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Selected Verse: Hosea 8:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ho 8:4	Strong Concordance	They have set up kings [04427], but not by me: they have made princes [07786], and I knew [03045] it not: of their silver [03701] and their gold [02091] have they made [06213] them idols [06091], that they may be cut off [03772].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
kings . . . not by me--not with My sanction (Kg1 11:31; Kg1 12:20). Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation. I knew it not--I approved it not (Psa 1:6). of . . . gold . . . idols-- (Hos 2:8; Hos 13:2). that they may be cut off--that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So Jer 27:10, Jer 27:15; Jer 44:8.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

kings . . . not by me--not with My sanction (Kg1 11:31; Kg1 12:20). Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation.

I knew it not--I approved it not (Psa 1:6).

of . . . gold . . . idols-- (Hos 2:8; Hos 13:2).

that they may be cut off--that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So Jer 27:10, Jer 27:15; Jer 44:8.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
They have set up kings, but not by ME - God Himself foretold to Jeroboam by Ahijah the prophet, that He would "rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and give ten tribes" to him, "and" would "take" him, "and" he "should reign according to all that" his soul desired and" should "be king over Israel" Kg1 11:31, Kg1 11:37; and, after the ten tribes had made Jeroboam king, God said by Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam and the two tribes, "Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me" Kg1 12:22-24. Yet although here, as everywhere, man's self-will was overruled by God's will, and fulfilled it, it was not the less self-will, both in the ten tribes and in Jeroboam. It was so in the ten tribes. For they cast off Rehoboam, simply of their own mind, because he would not lessen the taxes, as they prescribed. If he would have consented to their demands, they would have remained his subjects Kg1 12:4. "They set up kings, but not by or through" God, whom they never consulted, nor asked His will about the rules of the kingdom, or about its relation to the kingdom of Judah, or the house of David. They referred these matters no more to God, than if there had been no God, or than if He interfered not in the affairs of man. It was self-will in Jeroboam himself, for he received the kingdom (which Ahijah told him, he "desired") not from God, not requiring of him, how he should undertake it, nor anointed by Him, nor in any way acknowledging Him, but from the people. And as soon as he had received it, he set up rebellion against God, in order to establish his kingdom, which he founded in sin, whereby he made Israel to sin. In like way, the Apostle says, "against Thy holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" Act 4:27, Act 4:8. Yet not the less did they sin in this Deicide; and the Blood of Jesus has ever since, as they imprecated on themselves, been on the Jews and on their children, as many as did not repent. As was the beginning of the kingdom of Israel, such was its course. "They made kings, but not from God." Such were all their kings, except Jehu and his house. During 253 years, for which the kingdom of Israel lasted eighteen kings reigned over it, out of ten different families, and no family came to a close, save by a violent death. The like self-will and independence closed the existence of the Jewish people. The Roman Emperor being afar off, the Scribes and Pharisees hoped, under him, without any great control, to maintain their own authority over the people. They themselves, by their "God forbid!" Luk 20:16, owned that our Lord truly saw their thoughts and purpose, "This is the heir; come let us kill Him, that the inheritance may be ours." They willed to reign without Christ, feared the Pagan Emperor less than the holiness of Jesus, and in the words, "We have no king but Caesar," they deposed God, and shut themselves out from His kingdom. And I knew it not - "As far as in them lay, they did it without His knowledge" Joh 8:54. They did not take Him into their counsels, nor desire His cognizance of it, or His approbation of it. If they could, they would have had Him ignorant of it, knowing it to be against His will. And so in His turn, God knew it not, owned it not, as He shall say to the ungodly, "I know you not" Mat 25:12. Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols - God had multiplied them, (as He said before Hos 2:8), and they ungratefully abused to the dishonor of the Giver, what He gave them to be used to His glory. That they may be cut off - Literally, "that he may be cut off." The whole people is spoken of as one man, "one and all," as we say. It is a fearful description of obstinate sin, that their very object in it seemed to be their own destruction. They acted with one will as one man, who had, in all he did, this one end - to perish. : "As if on set purpose they would provoke destruction, and obstinately run themselves into it, although forewarned thereof." Holy Scripture speaks of that as people's end, at which all their acts aim. "They see, not, nor know, that they may be ashamed" Isa 44:9; i. e., they blind themselves, as though their whole object were, what they will bring upon themselves, their own shame. "They prophesy a lie in My Name, that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you" Jer 27:15. This was the ultimate end of those false prophecies. The false prophets of Judah filled them with false hopes; the real and true end of those prophecies, that in which they ended, was the ruin of those who uttered, and of those who listened to them. We ourselves say almost proverbially, "he goes the way to ruin himself;" not that such is the man's own object, but that he obstinately chooses a course of conduct, which, others see, must end in utter ruin. So a man chooses destruction or hell, if he chooses those tilings which, according to God's known law and word, end in it. Man bides from his own eyes the distant future, and fixes them on the nearer objects which he has at heart. God lifts the veil, and discovers to him the further end, at which he is driving, which he is, in fact, compassing, and which is in truth the end, for his own fleeting obiects perish in the using; this and this alone abides.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

