Hosea 10:5

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

The inhabitants {H7934} of Samaria {H8111} shall fear {H1481} because of the calves {H5697} of Bethaven {H1007}: for the people {H5971} thereof shall mourn {H56} over it, and the priests {H3649} thereof that rejoiced {H1523} on it, for the glory {H3519} thereof, because it is departed {H1540} from it.

The inhabitants of Shomron are frightened of the calf-gods of Beit-Aven. Its people mourn over it; its priests tremble over it, over its glory, which has left it.

The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn with its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced in its glory— for it has been taken from them into exile.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

Context of Hosea 10:5

Hosea, a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) in the 8th century BC, relentlessly exposed their spiritual adultery and idolatry. This verse comes amidst a series of pronouncements detailing God's impending judgment due to Israel's unfaithfulness to His covenant. The nation, particularly its capital Samaria, had embraced the worship of golden calves, a sin initiated by King Jeroboam I at Bethel and Dan, and perpetuated through generations. This false worship was a direct violation of the First Commandment, and Hosea vividly describes the consequences of this rebellion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Futility of Idolatry: The "calves of Bethaven" represent the false gods and misplaced trust of Israel. The verse highlights that these idols, far from offering protection or power, would become a source of fear and mourning for their worshippers. Their destruction would expose their utter powerlessness.
  • Divine Judgment on False Worship: God's jealousy for His own glory is evident. The impending destruction of these idols and the subsequent distress of their adherents serve as a stark warning against worshipping anything other than the one true God.
  • Loss of False Glory: The phrase "the glory thereof, because it is departed from it" speaks to the perceived majesty or divine presence associated with the idols. This "glory" was not from God but was a human construct, and it would vanish, leaving only emptiness and sorrow. This echoes the concept of Ichabod, "the glory has departed", which signified God's presence leaving His people due to their sin.
  • Mourning and Fear: The people and their idolatrous priests, who once "rejoiced" in their false worship, would experience profound fear and sorrow. This reversal of emotion underscores the bitter end of a life lived apart from God's truth.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Bethaven" (Hebrew: בֵּית אָוֶן, Beit Aven) is highly significant. It literally means "house of iniquity" or "house of vanity/nothingness." This is a derogatory prophetic renaming of "Bethel" (בֵּית אֵל, Beit El), which means "house of God." By calling Bethel "Bethaven," Hosea emphasizes that what was once a sacred place dedicated to God had become a center of idolatry and spiritual emptiness. The "glory" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) here refers to the weight, honor, or splendor attributed to the idol, which would be removed, signifying the idol's worthlessness and God's judgment.

Practical Application

Hosea 10:5 serves as a timeless warning against any form of idolatry, whether overt or subtle. In modern contexts, idols are often not physical statues but can be anything we place our ultimate trust, hope, or devotion in apart from God – such as wealth, career, relationships, reputation, or even political ideologies. When these things become our "glory" or source of security, they too will ultimately disappoint and "depart," leading to fear and mourning.

The verse calls us to examine our hearts: What do we truly fear losing? What brings us our greatest joy? Is it the unchanging glory of God, or the fleeting "glory" of created things? It reminds us that true security and lasting joy are found only in worshipping and obeying the Lord, who alone is worthy of all glory and praise. The fall of Samaria and its calves, as prophesied here and fulfilled in 2 Kings 17:6, stands as a historical testament to the consequences of spiritual compromise.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hosea 9:11

    ¶ [As for] Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.

  • Hosea 5:8

    ¶ Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, [and] the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud [at] Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

  • 2 Kings 23:5

    And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

  • Hosea 8:5

    Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast [thee] off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long [will it be] ere they attain to innocency?

  • Hosea 8:6

    For from Israel [was] it also: the workman made it; therefore it [is] not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

  • Hosea 4:15

    Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

  • Hosea 13:2

    And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, [and] idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

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