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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hosea 8:3 But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/8-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/28_Hos_08_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 8:3 - Israel will Reap the Whirlwind" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/hosea/8-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/hosea/8-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/hosea/">Hosea</a> > <a href="/hosea/8.htm">Chapter 8</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hosea/8-2.htm" title="Hosea 8:2">◄</a> Hosea 8:3 <a href="/hosea/8-4.htm" title="Hosea 8:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/hosea/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/hosea/8.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But it is too late. The people of Israel have rejected what is good, and now their enemies will chase after them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Israel hath cast off <i>the thing that is</i> good: the enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Israel has rejected the good; The enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Israel hath cast off that which is good: the enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But your enemies will chase you for rejecting our good agreement. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Israel hath cast off that which is good: the enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />However, they have rejected what is good. The enemy will persecute them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />they have rejected what is good. Because of this their enemies will pursue them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Israel has discarded what is good. The enemy will pursue them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But Israel has rejected what is morally good; so an enemy will pursue him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Israel has cast off good, an enemy pursues him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Cast off good hath Israel, an enemy pursueth him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Israel rejected the good: the enemy shall pursue him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Israel hath cast off the thing that is good, the enemy shall pursue him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Israel has thrown away goodness; the enemy will overtake him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But Israel has rejected what is good; the enemy shall pursue him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Israel has forgotten the good; the enemy has pursued him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Israel has forgotten goodness and the enemy chases them<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Israel hath cast off that which is good; The enemy shall pursue him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/8-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=1135" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/hosea/8.htm">Israel will Reap the Whirlwind</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!” <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><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.">But Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/2186.htm" title="2186: zā·naḥ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- Reject, forsake, fail. A primitive root meaning to push aside, i.e. Reject, forsake, fail.">has rejected</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (N-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">good;</a> <a href="/hebrew/341.htm" title="341: ’ō·w·yêḇ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- Hating, an adversary. Or owyeb; active participle of 'ayab; hating; an adversary.">an enemy</a> <a href="/hebrew/7291.htm" title="7291: yir·də·p̄ō (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms:: 3ms) -- To pursue, chase, persecute. A primitive root; to run after (of time) gone by).">will pursue him.</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-13.htm">Jeremiah 2:13</a></span><br />“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-4.htm">Isaiah 1:4</a></span><br />Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-22.htm">Jeremiah 4:22</a></span><br />“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/3-10.htm">Amos 3:10</a></span><br />“For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-24.htm">Isaiah 5:24</a></span><br />Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-23.htm">Jeremiah 5:23-24</a></span><br />But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone away. / They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-9.htm">Isaiah 30:9-11</a></span><br />These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/8-5.htm">Jeremiah 8:5-7</a></span><br />Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. / I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. / Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-8.htm">Ezekiel 20:8</a></span><br />But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15</a></span><br />They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-28.htm">Romans 1:28</a></span><br />Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-20</a></span><br />And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-41.htm">Luke 19:41-44</a></span><br />As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/10-21.htm">Romans 10:21</a></span><br />But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Israel has cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.</p><p class="hdg">cast.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/36-3.htm">Psalm 36:3</a></b></br> The words of his mouth <i>are</i> iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, <i>and</i> to do good.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/81-10.htm">Psalm 81:10,11</a></b></br> I <i>am</i> the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/1-11.htm">Amos 1:11</a></b></br> Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away <i>the punishment</i> thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:</p><p class="hdg">the enemy.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/26-36.htm">Leviticus 26:36</a></b></br> And upon them that are left <i>alive</i> of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/28-25.htm">Deuteronomy 28:25</a></b></br> The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/3-66.htm">Lamentations 3:66</a></b></br> Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/daniel/11-15.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/hosea/8-1.htm">Enemy</a> <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Good</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-27.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/hosea/8-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/hosea/2-7.htm">Pursue</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-3.htm">Pursueth</a> <a href="/hosea/5-2.htm">Rejected</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-12.htm">Spurned</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/8-5.