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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 8:9 For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/8-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/28_Hos_08_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 8:9 - Israel will Reap the Whirlwind" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. 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Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Like a wild donkey looking for a mate, they have gone up to Assyria. The people of Israel have sold themselves— sold themselves to many lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, <i>Like</i> a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, <i>Like</i> a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has paid fees for lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, <i>Like</i> a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria <i>Like</i> a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey wandering alone <i>and</i> taking her own way; Ephraim has hired lovers (pagan allies).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You are like a wild donkey that goes its own way. You've run off to Assyria and hired them as allies. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"The people of Israel went to Assyria. They were like wild donkeys wandering off alone. The people of Ephraim sold themselves to their lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Stubborn as wild donkeys, the people of Israel go their own way. They have gone off to seek help from Assyria and have paid other nations to protect them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Because they went over to Assyria, they are like a wild donkey alone by itself. Ephraim has hired some lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For they have gone up [to] Asshur, "" A wild donkey alone by himself [is] Ephraim, "" They have hired lovers!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For they -- they have gone up to Asshur, A wild ass alone by himself is Ephraim, They have hired lovers!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For they went up to Assur, Ephraim a wild ass alone to himself: they hired those loving.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath given gifts to his lovers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assur, a wild ass alone by himself. Ephraim has given presents to his lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For they went up to Assyria— a wild ass off on its own— Ephraim bargained for lovers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For they are gone up to Assyria, as a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim has loved gifts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Gifts because they came up to Assyria like a lone donkey; Aphreim has loved<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For they are gone up to Assyria, Like a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired lovers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/8-9.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=1200" 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">8</span>Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel. <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hêm·māh (Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">they</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ā·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">have gone up</a> <a href="/hebrew/804.htm" title="804: ’aš·šūr (N-proper-fs) -- Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them, its region and its empire.">to Assyria</a> <a href="/hebrew/6501.htm" title="6501: pe·re (N-ms) -- A wild donkey. Or pereh; from para' in the secondary sense of running wild; the onager.">like a wild donkey</a> <a href="/hebrew/909.htm" title="909: bō·w·ḏêḏ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To be separate, isolated. A primitive root; to divide, i.e. Be solitary.">on its own.</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/669.htm" title="669: ’ep̄·ra·yim (N-proper-ms) -- Dual of masculine form of 'Ephraath; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hebrew/8566.htm" title="8566: hiṯ·nū (V-Hifil-Perf-3cp) -- To hire. A primitive root; to present, i.e. Bargain with.">has hired</a> <a href="/hebrew/158.htm" title="158: ʾă·hå̄·ḇīm (N-mp) -- Love (noun). From 'ahab; affection.">lovers.</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.…<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="/2_kings/17-3.htm">2 Kings 17:3-4</a></span><br />Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. / But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King So of Egypt, and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-1.htm">Isaiah 30:1-2</a></span><br />“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-18.htm">Jeremiah 2:18</a></span><br />Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-26.htm">Ezekiel 16:26-29</a></span><br />You prostituted yourself with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians, and increased your promiscuity to provoke Me to anger. / Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct. / Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/15-19.htm">2 Kings 15:19-20</a></span><br />Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom. / Menahem exacted this money from each of the wealthy men of Israel—fifty shekels of silver from each man—to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/31-1.htm">Isaiah 31:1</a></span><br />Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-36.htm">Jeremiah 2:36</a></span><br />How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-5.htm">Ezekiel 23:5-7</a></span><br />Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors / clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds. / She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/16-7.htm">2 Kings 16:7-9</a></span><br />So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.” / Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. / So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-9.htm">Isaiah 57:9</a></span><br />You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/42-14.htm">Jeremiah 42:14</a></span><br />and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-12.htm">Ezekiel 23:12-21</a></span><br />She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors dressed in splendor, horsemen riding on steeds, all desirable young men. / And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path. / But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/28-16.htm">2 Chronicles 28:16-21</a></span><br />At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria. / The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. / The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/7-17.htm">Isaiah 7:17</a></span><br />The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/46-25.htm">Jeremiah 46:25-26</a></span><br />The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh. / I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives—of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited as in days of old, declares the LORD.