For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
- BSB For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has 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 ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
- Hos 7:11Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
- Hos 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
- Ezek 16:33–34They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.
- 2 Kgs 15:19And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
- Isa 30:6The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
- Hos 12:1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
- Ezek 23:5–9And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
- Job 39:5–8Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
- Hos 2:10And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.
- Hos 2:5–7For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
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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 8:9 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.