The Calf of Samaria
Hosea 8
Israel is charged with setting up kings and making idols, including the calf of Samaria, without the Lord's sanction, and with multiplying altars that have become occasions for sin. Because they have turned to Assyria and forgotten their maker, the Lord declares that he will send fire upon their cities.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonBECAUSE they have transgressed My covenant, and have sinned against My law,
BrentonHe shall come into their midst as the land, as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and have sinned against my law.
GreekΕἰς κόλπον αὐτῶν, ὡς γῆ, ὡς ἀετὸς ἐπʼ οἶκον Κυρίου, ἀνθʼ ὧν παρέβησαν τὴν διαθήκην μου, καὶ κατὰ τοῦ νόμου μου ἠσέβησαν.
KJVSet the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
JPSSet the horn to thy mouth. As a vulture he cometh against the house of the LORD; Because they have transgressed My covenant, And trespassed against My law.
2
Thomsonwill they cry to Me, O God, we have known Thee?
BrentonThey shall soon cry out to me, saying, O God, we know thee.
GreekἘμὲ κεκράξονται, ὁ Θεὸς, ἐγνώκαμέν σε·
KJVIsrael shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
JPSWill they cry unto Me: ‘My God, we Israel know Thee’?
3
ThomsonBecause Israel turned away good things they met with an enemy.
BrentonFor Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.
GreekὍτι Ἰσραὴλ ἀπεστρέψατο ἀγαθὰ, ἐχθρὸν κατεδίωξαν.
KJVIsrael hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
JPSIsrael hath cast off that which is good; the enemy shall pursue him.
4
ThomsonThey made kings for themselves, but not by Me—they set up a government and did not consult Me. Of their silver and gold they made idols for themselves that they might be utterly cut off.
BrentonThey have made kings for themselves, but not by me: they have ruled, but they did not make it known to me: of their silver and their gold they have made images to themselves, that they might be destroyed.
GreekἙαυτοῖς ἐβασίλευσαν, καὶ οὐ διʼ ἐμοῦ, ἦρξαν, καὶ οὐκ ἐγνώρισάν μοι· τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ χρυσίον αὐτῶν ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς εἴδωλα, ὅπως ἐξολοθρευθῶσιν.
KJVThey 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.
JPSThey have set up kings, but not from 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.
5
ThomsonAway with thy calf, O Samaria! My wrath is kindled against them.
BrentonCast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will they be unable to purge themselves in Israel?
GreekἈπότριψαι τὸν μόσχον σου Σαμάρεια, παρωξύνθη ὁ θυμός μου ἐπʼ αὐτούς· ἕως τίνος οὐ μὴ δύνωνται καθαρισθῆναι
KJVThy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
JPSThy calf, O Samaria, is cast off; mine anger is kindled against them; how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
6
ThomsonHow long shall things which cannot be made clean be in Israel? A carpenter made it; it is no god. Because thy calf, O Samaria, was an imposture—
BrentonWhereas the workman made it, and it is not God; wherefore thy calf, Samaria, was a deceiver:
Greekἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ; καὶ αὐτὸ τέκτων ἐποίησε, καὶ οὐ Θεός ἐστι· διότι πλανῶν ἦν ὁ μόσχος σου, Σαμάρεια.
KJVFor from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
JPSFor from Israel is even this: The craftsman made it, and it is no God; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in shivers.
7
Thomson—
Brentonfor they sowed blighted seed, and their destruction shall await them, a sheaf of corn that avails not to make meal; and even if it should produce it, strangers shall devour it.
GreekὍτι ἀνεμόφθορα ἔσπειραν, καὶ ἡ καταστροφὴ αὐτῶν ἐκδέξεται αὐτά· δράγμα οὐκ ἔχον ἰσχὺν τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἄλευρον· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ποιήσῃ, ἀλλότριοι καταφάγονται αὐτό.
KJV—
JPS—
8
Thomson[As it is,] Israel is swallowed up—he is now among the nations like an useless vessel,
BrentonIsrael is swallowed up: now is he become among the nations as a worthless vessel.
