Hosea 8:14

Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks through the prophet Hosea to Israel and Judah immediately after rejecting their sacrificial rituals.

The words — עֹשֵׂ֗הוּ ('o.Se./hu) translates literally to "his maker," while הֵֽיכָל֔וֹת (hei.kha.Lot) means "palaces," marking the shift from divine acknowledgment to human construction.

The thread — The motif of abandoning the Creator appears in Deuteronomy 32:18, where the people ignore the Rock who brought them forth, and in Isaiah 17:10, where they forget the God of their salvation.

Why it lands — The text reports that God will send fire to consume Judah's fortified cities, demanding recognition that national security cannot replace covenant loyalty.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨חva/i.yish.Kachand/ he has forgotten יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לYis.ra.'ElIsrael אֶת־'et-<obj.>עֹשֵׂ֗הוּ'o.Se./humaker/ his וַיִּ֙בֶן֙va/i.Yi.venand/ he has built הֵֽיכָל֔וֹתhei.kha.Lotpalaces וִֽיהוּדָ֕הvi./hu.Dahand/ Judah הִרְבָּ֖הhir.Bahhe has multiplied עָרִ֣ים'a.Rimcities בְּצֻר֑וֹתbe.tzu.Rotfortified וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־ve./shi.lach.ti-and/ I will send אֵ֣שׁ'eshfire בְּעָרָ֔יוbe./'a.Ra/von/ cities/ his וְאָכְלָ֖הve./'a.khe.Lahand/ it will consume אַרְמְנֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס'ar.me.no.Tei./hafortresses/ his

King James Version

For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 32:18 You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Jeremiah 17:27 But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”
Isaiah 17:10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge. Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots and set out cuttings from exotic vines—
Hosea 13:6 When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
Amos 2:5 So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
Psalms 106:21 They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,
Jeremiah 2:32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
Amos 1:10 So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre to consume its citadels.”
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
1 Kings 12:31 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.