Hosea 8:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samaria's golden calf has betrayed her; God's anger burns, and He asks how long until the people become clean.
What Does Hosea 8:5 Mean?
Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom, and the calf recalls the golden calves set up to keep the people from worshipping at Jerusalem. God declares that this idol has cast off the very ones who trusted it, and His anger is kindled. Then comes a piercing question: how long before they reach innocency, a cleansed and guiltless state.
The question carries grief as much as wrath, the longing of a God who waits for His people to turn. Idols always betray their worshippers, promising security and delivering nothing. The ache in God's words points forward to the only true cleansing, for what no calf of gold could give, Christ secures by washing the heart and making the unclean pure.
Hosea 8:5 in the Original Language
niqqayon (נִקָּיוֹן), 'innocency' -- cleanness or freedom from guilt, the state of being washed clean.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 8:5
What does Hosea 8:5 mean?
Samaria's golden calf has betrayed her; God's anger burns, and He asks how long until the people become clean.