They have set up kings, but not by ME - God Himself foretold to Jeroboam by Ahijah the prophet, that He would "rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and give ten tribes" to him, "and" would "take" him, "and" he "should reign according to all that" his soul desired and" should "be king over Israel" Kg1 11:31, Kg1 11:37; and, after the ten tribes had made Jeroboam king, God said by Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam and the two tribes, "Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me" Kg1 12:22-24.

Yet although here, as everywhere, man's self-will was overruled by God's will, and fulfilled it, it was not the less self-will, both in the ten tribes and in Jeroboam. It was so in the ten tribes. For they cast off Rehoboam, simply of their own mind, because he would not lessen the taxes, as they prescribed. If he would have consented to their demands, they would have remained his subjects Kg1 12:4. "They set up kings, but not by or through" God, whom they never consulted, nor asked His will about the rules of the kingdom, or about its relation to the kingdom of Judah, or the house of David. They referred these matters no more to God, than if there had been no God, or than if He interfered not in the affairs of man. It was self-will in Jeroboam himself, for he received the kingdom (which Ahijah told him, he "desired") not from God, not requiring of him, how he should undertake it, nor anointed by Him, nor in any way acknowledging Him, but from the people. And as soon as he had received it, he set up rebellion against God, in order to establish his kingdom, which he founded in sin, whereby he made Israel to sin.

In like way, the Apostle says, "against Thy holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" Act 4:27, Act 4:8. Yet not the less did they sin in this Deicide; and the Blood of Jesus has ever since, as they imprecated on themselves, been on the Jews and on their children, as many as did not repent.

As was the beginning of the kingdom of Israel, such was its course. "They made kings, but not from God." Such were all their kings, except Jehu and his house. During 253 years, for which the kingdom of Israel lasted eighteen kings reigned over it, out of ten different families, and no family came to a close, save by a violent death. The like self-will and independence closed the existence of the Jewish people. The Roman Emperor being afar off, the Scribes and Pharisees hoped, under him, without any great control, to maintain their own authority over the people. They themselves, by their "God forbid!" Luk 20:16, owned that our Lord truly saw their thoughts and purpose, "This is the heir; come let us kill Him, that the inheritance may be ours." They willed to reign without Christ, feared the Pagan Emperor less than the holiness of Jesus, and in the words, "We have no king but Caesar," they deposed God, and shut themselves out from His kingdom.

And I knew it not - "As far as in them lay, they did it without His knowledge" Joh 8:54. They did not take Him into their counsels, nor desire His cognizance of it, or His approbation of it. If they could, they would have had Him ignorant of it, knowing it to be against His will. And so in His turn, God knew it not, owned it not, as He shall say to the ungodly, "I know you not" Mat 25:12.

Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols - God had multiplied them, (as He said before Hos 2:8), and they ungratefully abused to the dishonor of the Giver, what He gave them to be used to His glory.

