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Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, &#8220Cover us!&#8221 and to the hills, &#8220Fall on us!&#8221 <a href="/nlt/hosea/10.htm">New Living Translation</a> And the pagan shrines of Aven, the place of Israel’s sin, will crumble. Thorns and thistles will grow up around their altars. They will beg the mountains, “Bury us!” and plead with the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/esv/hosea/10.htm">English Standard Version</a> The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.” <a href="/bsb/hosea/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/kjv/hosea/10.htm">King James Bible</a> The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. <a href="/nkjv/hosea/10.htm">New King James Version</a> Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, Shall be destroyed. The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars; They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/nasb_/hosea/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/nasb/hosea/10.htm">NASB 1995</a> Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains, &#8220Cover us!&#8221 And to the hills, &#8220Fall on us!&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/hosea/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars, Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/lsb/hosea/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be eradicated; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/amp/hosea/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Also the high places of Aven (Beth-aven), the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; The thorn and the thistle will grow on their [pagan] altars, And [in despair] they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/csb/hosea/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us! ” and to the hills, “Fall on us! ” <a href="/hcsb/hosea/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. They will say to the mountains, &#8220Cover us!&#8221 and to the hills, &#8220Fall on us!&#8221 <a href="/asv/hosea/10.htm">American Standard Version</a> The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. <a href="/cev/hosea/10.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The altars at sinful Bethel will be destroyed for causing Israel to sin; they will be grown over with thorns and thistles. Then everyone will beg the mountains and hills to cover and protect them. <a href="/erv/hosea/10.htm">English Revised Version</a> The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. <a href="/gwt/hosea/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The illegal worship sites of Aven will be destroyed. Israel sins there. Thorns and weeds will grow over those altars. People will say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!" <a href="/gnt/hosea/10.htm">Good News Translation</a> The hilltop shrines of Aven, where the people of Israel worship idols, will be destroyed. Thorns and weeds will grow up over their altars. The people will call out to the mountains, "Hide us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" <a href="/isv/hosea/10.htm">International Standard Version</a> Destroyed will be the high places of Aven, that are the sin of Israel. Both thorn and thistle will grow up over their altars. They will call out to the mountains, 'Cover us!' and to the hills, 'Fall on us!' <a href="/msb/hosea/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!” <a href="/net/hosea/10.htm">NET Bible</a> The high places of the "House of Wickedness" will be destroyed; it is the place where Israel sins. Thorns and thistles will grow up over its altars. Then they will say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!" <a href="/nheb/hosea/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The high places also of Beth Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will grow on their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, "Cover us." <a href="/wbt/hosea/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. <a href="/web/hosea/10.htm">World English Bible</a> The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, “Cover us!” and the hills, “Fall on us!” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/hosea/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And high places of Aven have been destroyed, the sin of Israel. Thorn and bramble go up on their altars, "" And they have said to hills, Cover us, "" And to heights, Fall on us. <a href="/ylt/hosea/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And destroyed have been high places of Aven, the sin of Israel. Thorn and bramble go up on their altars, And they have said to hills, Cover us, And to heights, Fall upon us. <a href="/slt/hosea/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the heights of vanity were destroyed, the sin of Israel: the thorn and weeds shall come up upon their altars; and they said to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall upon us.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/hosea/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the high places of the idol, the sin of Israel shall be destroyed: the bur and the thistle shall grow up over their altars: and they shall say to the mountains: Cover us; and to the hills: Fall upon us. <a href="/cpdv/hosea/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And the heights of the idol, the sin of Israel, will be utterly destroyed. The burr and the thistle will rise up over their altars. And they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us,’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us.’ <a href="/nabre/hosea/10.htm">New American Bible</a> The high places of Aven will be destroyed, the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall upon us!” <a href="/nrsvce/hosea/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars. They shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall on us.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/hosea/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> The high places of the idol of Aon, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed; thorns and thistles shall grow up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. <a href="/hpbt/hosea/10.