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim has hired lovers.</p><p class="hdg">they.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/5-13.htm">Hosea 5:13</a></b></br> When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah <i>saw</i> his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/7-11.htm">Hosea 7:11</a></b></br> Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/15-19.htm">2 Kings 15:19</a></b></br> <i>And</i> Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.</p><p class="hdg">a wild.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/39-5.htm">Job 39:5-8</a></b></br> Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-24.htm">Jeremiah 2:24</a></b></br> A wild ass used to the wilderness, <i>that</i> snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.</p><p class="hdg">hath.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/2-5.htm">Hosea 2:5-7,10</a></b></br> For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give <i>me</i> my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/12-1.htm">Hosea 12:1</a></b></br> Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/30-6.htm">Isaiah 30:6</a></b></br> The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence <i>come</i> the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people <i>that</i> shall not profit <i>them</i>.</p><p class="hdg">lovers.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/4-17.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-6.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/hosea/7-11.htm">Asshur</a> <a href="/hosea/7-11.htm">Assyria</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-19.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/hosea/7-11.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hosea/7-11.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/hosea/2-13.htm">Herself</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-21.htm">Hired</a> <a href="/hosea/2-13.htm">Lovers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/18-13.htm">Money</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-13.htm">Sold</a> <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Wandering</a> <a href="/hosea/2-12.htm">Wild</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/9-4.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/hosea/9-3.htm">Asshur</a> <a href="/hosea/9-3.htm">Assyria</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/hosea/8-11.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hosea/8-11.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-3.htm">Herself</a> <a href="/hosea/8-10.htm">Hired</a> <a href="/hosea/8-13.htm">Lovers</a> <a href="/hosea/8-10.htm">Money</a> <a href="/hosea/8-10.htm">Sold</a> <a href="/hosea/9-17.htm">Wandering</a> <a href="/hosea/13-8.htm">Wild</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>For they have gone up to Assyria</b><br>This phrase indicates Israel's reliance on foreign powers rather than God. Historically, Assyria was a dominant empire during Hosea's time, and Israel sought alliances with them for protection against other threats. This act of seeking help from Assyria reflects a lack of faith in God's provision and protection, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/31.htm">Isaiah 31:1</a>, where reliance on foreign powers is condemned. The political context of the time was marked by instability, and Israel's leaders often turned to powerful neighbors for security, which ultimately led to their downfall.<p><b>like a wild donkey on its own</b><br>The wild donkey is a symbol of stubbornness and independence, often used in Scripture to describe a lack of discipline or control (see <a href="/job/39-5.htm">Job 39:5-8</a>). This imagery suggests that Israel is acting impulsively and without guidance, pursuing its own desires rather than following God's commandments. The wild donkey's solitary nature also implies that Israel is isolating itself from God's covenant community, choosing its own path rather than the one God has set.<p><b>Ephraim has hired lovers</b><br>Ephraim, representing the northern kingdom of Israel, is depicted as unfaithful, akin to a spouse seeking illicit relationships. The term "hired lovers" suggests that Israel is paying for alliances and protection, which is both costly and degrading. This metaphor of infidelity is consistent with Hosea's broader theme of Israel's spiritual adultery, as seen in <a href="/hosea/1.htm">Hosea 1-3</a>, where Israel's unfaithfulness to God is likened to a wife's unfaithfulness to her husband. The hiring of lovers also points to the futility of these alliances, as they ultimately lead to Israel's exploitation and downfall, fulfilling the prophetic warnings of judgment for their unfaithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim.htm">Ephraim</a></b><br>Represents the northern kingdom of Israel, often used synonymously with Israel in the prophetic books. Ephraim was the largest tribe and thus symbolized the whole nation.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/assyria.htm">Assyria</a></b><br>A powerful empire during the time of Hosea, known for its military might and influence. Israel sought alliances with Assyria, which is depicted as a form of unfaithfulness to God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/wild_donkey.htm">Wild Donkey</a></b><br>A metaphor used to describe Israel's stubbornness and independence, highlighting their reckless pursuit of foreign alliances.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/h/hired_lovers.htm">Hired Lovers</a></b><br>Symbolizes Israel's unfaithfulness to God by seeking political and military alliances with pagan nations instead of relying on God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/m/misplaced_trust.htm">Misplaced Trust</a></b><br>Israel's reliance on Assyria instead of God serves as a warning against placing our trust in worldly powers or solutions rather than in God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_unfaithfulness.htm">Spiritual Unfaithfulness</a></b><br>The metaphor of "hired lovers" illustrates the spiritual adultery of seeking fulfillment and security outside of a relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_independence.htm">Consequences of Independence</a></b><br>Like a wild donkey, Israel's pursuit of independence from God led to their downfall. We must recognize the dangers of living independently from God's guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Hosea's message is a call to return to God, emphasizing the need for repentance and renewed faithfulness in our relationship with Him.