That they may be cut off - Literally, "that he may be cut off." The whole people is spoken of as one man, "one and all," as we say. It is a fearful description of obstinate sin, that their very object in it seemed to be their own destruction. They acted with one will as one man, who had, in all he did, this one end - to perish. : "As if on set purpose they would provoke destruction, and obstinately run themselves into it, although forewarned thereof." Holy Scripture speaks of that as people's end, at which all their acts aim. "They see, not, nor know, that they may be ashamed" Isa 44:9; i. e., they blind themselves, as though their whole object were, what they will bring upon themselves, their own shame. "They prophesy a lie in My Name, that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you" Jer 27:15. This was the ultimate end of those false prophecies. The false prophets of Judah filled them with false hopes; the real and true end of those prophecies, that in which they ended, was the ruin of those who uttered, and of those who listened to them. We ourselves say almost proverbially, "he goes the way to ruin himself;" not that such is the man's own object, but that he obstinately chooses a course of conduct, which, others see, must end in utter ruin. So a man chooses destruction or hell, if he chooses those tilings which, according to God's known law and word, end in it. Man bides from his own eyes the distant future, and fixes them on the nearer objects which he has at heart. God lifts the veil, and discovers to him the further end, at which he is driving, which he is, in fact, compassing, and which is in truth the end, for his own fleeting obiects perish in the using; this and this alone abides.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The proof of Israel's renunciation of its God is to be found in the facts mentioned in Hos 8:4. "They have set up kings, but not from me, have set up princes, and I know it not: their silver and their gold they have made into idols, that it may be cut off." The setting up of kings and princes, not from Jehovah, and without His knowledge, i.e., without His having been asked, refers chiefly to the founding of the kingdom by Jeroboam I. It is not to be restricted to this, however, but includes at the same time the obstinate persistence of Israel in this ungodly attitude on all future occasions, when there was either a change or usurpation of the government. And the fact that not only did the prophet Ahijah foretel to Jeroboam I that he would rule over the ten tribes (Kg1 11:30.), but Jehu was anointed king over Israel by Elisha's command (2 Kings 9), and therefore both of them received the kingdom by the express will of Jehovah, is not at variance with this, so as to require the solution that we have a different view here from that which prevails in the books of Kings, - namely, one which sprang out of the repeated changes of government and anarchies in this kingdom (Simson). For neither the divine promise of the throne, nor the anointing performed by the command of God, warranted their forcibly seizing upon the government, - a crime of which both Jeroboam and Jehu rendered themselves guilty. The way in which both of them paved the way to the throne was not in accordance with the will of God, but was most ungodly (see at Kg1 11:40). Jeroboam was already planning a revolt against Solomon (Kg1 11:27), and led the gathering of the ten tribes when they fell away from the house of David 91 Kings Hos 12:2.). Of Jehu, again, it is expressly stated in Kg2 9:14, that he conspired against Joram. And the other usurpers, just like the two already named, opened the way to the throne by means of conspiracies, whilst the people not only rebelled against the rightful heir to the throne at Solomon's death, from pure dislike to the royal house of David, which had been appointed by God, and made Jeroboam king, but expressed their approval of all subsequent conspiracies as soon as they have been successful. This did not come from Jehovah, but was a rebellion against Him - a transgression of His covenant. To this must be added the further sin, viz., the setting up of the idolatrous calf-worship on the part of Jeroboam, to which all the kings of Israel adhered. It was in connection with this, that the application of the silver and gold to idols, by which Israel completely renounced the law of Jehovah, had taken place. It is true that silver was not used in the construction of the golden calves; but it was employed in the maintenance of their worship. למען יכּרת: that it (the gold and silver) may be destroyed, as more fully stated in Hos 8:6. למען describes the consequence of this conduct, which, though not designed, was nevertheless inevitable, as if it had been distinctly intended.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The proof of Israel's renunciation of its God is to be found in the facts mentioned in Hos 8:4. "They have set up kings, but not from me, have set up princes, and I know it not: their silver and their gold they have made into idols, that it may be cut off." The setting up of kings and princes, not from Jehovah, and without His knowledge, i.e., without His having been asked, refers chiefly to the founding of the kingdom by Jeroboam I. It is not to be restricted to this, however, but includes at the same time the obstinate persistence of Israel in this ungodly attitude on all future occasions, when there was either a change or usurpation of the government. And the fact that not only did the prophet Ahijah foretel to Jeroboam I that he would rule over the ten tribes (Kg1 11:30.), but Jehu was anointed king over Israel by Elisha's command (2 Kings 9), and therefore both of them received the kingdom by the express will of Jehovah, is not at variance with this, so as to require the solution that we have a different view here from that which prevails in the books of Kings, - namely, one which sprang out of the repeated changes of government and anarchies in this kingdom (Simson). For neither the divine promise of the throne, nor the anointing performed by the command of God, warranted their forcibly seizing upon the government, - a crime of which both Jeroboam and Jehu rendered themselves guilty. The way in which both of them paved the way to the throne was not in accordance with the will of God, but was most ungodly (see at Kg1 11:40). Jeroboam was already planning a revolt against Solomon (Kg1 11:27), and led the gathering of the ten tribes when they fell away from the house of David 91 Kings Hos 12:2.). Of Jehu, again, it is expressly stated in Kg2 9:14, that he conspired against Joram. And the other usurpers, just like the two already named, opened the way to the throne by means of conspiracies, whilst the people not only rebelled against the rightful heir to the throne at Solomon's death, from pure dislike to the royal house of David, which had been appointed by God, and made Jeroboam king, but expressed their approval of all subsequent conspiracies as soon as they have been successful. This did not come from Jehovah, but was a rebellion against Him - a transgression of His covenant. To this must be added the further sin, viz., the setting up of the idolatrous calf-worship on the part of Jeroboam, to which all the kings of Israel adhered. It was in connection with this, that the application of the silver and gold to idols, by which Israel completely renounced the law of Jehovah, had taken place. It is true that silver was not used in the construction of the golden calves; but it was employed in the maintenance of their worship. למען יכּרת: that it (the gold and silver) may be destroyed, as more fully stated in Hos 8:6. למען describes the consequence of this conduct, which, though not designed, was nevertheless inevitable, as if it had been distinctly intended.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
They - Israel. Kings - Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hosea. Not by me - Not by my direction. Knew it not - Did not approve of it.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
They have set up kings, but not by me - Properly speaking, not one of the kings of Israel, from the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David, was the anointed or the Lord. I knew it not - It had not my approbation. In this sense the word know is frequently understood. That they may be cut off - That is, They shall be cut off in consequence of their idolatry.