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And the idol shrines of Awan, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed . Thorns and thistles shall grow in their altars and they will say to the mountains: "Cover us”, and to the hills, that they would fall upon them<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/hosea/10.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> The high places also of Aven shall be destroyed, Even the sin of Israel. The thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; And they shall say to the mountains: 'Cover us', And to the hills: 'Fall on us.' <a href="/sep/hosea/10.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the altars of On, the sins of Israel, shall be taken away: thorns and thistles shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. <a href="/parallel/hosea/10-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=1560" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/hosea/10.htm">Retribution for Israel's Sin</a> …7Samaria will be carried off with her king like a twig on the surface of the water. 8<a href="/hebrew/1116.htm" title="1116: bā·mō·wṯ (N-fpc) -- A high place. From an unused root; an elevation.">The high places</a> <a href="/hebrew/205.htm" title="205: ’ā·wen (N-ms) -- From an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant; strictly nothingness; also trouble. Vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol.">of Aven</a> <a href="/hebrew/8045.htm" title="8045: wə·niš·mə·ḏū (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To be exterminated or destroyed. A primitive root; to desolate.">will be destroyed—</a> <a href="/hebrew/2403.htm" title="2403: ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ (N-fsc) -- Or chattacth; from chata'; an offence, and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also an offender.">it is the sin</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel;</a> <a href="/hebrew/6975.htm" title="6975: qō·wṣ (N-ms) -- A thorn, thornbush. Or qots; from quwts; a thorn.">thorns</a> <a href="/hebrew/1863.htm" title="1863: wə·ḏar·dar (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Thistles. Of uncertain derivation; a thorn.">and thistles</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ya·‘ă·leh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">will overgrow</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: miz·bə·ḥō·w·ṯām (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">their altars.</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then they will say</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: le·hā·rîm (Prep-l, Art:: N-mp) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">to the mountains,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3680.htm" title="3680: kas·sū·nū (V-Piel-Imp-mp:: 1cp) -- To cover. A primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. Fill up hollows; by implication, to cover.">“Cover us!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/1389.htm" title="1389: wə·lag·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: N-fp) -- A hill. Feminine from the same as Geba'; a hillock.">and to the hills,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5307.htm" title="5307: nip̄·lū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To fall, lie. A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications.">“Fall</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·lê·nū (Prep:: 1cp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on us!”</a> 9Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/23-30.htm">Luke 23:30</a> At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ <a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Revelation 6:16</a> And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. <a href="/isaiah/2-19.htm">Isaiah 2:19</a> Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. <a href="/isaiah/2-21.htm">Isaiah 2:21</a> They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. <a href="/matthew/24-16.htm">Matthew 24:16</a> then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. <a href="/revelation/9-6.htm">Revelation 9:6</a> In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them. <a href="/jeremiah/4-29.htm">Jeremiah 4:29</a> Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left. <a href="/micah/1-6.htm">Micah 1:6</a> Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations. <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">2 Kings 17:10-11</a> They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. <a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5-7</a> who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? / Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these? / On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. <a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6</a> Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. <a href="/jeremiah/3-23.htm">Jeremiah 3:23</a> Surely deception comes from the hills, and commotion from the mountains. Surely the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God. <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Ezekiel 6:13</a> Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak—the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. <a href="/ezekiel/20-28.htm">Ezekiel 20:28</a> When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings. <a href="/amos/9-1.htm">Amos 9:1</a> I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.high places.<a href="/hosea/10-5.htm">Hosea 10:5</a> The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.<a href="/hosea/4-15.htm">Hosea 4:15</a> Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.<a href="/hosea/5-8.htm">Hosea 5:8</a> Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.the sin.<a href="/deuteronomy/9-21.htm">Deuteronomy 9:21</a> And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.<a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a> 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… <a href="/1_kings/13-34.htm">1 Kings 13:34</a> 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.the thorn.<a href="/hosea/9-6.htm">Hosea 9:6</a> For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.