Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.
Parallel translations
- WEB But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
- KJV Yea, 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.
- NKJV Yes, though they have hired among the nations, Now I will gather them; And they shall sorrow a little, Because of the burden of the king of princes.
- NASB Even though they pay for allies among the nations, I will gather them up now; And they will begin to diminish Because of the burden of the king of officials.
- NLT But though they have sold themselves to many allies, I will now gather them together for judgment. Then they will writhe under the burden of the great king.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Though they bargain among the nations, God will gather them for judgment, and they will waste away under a mighty king's oppression.
Overview
Israel's foreign dealings will not save them; God will gather them, not in blessing but for chastening under the burden of a powerful overlord. Their attempts at self-preservation only hasten their decline. The verse affirms God's sovereign control over the nations and His use of them to discipline His wayward people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ezek 16:37therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked.
- Ezek 26:7For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops.
- Ezek 23:22–26Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side—
- Jer 42:2Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.
- Hag 2:6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
- Isa 10:8“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
- Hos 10:10I will chasten them when I please; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression.
- 2 Kgs 14:26For the LORD saw that the affliction of the Israelites, both slave and free, was very bitter. There was no one to help Israel,
- Ezek 23:9–10Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted.
- Ezek 23:46–47This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder.
- Isa 36:13Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!
- Dan 2:37You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.
- Ezek 22:20Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.
- 1 Chr 5:26So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.
- 2 Kgs 17:3Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.
- 2 Kgs 15:19–20Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom.
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Christ at the center
God's relentless love for an unfaithful bride dramatizes the gospel: 'Out of Egypt I called my son' is fulfilled in Jesus, who redeems an adulterous people at his own cost.
How Hosea 8:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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