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⁸ In that ye provoke me unto wrath [03707] with the works [04639] of your hands [03027], burning incense [06999] unto other [0312] gods [0430] in the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], whither ye be gone [0935] to dwell [01481], that ye might cut yourselves off [03772], and that ye might be a curse [07045] and a reproach [02781] among all the nations [01471] of the earth [0776]?

¹⁵ For I have not sent [07971] them, saith [05002] the LORD [03068], yet they prophesy [05012] a lie [08267] in my name [08034]; that I might drive you out [05080], and that ye might perish [06], ye, and the prophets [05030] that prophesy [05012] unto you.

¹⁰ For they prophesy [05012] a lie [08267] unto you, to remove you far [07368] from your land [0127]; and that I should drive you out [05080], and ye should perish [06].

² And now they sin [02398] more and more [03254], and have made [06213] them molten images [04541] of their silver [03701], and idols [06091] according to their own understanding [08394], all of it the work [04639] of the craftsmen [02796]: they say [0559] of them, Let the men [0120] that sacrifice [02076] kiss [05401] the calves [05695].

⁸ For she did not know [03045] that I gave [05414] her corn [01715], and wine [08492], and oil [03323], and multiplied [07235] her silver [03701] and gold [02091], which they prepared [06213] for Baal [01168].

⁶ For the LORD [03068] knoweth [03045] the way [01870] of the righteous [06662]: but the way [01870] of the ungodly [07563] shall perish [06].

²⁰ And it came to pass, when all Israel [03478] heard [08085] that Jeroboam [03379] was come again [07725], that they sent [07971] and called [07121] him unto the congregation [05712], and made him king [04427] over all Israel [03478]: there was none that followed [0310] the house [01004] of David [01732], but [02108] the tribe [07626] of Judah [03063] only.

³¹ And he said [0559] to Jeroboam [03379], Take [03947] thee ten [06235] pieces [07168]: for thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], the God [0430] of Israel [03478], Behold, I will rend [07167] the kingdom [04467] out of the hand [03027] of Solomon [08010], and will give [05414] ten [06235] tribes [07626] to thee:

⁹ They that make [03335] a graven image [06459] are all of them vanity [08414]; and their delectable things [02530] shall not profit [03276]; and they are their own witnesses [05707]; they see [07200] not, nor know [03045]; that they may be ashamed [0954].

