Hosea 8:4
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“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.

New American Standard Bible
They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed officials, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, So that they will be eliminated.

NASB 1995
They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.

NASB 1977
They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.

Legacy Standard Bible
They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.

Amplified Bible
They set up kings, but not from Me [therefore without My blessing]; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and their gold they made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.

Christian Standard Bible
They have installed kings, but not through me. They have appointed leaders, but without my approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They have installed kings, but not through Me. They have appointed leaders, but without My approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
They took counsel, but not from me, and they were authorized and they did not inform me. Their silver and their gold they have made idols for themselves that they would be destroyed

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They have made kings for themselves, but not by me: they have ruled, but they did not make it known to me: of their silver and their gold they have made images to themselves, that they might be destroyed.

Contemporary English Version
You chose kings and leaders without consulting me; you made silver and gold idols that led to your downfall.

Douay-Rheims Bible
They have reigned, but not by me: they have been princes, and I knew not: of their silver, and their gold they have made idols to themselves, that they might perish.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"They chose their own kings, kings I didn't approve. They chose their own princes, princes I didn't know. They chose to make idols with their own silver and gold. Because of this, they will be destroyed.

Good News Translation
"My people chose kings, but they did it on their own. They appointed leaders, but without my approval. They took their silver and gold and made idols--for their own destruction.

International Standard Version
They set kings in place, but not by me. They established princes, whom I did not recognize. They crafted idols for themselves from their silver and gold; as a result, they will be destroyed.

JPS Tanakh 1917
They have set up kings, but not from 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.

Literal Standard Version
They have made kings, and not by Me, | They have made princes, and I have not known, | Their silver and their gold they have made to them idols, | So that they are cut off.

Majority Standard Bible
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

New American Bible
They made kings, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction.

NET Bible
They enthroned kings without my consent! They appointed princes without my approval! They made idols out of their silver and gold, but they will be destroyed!

New Revised Standard Version
They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

New Heart English Bible
They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I did not approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 for themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

World English Bible
They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

Young's Literal Translation
They have made kings, and not by Me, They have made princes, and I have not known, Their silver and their gold they have made to them idols, So that they are cut off.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel will Reap the Whirlwind
3But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him. 4They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. 5He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?…

Cross References
1 Kings 12:28
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, "Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."

2 Kings 15:13
In the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah's reign over Judah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king, and he reigned in Samaria one full month.

2 Kings 15:17
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah's reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years.

Jeremiah 16:20
Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!"

Daniel 3:1
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Hosea 2:8
For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold--which they crafted for Baal.

Hosea 8:3
But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

set.

1 Kings 12:16-20
So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents…

2 Kings 15:10-30
And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead…

Matthew 25:12
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Luke 13:25,27
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: …

John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

of.

Hosea 2:8
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

Hosea 13:2
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.

1 Kings 12:28
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

that they.

Hosea 13:9
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

1 Kings 13:34
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

Jeremiah 44:7,8
Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; …

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Appointed Approval Approve Choose Consent Cut Destruction Gold Idols Kings Princes Silver Themselves
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Appointed Approval Approve Choose Consent Cut Destruction Gold Idols Kings Princes Silver Themselves
Hosea 8
1. Destruction is threatened both to Israel and Judah for their impiety and idolatry.














(4) Set up kings.--It is possible that the prophet alludes to the history of the northern kingdom as a whole. Though the revolt of the Ten Tribes received Divine sanction (1Kings 11:9-11), it was obviously contrary to the Divine and prophetic idea which associated the growth of true religion with the line of David (Hosea 3:5). But it is best to regard the passage as referring to the short reigns of usurpers and to the foul murders which disgraced the annals of the northern kingdom since the death of Jeroboam II. Jehovah repudiates all participation in their anarchy.

Knew it not.--Should be, knew them not--viz., the gold and silver splendours wherewith Israel had adorned its apostacy.

Verse 4. - They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not. Here was the first instance and evidence of Israel's rejection of Jehovah. Their conduct was not guided by Divine direction, nor in obedience to the Divine will, nor with the Divine sanction. This state of things began with Israel's revolt from the house of David, and rebellion against the son of Solomon their legitimate sovereign, and was repeated in subsequent usurpations. Perhaps we may go further back, even to the appointment of the first king of the yet undivided kingdom, when "the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." Usurpations such as those of Zimri, Omri, and Shallum at least are comprehended in the appointments referred to - appointments on making which the people did not inquire of the Lord, nor act under his guidance, nor seek his sanction. Some go so far as to include all the kings of Israel that succeeded Jeroboam. Thus Cyril says, "He denies the kingdom of Israel and his successors on the throne of Israel." Aben Ezra also extends the statement to the kings of the northern kingdom from the days of Jeroboam: "They inquired not of God with respect to the making of Jeroboam king, although it is written, ' Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose.'" A seeming contradiction here exists between the statement of the prophet here and that in 1 Kings 11:37, where God promises by the Prophet Ahijah, "I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel," and the fact of Jehu's anointing being ordered by the Prophet Elisha, who sent one of the children of the prophets for that purpose with the words, "Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel." The plotting of Jeroboam, and the conspiracy of Jehu against Joram, and the conspiracies of other usurpers, were things which God could not approve; and so we must distinguish between the permission and approval of Jehovah; in his government he permits many things which from his nature we know he does not and cannot approve. השירו is usually and properly rendered, "they have made princes;" but Aben Ezra and Rashi translate it as הסידו equivalent to "they have removed;" while the Massora reckon השרו in the number of those words which are written with shin but are read and explained with samech. Some manuscripts also of Kennicett and De Rossi have הסירו. Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they (literally, it) may be cut off. This is a second proof of Israel's renunciation of Jehovah. They used their gold in making the idolatrous calves, and their silver in supporting their idolatrous worship; or they made the idol-calves, some of silver, and others of gold. The consequence rather than the purpose is the destruction of it, namely, the gold and silver; or the ruin of the kingdom or of each member of it; or the cutting off of their name, according to Kimchi. The word לְמַעַן, like ἱνα in Greek, is generally relic, denoting "purpose;" nor is it ecbatic here, denoting "result," though, according to the Hebrew mode of thought, design and consequence often coincide. Its meaning here is well explained by Keil, לי describes the consequence of this conduct, which, though not designed, was nevertheless inevitable, as if it had been distinctly intended."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They
הֵ֤ם (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

set up kings,
הִמְלִיכוּ֙ (him·lî·ḵū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

but not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

by Me.
מִמֶּ֔נִּי (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

They make princes,
הֵשִׂ֖ירוּ (hê·śî·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8323: To be or act as prince, rule

but without
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

My approval.
יָדָ֑עְתִּי (yā·ḏā·‘ə·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

With their silver
כַּסְפָּ֣ם (kas·pām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and gold
וּזְהָבָ֗ם (ū·zə·hā·ḇām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

they make
עָשׂ֤וּ (‘ā·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

themselves
לָהֶם֙ (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

idols,
עֲצַבִּ֔ים (‘ă·ṣab·bîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6091: An, image

to
לְמַ֖עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

their own destruction.
יִכָּרֵֽת׃ (yik·kā·rêṯ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant


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OT Prophets: Hosea 8:4 They have set up kings but not (Ho Hs Hos.)
Hosea 8:3
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