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.

For from Israel {H3478} was it also: the workman {H2796} made {H6213} it; therefore it is not God {H430}: but the calf {H5695} of Samaria {H8111} shall be broken in pieces {H7616}.

Here is what Isra'el produces: a craftsman makes something - it's a non-god; the calf of Shomron will be broken to pieces.

For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

For from Israel is even this; the workman made it, and it is no God; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

Hosea 8:6 delivers a scathing indictment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel's pervasive idolatry, specifically targeting the golden calves they worshipped. The prophet Hosea emphasizes the absurdity and futility of revering objects made by human hands, asserting that such creations cannot possibly be God.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of Israel's spiritual decline after the division of the kingdom. Following the split, King Jeroboam I, fearing his people would return to Jerusalem for worship, set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan to serve as alternative worship centers (1 Kings 12:28). This act of political expediency quickly devolved into deeply entrenched idolatry, becoming the "sin of Jeroboam" that plagued the Northern Kingdom for generations. Samaria, as the capital city, became a focal point of this false worship, making the "calf of Samaria" a symbolic representation of the nation's spiritual rebellion against the true God.

Key Themes

  • The Folly of Man-Made Gods: The verse powerfully highlights the inherent contradiction in worshipping something "the workman made." It underscores that an object crafted by human hands cannot possess divine power or authority. This theme is echoed throughout the Old Testament, mocking the impotence of idols (Psalm 115:4-7).
  • The Uniqueness of the True God: By declaring, "therefore it is not God," Hosea asserts the fundamental distinction between the Creator and the created. The true God is eternal, unmade, and sovereign, unlike the finite and dependent idols.
  • Inevitable Judgment on Idolatry: The prophecy that "the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces" signifies God's impending judgment on Israel's idolatrous practices. This destruction represents not only the physical demolition of the idols but also the dismantling of the false religious system that had led the nation astray, ultimately leading to their exile.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "calf" (‘egel) directly links to the infamous golden calf incident at Mount Sinai during the Exodus (Exodus 32:4). This connection emphasizes that Israel was repeating the same ancient sin of rejecting the unseen, living God for a tangible, man-made substitute. The phrase "it is not God" serves as a blunt, definitive statement of theological truth, stripping the idol of any perceived divinity.

Practical Application

Hosea 8:6 remains profoundly relevant today. While modern societies may not worship physical golden calves, the principle of idolatry persists. Anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives—be it money, power, possessions, career, relationships, or even self-image—becomes an idol. This verse challenges us to examine our hearts and priorities, ensuring our worship is directed solely towards the Creator. It reminds us that only the true God can deliver, sustain, and fulfill, while anything we elevate above Him will ultimately prove to be broken and useless, unable to provide lasting hope or salvation.

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.

  • Isaiah 44:9

    ¶ They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

  • Isaiah 44:20

    He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?

  • Psalms 115:4

    Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

  • Psalms 115:8

    They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

  • 2 Kings 23:15

    Moreover the altar that [was] at Bethel, [and] the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, [and] stamped [it] small to powder, and burned the grove.

  • 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.

  • Hosea 10:6

    It shall be also carried unto Assyria [for] a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

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