¹² But [1161] he answered [611] and said [2036], Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], I know [1492] you [5209] not [3756].

⁵⁴ Jesus [2424] answered [611], If [1437] I [1473] honour [1392] myself [1683], my [3450] honour [1391] is [2076] nothing [3762]: it is [2076] my [3450] Father [3962] that honoureth [1392] me [3165]; of whom [3739] ye [5210] say [3004], that [3754] he is [2076] your [5216] God [2316]:

¹⁶ He shall come [2064] and [2532] destroy [622] these [5128] husbandmen [1092], and [2532] shall give [1325] the vineyard [290] to others [243]. And [1161] when they heard [191] it, they said [2036], God forbid [3361] [1096].

⁸ Then [5119] Peter [4074], filled [4130] with the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], Ye rulers [758] of the people [2992], and [2532] elders [4245] of Israel [2474],

²⁷ For [1063] of [1909] a truth [225] against [1909] thy [4675] holy [40] child [3816] Jesus [2424], whom [3739] thou hast anointed [5548], both [5037] Herod [2264], and [2532] Pontius [4194] Pilate [4091], with [4862] the Gentiles [1484], and [2532] the people [2992] of Israel [2474], were gathered together [4863],

⁴ Thy father [01] made [07185] our yoke [05923] grievous [07185]: now therefore make thou the grievous [07186] service [05656] of thy father [01], and his heavy [03515] yoke [05923] which he put [05414] upon us, lighter [07043], and we will serve [05647] thee.

²² But the word [01697] of God [0430] came unto Shemaiah [08098] the man [0376] of God [0430], saying [0559],
²³ Speak [0559] unto Rehoboam [07346], the son [01121] of Solomon [08010], king [04428] of Judah [03063], and unto all the house [01004] of Judah [03063] and Benjamin [01144], and to the remnant [03499] of the people [05971], saying [0559],
²⁴ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], Ye shall not go up [05927], nor fight [03898] against your brethren [0251] the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: return [07725] every man [0376] to his house [01004]; for this thing [01697] is [01961] from me. They hearkened [08085] therefore to the word [01697] of the LORD [03068], and returned [07725] to depart [03212], according to the word [01697] of the LORD [03068].

³⁷ And I will take [03947] thee, and thou shalt reign [04427] according to all that thy soul [05315] desireth [0183], and shalt be king [04428] over Israel [03478].

⁶ For from Israel [03478] was it also: the workman [02796] made [06213] it; therefore it is not God [0430]: but the calf [05695] of Samaria [08111] shall be broken in pieces [07616].

¹⁴ So Jehu [03058] the son [01121] of Jehoshaphat [03092] the son [01121] of Nimshi [05250] conspired [07194] against Joram [03141]. (Now Joram [03141] had kept [08104] Ramothgilead [07433] [01568], he and all Israel [03478], because [06440] of Hazael [02371] king [04428] of Syria [0758].

² The LORD [03068] hath also a controversy [07379] with Judah [03063], and will punish [06485] Jacob [03290] according to his ways [01870]; according to his doings [04611] will he recompense [07725] him.

²⁷ And this was the cause [01697] that he lifted up [07311] his hand [03027] against the king [04428]: Solomon [08010] built [01129] Millo [04407], and repaired [05462] the breaches [06556] of the city [05892] of David [01732] his father [01].

⁴⁰ Solomon [08010] sought [01245] therefore to kill [04191] Jeroboam [03379]. And Jeroboam [03379] arose [06965], and fled [01272] into Egypt [04714], unto Shishak [07895] king [04428] of Egypt [04714], and was in Egypt [04714] until the death [04194] of Solomon [08010].

³⁰ And Ahijah [0281] caught [08610] the new [02319] garment [08008] that was on him, and rent [07167] it in twelve [08147] [06240] pieces [07168]:

⁴ They have set up kings [04427], but not by me: they have made princes [07786], and I knew [03045] it not: of their silver [03701] and their gold [02091] have they made [06213] them idols [06091], that they may be cut off [03772].