Hosea 10:5
in Hosea 10The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn with its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced in its glory— for it has been taken from them into exile.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
KJV
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth–aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
⋯
This verse in Hosea 10
Commentary
11 notes on this verse"The inhabitants of Samaria have worshipped the cows of Bethaven, because its people have mourned over it; and its priests have rejoiced over it, for its glory has departed from it. Moreover, it has been carried away to Assyria, as a gift to the avenging king. Ephraim will be put to shame by the confusion he caused; Israel will be ashamed of his own will." LXX: "At the calf of the house of Ὦn, those who dwell in Samaria will reside: because his people mourned over him.
This site's exposition
the calves of Beth–aven
on Hosea 10:5-8
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven, Hosea's contemptuous renaming of Beth-el, the house of God turned into the house of vanity, and the calf itself is carried off to Assyria as tribute, an idol that could not even save its own gold plating. Ephraim shall receive shame names the reversal: the object of confidence becomes the badge of humiliation before the nations. Verse 8 pictures Israel begging the mountains to fall and the hills to cover them, language the Lord Jesus takes up of a later and greater judgment (Luke 23:30, Rev 6:16), the older writers reading Hosea's despair as the pattern later terror will repeat.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
And the expression, "They opened their mouth upon me like a roaring lion," designates him who was then king of the Jews, and was called Herod, a successor of the Herod who, when Christ was born, slew all the infants in Bethlehem born about the same time, because he imagined that amongst them He would assuredly be of whom the Magi from Arabia had spoken; for he was ignorant of the will of Him that is stronger than all, how He had commanded Joseph and Mary to take the Child and depart into Egypt, and there to remain until a revelation should again be made to them to return into their own country. And there they did remain until Herod, who slew the infants in Bethlehem, was dead, and Archelaus had succeeded him. And he died before Christ came to the dispensation on the cross which was given Him by His Father. And when Herod succeeded Archelaus, having received the authority which had been allotted to him, Pilate sent to him by way of compliment Jesus bound; and God foreknowing that this would happen, had thus spoken: "And they brought Him to the Assyrian, a present to the king."
The Lord himself comes to a trial with "the elders and rulers of the people," as Isaiah predicted. And then he fulfilled all that had been written of his passion. At that time "the heathen raged, and the people imagined vain things; the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers gathered themselves together against the Lord and against his Christ." The heathen were Pilate and the Romans; the people were the tribes of Israel; the kings were represented in Herod and the rulers in the chief priests. When, indeed, he was sent to Herod gratuitously by Pilate, the words of Hosea were accomplished, for he had prophesied of Christ, "And they shall carry him bound as a present to the king."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It was carried to him as a rich booty (for it was a golden calf, and probably adorned with the gifts and offerings of its worshippers) and as a trophy of victory over their enemies: and what more glorious trophy could they bring than this, or more incontestable proof of an absolute conquest? Thus it is said, The sin of Israel shall be destroyed (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Note, Whatever men make a god of they will mourn for the loss of; and an inordinate sorrow for the loss of any worldly good is a sign we made an idol of it. They used to be very merry in the worship of their idols, but now they shall mourn over them; for sinful mirth shall, sooner or later, be turned into mourning. [2.] It shall be an occasion of shame to them (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
That rejoiced on it - These priests formerly were fed, clothed, and enriched by this idol, this made them right glad. The glory thereof - All its credit is vanished. Is departed - The Assyrians have either broken it, or carried it in derision into Assyria.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of - (i. e., for) the calves of Beth-aven He calls them in this place “cow-calves,” perhaps to denote their weakness and helplessness. So far from their idol being able to help “them, they” shall be anxious and troubled for their idols, lest these should be taken captive from them.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
fear because of the calves--that is, shall fear for them. Beth-aven--substituted for Beth-el in contempt (Ho 4:15). it--singular, the one in Beth-el; after the pattern of which the other "calves" (plural) were made. "Calves" in the Hebrew is feminine, to express contempt. priests--The Hebrew is only used of idolatrous priests (2Ki 23:5;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear - According to Calmet, shall worship the calves of Beth-aven; those set up by Jeroboam, at Beth-el. Fear is often taken for religious reverence. The people thereof shall mourn - On seeing the object of their worship carried into captivity, as well as themselves. And the priests thereof - כמרים kemarim. The priests of Samaria, says Calmet, are here called kemarim, that is, black coats, or shouters, because they made loud cries in their sacrifices. Instead of יגילו yagilu, “they shall rejoice;” learned men propose ילילו yalilu, “shall howl,” which is likely to be the true reading, but it is not supported by any of the MSS. yet discovered. But the exigentia loci, the necessity of the place, requires some such word.
The words behind it
18 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לְעֶגְלוֹת֙ | leeglot | for [the] heifers of | H5697 → | |
| בֵּ֣ית | beit | Beth | H1007 → | 14 times |
| אָ֔וֶן | ʾaven | Aven | H1007 → | 14 times |
| יָג֖וּרוּ | yaguru | they will be afraid | H1481 → | |
| שְׁכַ֣ן | shekhan | [the] inhabitant[s] of | H7934 → | |
| שֹֽׁמְר֑וֹן | shomeron | Samaria | H8111 → | 109 times |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אָבַ֨ל | ʾaval | it will mourn | H56 → | |
| עָלָ֜יו | ʾalav | on it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| עַמּ֗וֹ | amo | people its | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| וּכְמָרָיו֙ | ukhemarav | and pagan priests its | H3649 → | |
| עָלָ֣יו | ʾalav | on it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יָגִ֔ילוּ | yagilu | they will tremble | H1523 → | |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כְּבוֹד֖וֹ | kevodo | glory its | H3519 → | 200 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| גָלָ֥ה | galah | it has gone into exile | H1540 → | 186 times |
| מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ | mimenu | from it | H4480 → | 1188 times |
לְעֶגְלוֹת֙for [the] heifers of
leeglotH5697 →
בֵּ֣יתBeth
beitH1007 →14 times
אָ֔וֶןAven
ʾavenH1007 →14 times
יָג֖וּרוּthey will be afraid
yaguruH1481 →
שְׁכַ֣ן[the] inhabitant[s] of
shekhanH7934 →
שֹֽׁמְר֑וֹןSamaria
shomeronH8111 →109 times
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
אָבַ֨לit will mourn
ʾavalH56 →
עָלָ֜יוon it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
עַמּ֗וֹpeople its
amoH5971 →1873 times
וּכְמָרָיו֙and pagan priests its
ukhemaravH3649 →
עָלָ֣יוon it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
יָגִ֔ילוּthey will tremble
yagiluH1523 →
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כְּבוֹד֖וֹglory its
kevodoH3519 →200 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
גָלָ֥הit has gone into exile
galahH1540 →186 times
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃from it
mimenuH4480 →1188 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hosea 5:8Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
it leads to
- Joel 2:1
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—
- Hosea 9:9
They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
- Hosea 4:15
Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
- Joel 2:1
Through
Hosea 4:15Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
it leads to
- Hosea 9:15
All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are…
- Hosea 12:11
Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.
- Amos 4:4
“Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.
- Amos 5:5
Do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal; do not journey to Beersheba, for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.
- Hosea 9:15
Through
2 Kings 23:5Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 44:17–19
Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials…
- Jeremiah 44:17–19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Hosea
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Edward Bouverie Pusey, The Minor Prophets: A Commentary; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Hosea 10:5-6; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter CIII; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 4.42.