The Meaning of Hosea 8:11 Explained

Hosea 8:11

KJV: Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

YLT: Because Ephraim did multiply altars to sin, They have been to him altars to sin.

Darby: Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

ASV: Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because Ephraim  hath made many  altars  to sin,  altars  shall be unto him to sin. 

What does Hosea 8:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In rebellion against Yahweh"s covenant the Israelites had also built many altars ( Deuteronomy 12). They built them to offer many sin offerings, but since God had not authorized these altars they became places for sinning rather than places for worshipping. More altars simply meant more sinning.

Context Summary

Hosea 8:1-14 - Reaping The Whirlwind
A conqueror was at hand who should subdue and punish the whole nation for taking its own course, irrespective of God, Hosea 8:4-8; for seeking foreign alliances which could bring only oppression in their train, Hosea 8:9-10; and for multiplying altars and fortresses which were destined to be destroyed, Hosea 8:11; Hosea 8:14. The circumstances referred to in this chapter seem to point to the reigns of Menahem and Uzziah, 2 Kings 15:19; 2 Chronicles 26:6-15.
Hosea 8:5 is very striking. Israel had renounced Jehovah for the likeness of a calf, and now in the misfortunes which had overtaken them, their calf had cast them off. What is it that you are putting in the place of God? Power, wealth, the help of influential friends? Sooner or later it will fail you. How different is the One who perpetually encourages us, saying, "I will not fail nor forsake thee," and who promises to carry us to hoar hairs. The persistence with which Israel turned to other lovers left God no option but to put them back into a furnace such as Egypt had been, which would finally burn put their apostasy. Only when we walk before God with a perfect heart are we strong and happy. Once entangle yourself with expedients and alliances, and you lay yourself open to many sorrows. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 8

1  Destruction is threatened both to Israel and Judah for their impiety and idolatry

What do the individual words in Hosea 8:11 mean?

Because has made many Ephraim altars for sin they have become for him altars for sinning
כִּֽי־ הִרְבָּ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם מִזְבְּחֹ֖ת לַחֲטֹ֑א הָיוּ־ ל֥וֹ מִזְבְּח֖וֹת לַחֲטֹֽא

כִּֽי־  Because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הִרְבָּ֥ה  has  made  many 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
אֶפְרַ֛יִם  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
מִזְבְּחֹ֖ת  altars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
לַחֲטֹ֑א  for  sin 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
הָיוּ־  they  have  become 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ל֥וֹ  for  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מִזְבְּח֖וֹת  altars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
לַחֲטֹֽא  for  sinning 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.