GreekΚατεπόθη Ἰσραὴλ, νῦν ἐγένετο ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὡς σκεῦος ἄχρηστον,
KJVIsrael is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
JPSIsrael is swallowed up; now are they become among the nations as a vessel wherein is no value.
9
Thomsonbecause he went up to the Assyrians. While Ephraim continued at home, he sprouted again. They loved gifts,
BrentonFor they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.
Greekὅτι αὐτοὶ ἀνέβησαν εἰς Ἀσσυρίους· ἀνέθαλε καθʼ ἑαυτὸν Ἐφραίμ· δῶρα ἠγάπησαν,
KJV—
JPS—
10
Thomsontherefore they shall be delivered up to the nations. I will now take charge of them, and they shall cease a little while from anointing a king and chiefs.
BrentonTherefore shall they be delivered to the nations: now I will receive them, and they shall cease a little to anoint a king and princes.
Greekδιὰ τοῦτο παραδοθήσονται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι· νῦν εἰσδέξομαι αὐτοὺς, καὶ κοπάσουσι μικρὸν τοῦ χρίειν βασιλέα καὶ ἄρχοντας.
KJVYea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
JPSYea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them up; and they begin to be minished by reason of the burden of king and princes.
11
ThomsonBecause Ephraim multiplied altars, [his] beloved altars have become for him sins
BrentonBecause Ephraim has multiplied altars, his beloved altars are become sins to him.
GreekὍτι ἐπλήθυνεν Ἐφραὶμ θυσιαστήρια, εἰς ἁμαρτίας ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ θυσιαστήρια ἠγαπημένα.
KJVBecause Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
JPSFor Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, yea, altars have been unto him to sin. .
12
ThomsonI will prescribe for him a multitude [of true laws]; but his usages are rejected with his beloved altars.
BrentonI will write down a multitude of commands for him; but his statutes are accounted strange things, even the beloved altars.
GreekΚαταγράψω αὐτῷ πλῆθος, καὶ τὰ νόμιμα αὐτοῦ εἰς ἀλλότρια ἐλογίσθησαν, θυσιαστήρια τὰ ἠγαπημένα.
KJV—
JPSThough I write for him never so many things of My Law, they are accounted as a stranger’s.
13
ThomsonFor with what purpose soever they offer sacrifices and eat flesh, the Lord will not accept them; He will now remember their iniquities and punish their sins. They turned back to Egypt, therefore among the Assyrians they shall eat unclean things.
BrentonFor if they should offer a sacrifice, and eat flesh, the Lord will not accept them: now will he remember their iniquities, and will take vengeance on their sins: they have returned to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things among the Assyrians.
GreekΔιότι ἐὰν θύσωσι θυσίαν, καὶ φάγωσι κρέα, Κύριος οὐ προσδέξεται αὐτά· νῦν μνησθήσεται τὰς ἀδικίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκδικήσει τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν· αὐτοὶ εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἀπέστρεψαν, καὶ ἐν Ἀσσυρίοις ἀκάθαρτα φάγονται.
KJVThey sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
JPSAs for the sacrifices that are made by fire unto Me, let them sacrifice flesh and eat it, For the LORD accepteth them not. Now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; They shall return to Egypt.
14
ThomsonIsrael indeed forgot his Maker and built [idolatrous] temples, and Juda multiplied fenced cities; but into these cities of his I will send a fire, and it shall devour those buildings of theirs.
BrentonAnd Israel has forgotten him that made him, and they have built fanes, and Juda has multiplied walled cities: but I will send fire on his cities, and it shall devour their foundations.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπελάθετο Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτόν, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τεμένη· καὶ Ἰούδας ἐπλήθυνε πόλεις τετειχισμένας· καὶ ἐξαποστελῶ πῦρ εἰς τὰς πόλεις αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταφάγεται τὰ θεμέλια αὐτῶν.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor Israel hath forgotten his Maker, And builded palaces, And Judah hath multiplied fortified cities; But I will send a fire upon his cities, And it shall devour the castles thereof.