<a href="/isaiah/32-13.htm">Isaiah 32:13</a> Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:<a href="/isaiah/34-13.htm">Isaiah 34:13</a> And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.their altars.<a href="/1_kings/13-2.htm">1 Kings 13:2</a> And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.<a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">2 Kings 23:15</a> Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.<a href="/2_chronicles/31-1.htm">2 Chronicles 31:1</a> Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.they shall.<a href="/isaiah/2-19.htm">Isaiah 2:19</a> And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.<a href="/luke/23-30.htm">Luke 23:30</a> Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.<a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Revelation 6:16</a> And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/10-2.htm">Altars</a> <a href="/hosea/10-5.htm">Aven</a> <a href="/psalms/58-9.htm">Bramble</a> <a href="/hosea/2-9.htm">Cover</a> <a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/hosea/9-6.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/daniel/11-5.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">High</a> <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/hosea/10-6.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/hosea/9-6.htm">Places</a> <a href="/ezekiel/31-4.htm">Plants</a> <a href="/hosea/8-13.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/25-18.htm">Thistle</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-13.htm">Thistles</a> <a href="/ezekiel/28-24.htm">Thorn</a> <a href="/hosea/9-6.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/hosea/10-2.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/hosea/9-15.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/12-11.htm">Altars</a> <a href="/amos/1-5.htm">Aven</a> <a href="/luke/6-44.htm">Bramble</a> <a href="/amos/3-12.htm">Cover</a> <a href="/hosea/10-14.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/hosea/11-6.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/hosea/11-6.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/hosea/14-5.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/hosea/11-7.htm">High</a> <a href="/joel/3-18.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/hosea/10-9.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/joel/2-2.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/hosea/10-14.htm">Places</a> <a href="/zechariah/10-1.htm">Plants</a> <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/2_kings/14-9.htm">Thistle</a> <a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Thistles</a> <a href="/micah/7-4.htm">Thorn</a> <a href="/hosea/13-14.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/hosea/13-5.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 10</div>1. <a href="/hosea/10-1.htm">Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry, </a> 12. <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">and exhorted to repentance.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/hosea/10.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>The high places of Aven The term "high places" refers to elevated sites where the Israelites engaged in idolatrous worship, often involving altars and idols. "Aven" means "wickedness" or "vanity" in Hebrew, and it is likely a derogatory term for Bethel, a significant site of idol worship in Israel. Historically, these high places were centers of pagan worship, which God repeatedly condemned through His prophets. The destruction of these sites signifies God's judgment against idolatry and a call for Israel to return to true worship.will be destroyed This phrase indicates a definitive action by God against the idolatrous practices of Israel. The Hebrew root for "destroyed" conveys a sense of complete annihilation. This destruction is both a literal and symbolic act, representing the end of false worship and the consequences of turning away from God. It serves as a warning and a call to repentance, emphasizing God's sovereignty and justice.it is the sin of Israel The phrase highlights the core issue: idolatry is not just a cultural or social problem but a sin against God. The Hebrew word for "sin" here implies a breach of covenant, a deliberate turning away from God's commandments. This sin is collective, implicating the entire nation of Israel. It underscores the seriousness of idolatry and the need for national repentance and restoration of the covenant relationship with God.thorns and thistles will grow over their altars This imagery of "thorns and thistles" growing over altars symbolizes desolation and abandonment. In the ancient Near East, altars were central to worship, and their overgrowth with weeds signifies neglect and divine judgment. The Hebrew words for "thorns" and "thistles" evoke the curse of the ground in <a href="/genesis/3-18.htm">Genesis 3:18</a>, linking Israel's idolatry to the broader theme of sin and its consequences. It serves as a visual reminder of the futility of idol worship and the need to return to God.Then they will say to the mountains, 'Cover us!' and to the hills, 'Fall on us!' This expression of despair and fear reflects the people's realization of impending judgment. The plea to the mountains and hills to cover them is a metaphor for seeking escape from God's wrath. It echoes similar language in <a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Revelation 6:16</a>, where people seek to hide from the face of God during the end times. This phrase underscores the inevitability of divine judgment and the futility of trying to escape it. It serves as a sobering reminder of the need for repentance and the hope of redemption through God's mercy.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/10.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) Aven.