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/amos/3-11.htm">Enemy</a> <a href="/hosea/14-2.htm">Good</a> <a href="/amos/5-15.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/hosea/8-6.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/amos/1-11.htm">Pursue</a> <a href="/hosea/12-1.htm">Pursueth</a> <a href="/hosea/8-5.htm">Rejected</a> <a href="/hosea/8-5.htm">Spurned</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/8-1.htm">Destruction is threatened both to Israel and Judah for their impiety and idolatry.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hosea/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But Israel has rejected good;</b><br>Israel's rejection of good refers to their turning away from God's commandments and covenant. Historically, this period was marked by idolatry and alliances with pagan nations, which were seen as rejections of God's ways. The "good" here is synonymous with God's law and His righteous path. This rejection is reminiscent of the Israelites' earlier disobedience in the wilderness (Exodus 32) and their continual cycle of sin during the time of the Judges (<a href="/judges/2-11.htm">Judges 2:11-19</a>). Theologically, this reflects humanity's tendency to choose sin over righteousness, a theme echoed in <a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a>.<p><b>an enemy will pursue him.</b><br>The consequence of Israel's rejection is the pursuit by an enemy, which in the historical context likely refers to the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was a dominant power during Hosea's time and eventually conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. This pursuit is both a literal military threat and a metaphor for the spiritual consequences of abandoning God. Biblically, this aligns with the covenant curses outlined in <a href="/deuteronomy/28-15.htm">Deuteronomy 28:15-68</a>, where disobedience leads to foreign domination. Prophetically, it foreshadows the ultimate judgment and exile, yet also points to the need for a savior, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who offers redemption and restoration.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The northern kingdom, often referred to as Ephraim in Hosea, representing the ten tribes that split from Judah. Israel is depicted as having turned away from God, leading to their spiritual and eventual physical downfall.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet in the 8th century BC, called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to Israel. His life and marriage serve as a metaphor for God's relationship with Israel.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemy.htm">Enemy</a></b><br>Represents the Assyrian empire, which God used as an instrument of judgment against Israel due to their disobedience and idolatry.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/rejection_of_good_leads_to_consequences.htm">Rejection of Good Leads to Consequences</a></b><br>Israel's rejection of what is good—God's commandments and His covenant—leads to their downfall. This serves as a reminder that turning away from God's ways invites negative consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_pursuit_of_enemies.htm">The Pursuit of Enemies</a></b><br>When we reject God, we open ourselves to spiritual and sometimes physical adversaries. This is a call to remain steadfast in faith and obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_despite_rejection.htm">God's Faithfulness Despite Rejection</a></b><br>Even when Israel rejects God, He remains faithful, using prophets like Hosea to call them back. This demonstrates God's enduring love and patience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to examine their own lives for areas where they may be rejecting God's good and to seek repentance and restoration.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_use_an_immoral_example_in_hosea_3.htm">How do we explain God's choice to use a seemingly immoral relationship in Hosea 3 as a lesson to Israel, rather than a more straightforward example of righteousness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_unconditional_love.htm">What defines unconditional love?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_psalm_124_3_metaphorical_or_unverified.htm">Psalm 124:3 describes enemies swallowing Israel alive, but there is no archaeological evidence of such an event. Could this be metaphorical, or is it historically unverified?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_love_differ_from_like.htm">How does love differ from like?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Cast off.</span>--Jehovah's reply to Israel's hollow repentance. The word "cast off" means a scornful loathing of what is putrescent or obscene. "The thing that is good" is the name of God, which is the salvation of Israel (Aben Ezra).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.</span> This is the reply of Jehovah. The good which Israel rejected is not exactly God the One Good, nor Jehovah the greatest Good, nor the Law, which was good; but all the goodness which he bestows on such as keep his covenant. This Israel rejected, and in turn is rejected of God and delivered up into the hands of his pursuers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/8-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">[But] Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has rejected</span><br /><span class="heb">זָנַ֥ח</span> <span class="translit">(zā·naḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2186.htm">Strong's 2186: </a> </span><span class="str2">Reject, forsake, fail</span><br /><br /><span class="word">good;</span><br /><span class="heb">ט֑וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(ṭō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an enemy</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹיֵ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·w·yêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_341.htm">Strong's 341: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hating, an adversary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will pursue him.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִרְדְּֽפוֹ׃‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(yir·də·p̄ōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7291.htm">Strong's 7291: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pursue, chase, persecute</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/8-3.htm">Hosea 8:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/8-3.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 8:3 Israel has cast off that which (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/8-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 8:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 8:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/8-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 8:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 8:4" /></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>