Hosea 8:9

KJV1611 – Modern English

For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּֽי־הֵ֙מָּה֙ עָל֣וּ אַשּׁ֔וּר פֶּ֖רֶא בּוֹדֵ֣ד ל֑וֹ אֶפְרַ֖יִם הִתְנ֥וּ אֲהָבִֽים

Transliteration

For they ʿālû ʾaššûr, pereʾ bôḏēḏ to him; ʾep̄rayim hiṯnû ʾăhāḇîm.

Grammar Details

• *ʿālû*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd person plural - they went up
• *ʾaššûr*: proper noun - Assyria
• *pereʾ*: noun, masculine, singular absolute - wild donkey
• *bôḏēḏ*: adjective, masculine, singular absolute - alone/solitary
• *ʾep̄rayim*: proper noun - Ephraim
• *hiṯnû*: verb, hifil perfect, 3rd person plural - they hired/purchased
• *ʾăhāḇîm*: noun, masculine, plural absolute - loves/lovers

Word Meanings

• *ʿālû*: went up/ascended/have gone
• *pereʾ*: wild donkey/wild ass
• *bôḏēḏ*: alone/solitary/isolated
• *hiṯnû*: hired/purchased/gave gifts
• *ʾăhāḇîm*: loves/lovers/love gifts

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For they are gone up{H5927} to Assyria,{H804} [like] a wild ass{H6501} alone{H909} by himself: Ephraim{H669} hath hired{H8566} lovers.{H158}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For they are gone up{H5927}{(H8804)} to Assyria{H804}, a wild ass{H6501} alone{H909}{(H8802)} by himself: Ephraim{H669} hath hired{H8566}{(H8689)} lovers{H158}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Sens they went vp to the Assirians, they are become like a wylde asse in the deserte. Ephraim geueth rewardes to get louers,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For they are gone vp to Asshur: they are as a wilde asse alone by himselfe: Ephraim hath hired louers.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For they haue gone vp to Assyria and are as a wilde asse solitarie by him selfe: Ephraim hath hired louers.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For they -- they have gone up `to' Asshur, A wild ass alone by himself `is' Ephraim, They have hired lovers!

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For they are gone up to Assyria, `like' a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For they are gone up to Assyria, [like] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For they have gone up to Assyria like an ass going by himself; Ephraim has given money to get lovers.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Israel’s Hired Lovers They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers.

Referenced Verses

• Jer 2:24 : 24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs up the wind at her pleasure; in her time who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
• Hos 5:13 : 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet he could not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
• Hos 7:11 : 11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
• Ezek 16:33-34 : 33 They give gifts to all harlots, but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and hire them, that they may come to you on every side for your whoredom. 34 And the opposite is in you from other women in your whoredoms, in that none pursue you to commit whoredoms; and in that you give a reward, and no reward is given to you, therefore you are contrary.
• Ezek 23:5-9 : 5 And Aholah played the harlot while she was mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians her neighbors, 6 Who were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. 7 Thus she committed her harlotries with them, with all the choice men of Assyria, and with all on whom she lusted: with all their idols she defiled herself. 8 She did not leave her harlotries brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their harlotry upon her. 9 Therefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she lusted.
• Hos 2:5-7 : 5 For their mother has played the harlot: she who conceived them has acted shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink. 6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and make a wall, so she shall not find her paths. 7 And she shall pursue her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then she shall say, I will go and return to my first husband; for it was better with me then than now.
• Hos 2:10 : 10 And now I will expose her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall rescue her out of my hand.
• Hos 12:1 : 1 Ephraim feeds on the wind, and pursues the east wind; he daily increases lies and desolation, and they make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
• 2 Kgs 15:19 : 19 And 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.
• Job 39:5-8 : 5 Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosed the bonds of the wild donkey? 6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling. 7 He mocks the city's throng, nor does he heed the driver's shout. 8 The range of mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.
• Isa 30:6 : 6 The burden of the beasts of the south: through a land of trouble and anguish, from which come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.