violent dismemberment. The specific form with kash is thought to be an intensified or perhaps dialectal form, indicating a very thorough and destructive breaking into many small pieces, rendering the idol completely useless and obliterated, not just damaged. This intensity further emphasizes the absolute worthlessness and impotent end of man-made "gods." This choice of an emphatic verb underscores the complete inability of the idol to protect itself, let alone its worshippers.

Hosea 8 6 Commentary

Hosea 8:6 delivers a severe indictment of Israel's self-generated idolatry, centered on the golden calves, a direct contravention of the covenant with Yahweh. The core message is the stark contrast between God, the Creator, and idols, which are merely products of human craft. The prophet highlights that these "gods" originate "from Israel," implying their self-willed apostasy and rejection of divine revelation for their own religious preferences. The "craftsman" being the maker directly underscores the idol's human-made, material essence, rendering the profound conclusion: "it is not God." This fundamental truth dismantles any legitimacy attributed to the calves, stripping them of power or divine status. Consequently, their inevitable fate is to "be broken to pieces." The specific mention of "the calf of Samaria" emphasizes that the judgment targets the very heart of the Northern Kingdom's religious apostasy, ensuring a comprehensive national downfall. This verse not only prophesies destruction but also functions as a powerful theological polemic, demonstrating the utter foolishness and emptiness of worshipping anything other than the sovereign God, whose existence does not depend on human hands. It serves as a perennial warning against self-made spirituality.