--On Beth-Aven, see Note on <a href="/hosea/4-15.htm" title="Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not you to Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD lives.">Hosea 4:15</a>. The "thorn and thistle" are part of the first curse upon apostate Adam (<a href="/genesis/3-18.htm" title="Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field;">Genesis 3:18</a>), and the prophet not only predicts utter ruin for king and calf, temple and shrine, but the future desolation which should conceal all. Meanwhile, the people shall desire death rather than life. The awful words in the latter part of this verse are used by our Lord concerning the terrors of the impenitent in the fall of Jerusalem (<a href="/luke/23-30.htm" title="Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.">Luke 23:30</a>), and twice by St. John (<a href="/revelation/6-16.htm" title="And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:">Revelation 6:16</a>; <a href="/revelation/9-6.htm" title="And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.">Revelation 9:6</a>), to denote the extremity of despair.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 8. - The high places also of Avon, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. By Aven is generally understood Beth-aven, that is, Bethel; but some take the word as an appellative, and thus bamoth-aven would signify the "high places of iniquity." These unlawful places of sacrifice and unholy places of iniquity are further characterized by the appositional "the sin of Israel." By constructing and frequenting such places Israel had primarily and grievously sinned. By sacrificing to and worshipping even Jehovah on these high places instead of in Jerusalem, the only legal place for Divine service under the Law, their national sin in the matter of worship began; subsequently, however, things became worse, and these high places became scenes of most abominable idolatries and shamelessly sinful practices. Those places - one and all - are in the words before us doomed to destruction. The thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars. The destruction is thus vividly described as total and complete; those bad eminences were devoted to entire wasteness and desolation. "It is a sign of extreme solitude," says Jerome, "so that no traces even of wall or buildings remained to be seen;" similarly Rashi says, "Thorns and thistles shall grow up upon their altars, because the worshippers thereof have departed and no one longer remains to attend to them" so Kimchi: "On the altars of Israel which they (the enemies) shall lay waste shall thorns spring up." And they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. The sight of such fearful ruin and desolation overwhelms the wretched inhabitants of the land with distress and dismay; in sheer despair and even desperation they invoke a sure and sudden death as much preferable to their remaining longer spectators of such heart-rending scenes. Their exclamation appears to be proverbial, and to have had its origin in the custom of the Israelites fleeing, in seasons of great calamities, to the mountains and clefts of the rocks to hide themselves; thus in <a href="/judges/4-2.htm">Judges 4:2</a> we read that "because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and eaves, and strongholds." The object of their exclamation is to be buried under the hills or mountains rather than endure such calamities longer; or rather than the enemies should see them in their shame. Aben Ezra makes "altars" the subject of "shall say," as if it were the wish of the altars to be covered that they may never more be seen. Theodoret considers the sense of the passage to be that the multitude of calamities in the war occasioned by hostile invasion would be so great that there would be no one who would not prefer being overwhelmed in an earthquake or by the sudden fall of the mountains, rather than endure the calamities inflicted by the enemies. Similarly, but more concisely, Jerome says, "They are more willing to die than see the evils that bring death." <a href="/commentaries/hosea/10-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>The high places בָּמ֣וֹת (bā·mō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1116.htm">Strong's 1116: </a> An elevation of Aven, אָ֗וֶן (’ā·wen) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_205.htm">Strong's 205: </a> Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol the sin חַטַּאת֙ (ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2403.htm">Strong's 2403: </a> An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender of Israel, יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc will be destroyed; וְנִשְׁמְד֞וּ (wə·niš·mə·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8045.htm">Strong's 8045: </a> To be exterminated or destroyed thorns ק֣וֹץ (qō·wṣ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6975.htm">Strong's 6975: </a> A thorn, thornbush and thistles וְדַרְדַּ֔ר (wə·ḏar·dar) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1863.htm">Strong's 1863: </a> Thistles will grow יַעֲלֶ֖ה (ya·‘ă·leh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively over עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against their altars. מִזְבְּחוֹתָ֑ם (miz·bə·ḥō·w·ṯām) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> An altar Then they will say וְאָמְר֤וּ (wə·’ā·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to the mountains, לֶֽהָרִים֙ (le·hā·rîm) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> Mountain, hill, hill country “Cover us!” כַּסּ֔וּנוּ (kas·sū·nū) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3680.htm">Strong's 3680: </a> To plump, fill up hollows, to cover and to the hills, וְלַגְּבָע֖וֹת (wə·lag·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1389.htm">Strong's 1389: </a> A hillock “Fall נִפְל֥וּ (nip̄·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5307.htm">Strong's 5307: </a> To fall, lie on us!” עָלֵֽינוּ׃ (‘ā·lê·nū) Preposition | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/hosea/10-8.htm">Hosea 10:8 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/hosea/10-8.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 10:8 The high places also of Aven (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/10-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 10:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 10:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/10-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 10:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 10:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>