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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 8:11 Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/8-11.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/28_Hos_08_11.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 8:11 - Israel will Reap the Whirlwind" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning." /><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'; 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They are altars intended for sinning [which multiply his guilt].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Israel, you have built many altars where you offer sacrifices for sin. But these altars have become places for sin. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, altars have been unto him to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"The more altars that the people of Ephraim build to make offerings to pay for their sins, the more places they have for sinning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"The more altars the people of Israel build for removing sin, the more places they have for sinning! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"The more altars Ephraim builds for sin, the more altars there will be for sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be to him to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Because Ephraim multiplied altars to sin, "" They have been to him altars to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Because Ephraim did multiply altars to sin, They have been to him altars to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Because Ephraim multiplied altars to sin, altars were to him to sin.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin: altars are become to him unto sin. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For Ephraim multiplied altars to sin, and sanctuaries have become an offense for him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, they became altars for sinning. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When Ephraim multiplied altars to expiate sin, they became to him altars for sinning.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, altars have become to him for a great sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because Aphreim has multiplied altars for sin, and he had altars for great sin<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, Yea, altars have been unto him to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Because Ephraim has multiplied altars, <i>his</i> beloved altars are become sins to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/8-11.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=1220" 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">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. <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">Though</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/7235.htm" title="7235: hir·bāh (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">multiplied</a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: miz·bə·ḥōṯ (N-mp) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">the altars</a> <a href="/hebrew/2398.htm" title="2398: la·ḥă·ṭō (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; properly, to miss; hence to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn.">for sin,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yū- (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">they became</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">his</a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: miz·bə·ḥō·wṯ (N-mp) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">altars</a> <a href="/hebrew/2398.htm" title="2398: la·ḥă·ṭō (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; properly, to miss; hence to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn.">for sinning.</a> </span><span class="reftext">12</span>Though I wrote for them the great things of My law, they regarded them as something strange.…<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="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a></span><br />After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">2 Kings 17:10-12</a></span><br />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. / They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-28.htm">Jeremiah 2:28</a></span><br />But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-8.htm">Isaiah 2:8</a></span><br />Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-28.htm">Ezekiel 20:28-29</a></span><br />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. / So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-25.htm">Amos 5:25-26</a></span><br />Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? / You have taken along Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, the idols you made for yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/5-13.htm">Micah 5:13-14</a></span><br />I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands. / I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/11-15.htm">2 Chronicles 11:15</a></span><br />And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2-3</a></span><br />Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. / Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-30.htm">Leviticus 26:30</a></span><br />I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-23</a></span><br />For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29-30</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. / Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-20</a></span><br />Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Galatians 4:8</a></span><br />Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-22.htm">Colossians 2:22-23</a></span><br />These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. / Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, altars shall be to him to sin.</p><p class="hdg">many.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/10-1.htm">Hosea 10:1,2,8</a></b></br> Israel <i>is</i> an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/12-11.htm">Hosea 12:11</a></b></br> <i>Is there</i> iniquity <i>in</i> Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars <i>are</i> as heaps in the furrows of the fields.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/10-10.htm">Isaiah 10:10,11</a></b></br> As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; … </p><p class="hdg">altars.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28</a></b></br> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/16-13.htm">Jeremiah 16:13</a></b></br> Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, <i>neither</i> ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/4-19.htm">Altars</a> <a href="/daniel/9-25.htm">Built</a> <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/hosea/8-9.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hosea/8-9.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/hosea/4-7.htm">Increasing</a> <a href="/hosea/4-7.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/hosea/4-10.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/hosea/6-6.htm">Offerings</a> <a href="/hosea/7-12.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/hosea/7-13.htm">Sinning</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/10-1.htm">Altars</a> <a href="/hosea/8-14.htm">Built</a> <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/hosea/9-3.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/hosea/9-3.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/amos/4-4.htm">Increasing</a> <a href="/hosea/8-14.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/hosea/12-1.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/hosea/8-13.htm">Offerings</a> <a href="/hosea/8-13.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/hosea/11-7.htm">Sinning</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>Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin</b><br>Ephraim, representing the northern kingdom of Israel, is often used as a synonym for Israel in the prophetic books. The multiplication of altars indicates a proliferation of idolatrous worship practices, contrary to the commandment to worship Yahweh alone. This reflects a period of spiritual decline and syncretism, where the Israelites adopted pagan practices from surrounding nations. The altars were intended for sacrifices, but instead of being used for worshiping God, they became places of sin. This mirrors the situation in <a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a>, where Jeroboam set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, leading Israel into sin.<p><b>they became his altars for sinning</b><br>The altars, instead of serving their intended purpose of atonement and worship, became instruments of sin. This highlights the irony and tragedy of Israel's spiritual state. The altars, meant to bring the people closer to God, instead facilitated their rebellion against Him. This is reminiscent of <a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm">Isaiah 1:11-15</a>, where God expresses His disdain for sacrifices offered without true repentance. The misuse of altars underscores the theme of empty ritualism versus genuine faith, a recurring issue in the prophetic literature. The phrase also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would fulfill the law and provide a means for true atonement, contrasting with the ineffective sacrifices of Israel.