Hosea 8:11
"Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Because Ephraim hath, made many altars to sin,.... Not with an intention to commit sin, but to offer sacrifice for sin, and make atonement for it, as they thought; but these altars being erected for the sake of idols, and sacrifices offered on them to them, they sinned in so doing, and were the cause of sin in others, who were drawn into it by their example;

as they were made to sin, or drawn into it, by Jeroboam their king, These altars were those set up at Dan and Bethel, and in all high places, and tops of mountains, where they sacrificed to idols; and which was contrary to the express command of God, who required sacrifice only at one place, and on one altar, Deu 12:5 ; typical of the one altar Christ, and his alone sacrifice, who is the only Mediator between God and man; and they are guilty of the same crime as Ephraim here, who make use of more, or neglect him; altars shall be unto him for sin; either these same altars, and the sacrifices offered on them, shall be reckoned and imputed to him as sins, trod shall be the cause of his condemnation and punishment: or, "let the altars be unto him for sin", so some (n); since he will have them, let him have them, and go on in sinning, till he has filled up the measure of his sins, and brought on him just condemnation; or else other altars are meant, even in the land of Assyria, where, since they were so fond of multiplying altars, they should have altars enough to sin at, whereby their sins would be increased, and their punishment for them aggravated. The Targum is, "seeing the house of Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars of their idols shall he to them for a stumbling block,'' or ruin; so sin is taken in a different sense, both for guilt, and the punishment of it. (n) "santo ergo illi altaria ad peccandum", Rivet.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (8 words)

H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H7235 רָבָה
Definition:

A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o

Possible Meanings:
  • grow great (semantic_range)
  • grow tall and large (semantic_range)
  • make great (semantic_range)
H0669 אֶפְרַיִם
Definition:

52 connected withהִפְרָה, Hiph`il ofפרה, compareפראHiph`ilHosea 13:15).12nd son of JosephGenesis 41:52;Genesis 46:20; reckoned among sons of Jacob, blessed by him, and given preference over ManassehGe 52 connected withהִפְרָה, Hiph`il ofפרה, compareפראHiph`ilHosea 13:15).12nd son of JosephGenesis 41:52;Genesis 46:20; reckoned among sons of Jacob, blessed by him, and given preference over ManassehGe

Possible Meanings:
  • Ephraim (semantic_range)
H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ
Definition:

10altar(Arabic,place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, SabeanמדֿבחDHMEpigr. Denkm. 24);׳מabsolute2 Kings 18:22223t.,הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהExodus 29:1331t.; constructמִזְבַּחExodus 20:2476t., suffixמִזְבְּ 10altar(Arabic,place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, SabeanמדֿבחDHMEpigr. Denkm. 24);׳מabsolute2 Kings 18:22223t.,הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהExodus 29:1331t.; constructמִזְבַּחExodus 20:2476t., suffixמִזְבְּ

H2398 חָטָא
Definition:

31+ 29: t., 3 feminine singularחָֽטְאָהLeviticus 5:15;Lamentations 1:8,חָטָֽאָהJeremiah 50:14;Ezekiel 16:15,חָטָאתExodus 5:16, etc., + 82 t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחֱטָאLeviticus 4:312t.,תֶּחֱטָ֫אוּExodus 31+ 29: t., 3 feminine singularחָֽטְאָהLeviticus 5:15;Lamentations 1:8,חָטָֽאָהJeremiah 50:14;Ezekiel 16:15,חָטָאתExodus 5:16, etc., + 82 t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחֱטָאLeviticus 4:312t.,תֶּחֱטָ֫אוּExodus

Possible Meanings:
  • sinful (semantic_range)
  • sinners (semantic_range)
H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)
H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ
Definition:

10altar(Arabic,place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, SabeanמדֿבחDHMEpigr. Denkm. 24);׳מabsolute2 Kings 18:22223t.,הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהExodus 29:1331t.; constructמִזְבַּחExodus 20:2476t., suffixמִזְבְּ 10altar(Arabic,place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, SabeanמדֿבחDHMEpigr. Denkm. 24);׳מabsolute2 Kings 18:22223t.,הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהExodus 29:1331t.; constructמִזְבַּחExodus 20:2476t., suffixמִזְבְּ

H2398 חָטָא
Definition:

31+ 29: t., 3 feminine singularחָֽטְאָהLeviticus 5:15;Lamentations 1:8,חָטָֽאָהJeremiah 50:14;Ezekiel 16:15,חָטָאתExodus 5:16, etc., + 82 t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחֱטָאLeviticus 4:312t.,תֶּחֱטָ֫אוּExodus 31+ 29: t., 3 feminine singularחָֽטְאָהLeviticus 5:15;Lamentations 1:8,חָטָֽאָהJeremiah 50:14;Ezekiel 16:15,חָטָאתExodus 5:16, etc., + 82 t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחֱטָאLeviticus 4:312t.,תֶּחֱטָ֫אוּExodus

Possible Meanings:
  • sinful (semantic_range)
  • sinners (semantic_range)

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