For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
- KJV For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
- NKJV For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.
- NASB For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has paid fees for lovers.
- NLT Like a wild donkey looking for a mate, they have gone up to Assyria. The people of Israel have sold themselves— sold themselves to many lovers.
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
Ephraim has gone to Assyria like a stubborn wild donkey, hiring lovers among the nations.
Overview
Israel's pursuit of an Assyrian alliance is likened to a wild donkey going its own way and to a harlot paying for lovers. Instead of being courted, Israel debases itself, paying tribute to win foreign favor. The imagery of spiritual prostitution recurs, exposing the shame of seeking security anywhere but in the faithful covenant Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jer 2:24a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
- Hos 7:11So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
- Hos 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
- Ezek 16:33–34Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.
- 2 Kgs 15:19Then 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.
- Isa 30:6This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
- Hos 12:1Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
- Ezek 23:5–9Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
- Job 39:5–8Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
- Hos 2:10And then I will expose her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will deliver her out of My hands.
- Hos 2:5–7For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 8:9 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.