<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 held significant influence.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/altars.htm">Altars</a></b><br>Structures built for worship and sacrifices. In this context, they were used for idolatrous practices contrary to God's commandments.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sin.htm">Sin</a></b><br>The act of disobedience against God's laws. Here, it refers to the idolatry and false worship practices of Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to Israel. His ministry focused on Israel's unfaithfulness and God's enduring love.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, which had turned away from God to worship idols, leading to their eventual downfall.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/i/idolatry's_deception.htm">Idolatry's Deception</a></b><br>Just as Ephraim multiplied altars, we must be cautious of allowing anything to take God's place in our lives. Idolatry can be subtle and deceptive.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/true_worship.htm">True Worship</a></b><br>God desires sincere worship from the heart, not just external rituals. Our worship should reflect our love and obedience to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_sin.htm">Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Persistent sin leads to spiritual decay and separation from God. We must repent and turn back to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Regularly examine your life for areas where you may be prioritizing other things over God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness.htm">God's Faithfulness</a></b><br>Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained faithful. We can trust in His promises and return to Him in repentance.<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/what_is_true_righteousness_in_the_bible.htm">What offerings are pleasing to God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_hosea_13_7-8_show_god_as_loving.htm">Hosea 13:7-8: Does the graphic depiction of God as a devouring predator align with a loving deity, or does it represent an inconsistency in the biblical portrayal of God's character?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/hosea_10_8__literal_or_figurative.htm">Hosea 10:8: Is the call for the mountains to 'cover' the people a literal event or figurative language that doesn't align with known historical occurrences?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_joshua_lead_the_israelites.htm">How did Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land?</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>(11) <span class= "bld">Many altars.</span>--Multiplication of altars was condemned in the law (<a href="/deuteronomy/12-5.htm" title="But to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even to his habitation shall you seek, and thither you shall come:">Deuteronomy 12:5</a> <span class= "ital">seq.</span>)<span class= "ital">.</span> The narrative in Joshua 22 shows that unity of altar and sanctuary was essential to the unity of the nation. The last clause should be rendered, <span class= "ital">he had altars for sinning.</span> The worship of God was degraded into the sensuous approaching Baal-worship. In the first clause sin equals transgression, in the last transgression <span class= "ital">plus</span> guilt and peril.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 11, 12.</span> - These two verses are closely connected with the preceding verse and with each other. Ver. 11 not only accounts for, but justifies, the threat of punishment announced in ver. 10 by reference to Ephraim's sin; and ver. 12 shows the inexcusableness of Ephraim in thus sinning. <span class="cmt_word">Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.</span> Instead of the one sanctuary with its altar in the place which the Lord their God would choose out of all their tribes to put his Name there and to accept the offerings of his people, they multiplied altars contrary to the express command of God; while those altars which they erected in any places that pleased them were not for the service of the true God, but for the worship of idols, the calves, Baal, and ether vanities of the heathen. Thus they multiplied their sin by every altar they reared and every idol they worshipped. Their altars, instead of proving their piety, plunged them in greater sin and deeper guilt. <span class="cmt_word">I have written to him the great things of my Law,</span> but they <span class="cmt_word">were counted as a strange thing.</span> For the Athenians, whose city Paul found full of idols, and which in addition to its many other altars had one to an unknown god, there was some excuse, for they were not privileged with a revelation of the Divine will in a written Law; but for Israel no such apology was possible. This verse proves plainly that, in their sinning by multiplying idols and altars, they were entirely without excuse. The kethie or textual reading has <span class="accented">ribbo</span> for <span class="accented">ribboth</span> by the omission of tar and equivalent to <span class="hebrew">רְבָבָה</span>, that is, ten thousand, or myriads; the Qeri or Maasoretie correction, <span class="hebrew">רֻבֵּי</span>, plural of <span class="hebrew">דב</span>, multitudes. The idea conveyed is the numerous directions, preceptive and prohibitive, of the Pentateuch; the commandments, so full and explicit, comprehending alike the great things and the little; the details, so minute as well as manifold, that there was no possibility of mistake, provided there was any mind to be informed. Still more, these commandments, directions, and details were not only communicated verbally and orally to Israel; they were committed to writing, and thus placed permanently on record. And yet, notwithstanding all this, the great things of God's Law were regarded by many or most of those to whom they were addressed as instructions foreign to their interest, with which they had no concern, and which consequently had no claim on their attention and deserved no place in their recollection. The variety of names for the Divine commands is very noteworthy. There are <span class="accented">commandments</span> equivalent to all precepts of which the motives are assigned, as of circumstance to distinguish Israel from ether people; <span class="accented">statutes</span>, for which no motives are assigned, as in the case of the red heifer, prohibition against wearing garments of mixed material, and ceremonial prescripts in general; <span class="accented">testimonies</span>, precepts intended to keep up the memory of any event of fact as the Passover to remind of the departure from Egypt; <span class="accented">precepts</span>, rational injunctions, left, so to say, to our intelligence, as the unity of the Deity and the fact of his being the Creator; and <span class="accented">judgments</span>, judicial directions relating to buying and selling, inheritances, and such like. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/8-11.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">Though</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">Ephraim</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶפְרַ֛יִם</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">multiplied</span><br /><span class="heb">הִרְבָּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(hir·bāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the altars</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזְבְּחֹ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(miz·bə·ḥōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> </span><span class="str2">An altar</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for sin,</span><br /><span class="heb">לַחֲטֹ֑א</span> <span class="translit">(la·ḥă·ṭō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2398.htm">Strong's 2398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they became</span><br /><span class="heb">הָיוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his</span><br /><span class="heb">ל֥וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(lōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">altars</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזְבְּח֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(miz·bə·ḥō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> </span><span class="str2">An altar</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for sinning.</span><br /><span class="heb">לַחֲטֹֽא׃</span> <span class="translit">(la·ḥă·ṭō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2398.htm">Strong's 2398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/8-11.htm">Hosea 8:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/8-11.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 8:11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/8-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 8:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 8:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/8-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 8:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 8:12" /></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>