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">Gone up to Assyria</span>.--The word thus translated is elsewhere used for "going up" to the sanctuary of the Lord. (See Note on <a href="/hosea/7-11.htm" title="Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.">Hosea 7:11</a>.) <span class= "ital">Wild ass</span> is the image of untamed waywardness (<a href="/job/39-5.htm" title="Who has sent out the wild ass free? or who has loosed the bands of the wild ass?">Job 39:5</a>, <span class= "ital">sea.</span>) it is described by Wetzstein as inhabiting the steppes, a creature of dirty yellow colour, with long ears and no horns, and a head resembling a gazelle's. Its pace is so swift that no huntsman can overtake it. It is seldom seen alone, but in herds of several hundreds. From <a href="/jeremiah/2-24.htm" title="A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.">Jeremiah 2:24</a> we infer that the animal wanders alone after the object of its lust. Israel, like a solitary wild ass, seeks strange loves, courts strange alliances. On the last clause, see <a href="/context/ezekiel/16-32.htm" title="But as a wife that commits adultery, which takes strangers instead of her husband!">Ezekiel 16:32-34</a>. Ephraim pays abnormally for her own shame.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.</span> All their misery and misfortune they have brought upon themselves. They have prepared this fate for themselves, and made themselves meet for their fate. The second clause is correctly rendered, <span class="accented">a wild ass goes alone by itself</span>; <span class="accented">and</span> this clause is an independent statement - not connected by n- of comparison either with the clause preceding nor with the succeeding one. Instead of saying that Epraim, that is, Israel, went up to Assyria like a stubborn wild ass alone by itself, or that like a wild ass going alone Ephraim hired (sued for) lovers, the statement stands independent and in a measure detached, the meaning being that even a wild ass, stupid and stubborn as that animal is, keeps by itself to secure its independence. The conduct of Israel, however, appears to disadvantage in contrast with that of a stupid wild ass; it is more stupid and senseless; their folly is seen by the comparison: it maintained its independence by going alone, Ephraim lost independence by soliciting help from heathen allies. What, then, was the object to the attainment of which this foolish conduct was directed? In other words, why did Israel go on this stupid mission to Assyria? What did they seek to gain by it? The third clause contains the answer: they sought help and succor from the <span class="accented">Assyrians</span>. Thus the first clause, giving a reason for their calamity, shows it was self-procured by Ephraim going up to Assyria; the second clause exposes the folly of such conduct in seeking prohibited and pernicious foreign alliances; the third clause specifies the precise object of Ephraim's sinful and foolish mission, namely, the procuring of succor from <span class="accented">Assyria</span>. The above explanation, <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> which is in substance Keil's, and which is a contrast between the independence of the wild ass and Ephraim's servile suing for foreign help, is, we think, simpler and more correct than <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> the common one, which is a comparison of the willfulness, waywardness, and wantonness of the wild ass roaming solitarily by itself with Ephraim's willful waywardness in going up to Assyria for succor, and wantonness in suing for idolatrous alliances. The expression, "<span class="accented">going</span> <span class="accented">up</span>," alludes to going to the interior of the country, or to the capital of the monarch Assyria now owned as sovereign, or to a place of refuge. The hiring of lovers, or lover, by Ephraim stigmatizes their shameful conduct as that of a shameless harlot, who, instead of receiving, bestows presents on lovers, or as the reward of endearments. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/8-9.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">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵ֙מָּה֙</span> <span class="translit">(hêm·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have gone up</span><br /><span class="heb">עָל֣וּ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Assyria</span><br /><span class="heb">אַשּׁ֔וּר</span> <span class="translit">(’aš·šūr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_804.htm">Strong's 804: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ashshur</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like a wild donkey</span><br /><span class="heb">פֶּ֖רֶא</span> <span class="translit">(pe·re)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6501.htm">Strong's 6501: </a> </span><span class="str2">A wild donkey</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on its own.</span><br /><span class="heb">בּוֹדֵ֣ד</span> <span class="translit">(bō·w·ḏêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_909.htm">Strong's 909: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be separate, isolated</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Ephraim</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶפְרַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(’ep̄·ra·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_669.htm">Strong's 669: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has hired</span><br /><span class="heb">הִתְנ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(hiṯ·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8566.htm">Strong's 8566: </a> </span><span class="str2">To present, bargain with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lovers.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲהָבִֽים‪‬‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·hā·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_158.htm">Strong's 158: </a> </span><span class="str2">Love (noun)</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/8-9.htm">Hosea 8:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/8-9.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 8:9 For they have gone up to Assyria (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/8-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 8:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 8:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/8-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 8:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 8:10" /></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>