Bible Strands
Hosea 8:4
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks through Hosea to the northern kingdom of Israel during a period of political rebellion and idolatry. The declaration follows the warning that Israel rejected good and an enemy will pursue them.
The words — The verb הִמְלִיכוּ (him.li.Khu) means "they have made kings," directly contrasted with מִמֶּנִּי (mi.me.ni) "from Me" to deny divine origin. The parallel verb הֵשִׂירוּ (he.Si.ru) translates literally as "they have installed leaders," while יָדַעְתִּי (ya.da.'e.ti) means "I knew," explicitly rejecting their approval.
The thread — The pattern of self-made authority ending in ruin runs through Hosea 13:9, where destruction comes for opposing God. Historical records of this rebellion appear in 2 Kings 15:10 with Shallum’s coup and 1 Kings 12:16 where the northern tribes refuse Rehoboam and return to their tents.
Why it lands — The text states that political and economic actions taken without divine sanction produce self-destruction. It requires readers to abandon self-directed systems and acknowledge God’s exclusive authority over leadership and resources.
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
King James Version
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
Cross-references
- Hosea 13:9 You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me—against your helper.
- 2 Kings 15:10 Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.
- 1 Kings 12:16 When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,
- 1 Kings 16:31 And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
- Hosea 2:8 For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.
- Hosea 13:2 Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”
- John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- 1 Kings 12:28 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.”
- Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
- Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?