Hosea 10:8

“And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorn and thistle will come up on their altars; and they will say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.””
Hosea 10:8 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

And the high placesוְ בָּמוֹתof Aven,אָוֶןthe sinחַטַּאתof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלwill be destroyed;נִשְׁמְדוּthornקוֹץand thistleוְדַרְדַּרwill come upיַעֲלֶהonעַלtheir altars;מִזְבְּחוֹתָםand they will sayוְאָמְרוּto the mountains,לֶהָרִים“Cover us,”כַּסּוּנוּand to the hills,וְלַגְּבָעוֹת“Fallנִפְלוּon us.”עָלֵינוּ

Allusion · Luke 23:30

Go to Luke 23:30

Both texts say: “to the mountains: Fall on us; and to the hills: Cover us.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

אָמְרוּamruH559λέγεινlegeinG3004“say”
הָרִיםharimH2022ὄρεσινoresinG3735“mountain”
נִפְלוּnifluH5307ΠέσετεPeseteG4098“fall; decline”
גְּבָעוֹתgevaotH1389βουνοῖςbounoisG1015“hill”
כַּסּוּkasuH3680ΚαλύψατεKalypsateG2572“cover, hide”

Allusion · Revelation 6:16

Go to Revelation 6:16

Both texts say to the mountains: “Fall on us.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

אָמְרוּamruH559λέγουσινlegousinG3004“say”
הָרִיםharimH2022ὄρεσινoresinG3735“mountain”
נִפְלוּnifluH5307ΠέσετεPeseteG4098“fall; decline”

Hosea 10:8, word by word

And the high placesבָּמוֹתbamot

high place

An elevated site with an altar, often for other gods.

Where else “bamot” appears

of Avenאָוֶןaven

nothing

What is empty and worthless, like idols.

Where else “aven” appears

the sinחַטַּאתchatat

sin

Failing God, not doing what he asks.

Where else “chatat” appears

of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears

will be destroyedנִשְׁמְדוּnishmdu

destroy

Destroy completely, exterminate.

Where else “nishmdu” appears

thornקוֹץkots

thorn

Thorn, thornbush.

Where else “kots” appears

and thistleדַרְדַּרdardar

thistle

Thistle, prickly weed.

Where else “dardar” appears

will come upיַעֲלֶהyaale

go up

To go from a low place to a higher one: up the mountain, to Jerusalem or to a city.

Where else “yaale” appears

their altarsמִזְבְּחוֹתָmizbchota

altar

Altar: a structure of stone or earth on which sacrifices are offered to God.

Where else “mizbchota” appears

and they will sayאָמְרוּamru

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “amru” appears

to the mountainsהָרִיםharim

mountain

A great rise of land, like Sinai or Zion.

Where else “harim” appears

“Cover usכַּסּוּkasu

cover

To put something over a thing so that it can no longer be seen.

Where else “kasu” appears

and to the hillsגְּבָעוֹתgevaot

hill

Hill.

Where else “gevaot” appears

“Fallנִפְלוּniflu

desert

To fall upon someone, or desert to the enemy.

Where else “niflu” appears

Translation note

Jesus quotes these words in Luke 23:30 (compare Revelation 6:16).

The context

7Samaria is destroyed; her king is like foam on the face of the waters.

8 · This verse (above)

9From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, Israel; there they have stood; will not the war against the children of injustice overtake them in Gibeah?

Read all of Hosea 10

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