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Thursday, November 28th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Green's Literal Translation

Hosea 12:11

Is Gilead evil? Surely they have been vanity. They sacrificed bulls in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gilead;   Gilgal;   Idolatry;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Gilgal;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Bullock;   Hosea, Prophecies of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Furrow;   Hosea;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gilead;   Gilgal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Gilead;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Altar;   Calf, Golden;   Furrow;   Gilead (1);   Gilgal;   Hosea;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Agriculture;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Calf-Worship;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But the people in Gilead have sinned. There are many terrible idols in that place. They offer sacrifices to bulls at Gilgal. They have many altars. There are rows and rows of altars—like the rows of dirt in a plowed field.
New American Standard Bible
Is there injustice in Gilead? Certainly they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, Yes, their altars are like stone heaps Beside the furrows of a field.
New Century Version
The people of Gilead are evil, worth nothing. Though people sacrifice bulls at Gilgal, their altars will become like piles of stone in a plowed field.
New English Translation
Is there idolatry in Gilead? Certainly its inhabitants will come to nothing! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!
Update Bible Version
Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yes, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
Webster's Bible Translation
[Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yes, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
Amplified Bible
Is there wickedness (idolatry) in Gilead? Surely the people there are worthless. In Gilgal [they defy Me when] they sacrifice bulls, Yes, [after My judgment] their [pagan] altars are like the stone heaps In the furrows of the fields.
English Standard Version
If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field.
World English Bible
If Gilead is wicked, Surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If Galaad worschipith an idol, therfor thei erren in veyn offryng to oxis in Galgal; for whi and the auteris of hem schulen be as heepis on the forewis of the feeld.
English Revised Version
Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether vanity; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks: yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
Berean Standard Bible
Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.
Contemporary English Version
Gilead is terribly sinful and will end up ruined. Bulls are sacrificed in Gilgal on altars made of stones, but those stones will be scattered in every field.
American Standard Version
Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
Bible in Basic English
In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.
Complete Jewish Bible
I have spoken to the prophets; it was I who gave vision after vision; through the prophets I gave examples to show what it would all be like.
Darby Translation
If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.
King James Version (1611)
Is there iniquitie in Gilead? surely they are vanitie, they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, yea their altars are as heapes in the furrowes of the fields.
New Living Translation
But the people of Gilead are worthless because of their idol worship. And in Gilgal, too, they sacrifice bulls; their altars are lined up like the heaps of stone along the edges of a plowed field.
New Life Bible
Is there sin in Gilead? For sure its people are of no worth. In Gilgal they kill bulls in worship. Their altars are like the many stones laid beside a plowed field.
New Revised Standard
In Gilead there is iniquity, they shall surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars shall be like stone heaps on the furrows of the field.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Is there iniquitie in Gilead? surely they are vanitie: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, and their altars are as heapes in the furrowes of the field.
George Lamsa Translation
In Gilead you suffered pain, and in Gilgal you sacrificed bullocks to falsehood; your altars are like dry stalks in a barren field.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, - their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
Revised Standard Version
If there is iniquity in Gilead they shall surely come to nought; if in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, their altars also shall be like stone heaps on the furrows of the field.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In Galaad is iniquitie, they are fallen to vanitie: at Gilgal they haue sacrificed oxen, & their aulters are as heapes in the furrowes of the fielde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
If Galaad exists not, then the chiefs in Galaad when they sacrificed were false, and their altars were as heaps on the ground of the field.
Good News Translation
Yet idols are worshiped in Gilead, and those who worship them will die. Bulls are sacrificed in Gilgal, and the altars there will become piles of stone in the open fields."
Christian Standard Bible®
Since Gilead is full of evil,they will certainly come to nothing.They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal;even their altars will be like piles of rockson the furrows of a field.
Hebrew Names Version
If Gil`ad is wicked, Surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
King James Version
Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
Lexham English Bible
If in Gilead there is evil, surely they will come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, also their altars will be like stone heaps on furrows of the field.
Young's Literal Translation
Surely Gilead [is] iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a field.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But at Galaad is the abhominacion, they are fallen to vanyte. At Galgal they haue slayne oxen: and as many heapes of stones as they had in their lode forowes, so many aulters haue they made.
New King James Version
Though Gilead has idols-- Surely they are vanity-- Though they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal, Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, Yes, their altars are like the stone heaps Beside the furrows of the field.
Legacy Standard Bible
Is there wickedness in Gilead?Surely they are worthless.In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;Yes, their altars are like the stone heapsBeside the furrows of the field.

Contextual Overview

7 He is a merchant; the scales of deceit are in his hand; he loves to oppress. 8 And Ephraim said, I am rich; I have found much wealth for myself. In all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that is sin. 9 And I am Jehovah, your God from the land of Egypt; yet I will make you live in tents, as in the days of meeting. 10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the hand of the prophets use parables. 11 Is Gilead evil? Surely they have been vanity. They sacrificed bulls in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field. 12 And Jacob fled into the field of Syria, and Israel served for a wife; yea, he shepherded for a wife. 13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe. 14 Ephraim has provoked Me to anger most bitterly. And He shall leave his blood to him, and his Lord shall turn his reproach to him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

iniquity: Hosea 6:8, 1 Kings 17:1

surely: Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:15, Jonah 2:8

they sacrifice: Hosea 4:15, Hosea 9:15, Amos 4:4, Amos 5:5

their altars: Hosea 8:11, Hosea 10:1, 2 Kings 17:9-11, Jeremiah 2:20, Jeremiah 2:28

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:14 - built seven 1 Kings 12:31 - an house 2 Chronicles 28:24 - he made Isaiah 2:8 - is full Jeremiah 11:13 - For according Jeremiah 17:1 - and upon Ezekiel 16:31 - makest Hosea 8:13 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 12:6
And Abram passed through the land as far as the place of Shechem, to the Oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Genesis 12:7
And Jehovah appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your seed. And he built an altar there to Jehovah, who appeared to him.
Genesis 12:14
And it happened, when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
Genesis 26:7
And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, She is my sister, for he was afraid to say, My wife, lest the men of the place kill me on account of Rebekah, for she was beautiful of form.
Genesis 29:17
And the eyes of Leah were weak, and Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance.
2 Samuel 11:2
And it happened at evening time, David rose up from his bed and walked up and down on the roof of the king's house. And he saw from the roof a woman bathing. And the woman was very good of form.
Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel before Jehovah.
Song of Solomon 1:14
My Beloved is to me like a cluster of henna in the vineyards of Engedi.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead?.... Idolatry there? strange that there should be, seeing it was a city of the priests; a city of refuge; or there is none there, say the priests, who pretended they did not worship idols, but the true Jehovah in them: or, "is [there] not iniquity", or idolatry, "in Gilead" e? verily there is, let them pretend to what they will: or, "is [there only] iniquity in it" f? that the men of it should be carried captive, as they were by TiglathPileser, before the rest of the tribes; see 2 Kings 15:29; no, there is iniquity and idolatry committed in other places, as well as there, who must expect to share the same fate in time: or, "is Gilead Aven?" g that is, Bethaven, the same with Bethel; it is as that, as guilty of idolatry as Bethel, where one of the calves was set up:

surely they are vanity: the inhabitants of Gilead, as well as of Bethel, worshipping idols, which are most vain things, vanity itself, and deceive those that serve them, and trust in them:

they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal: to idols, as the Targum adds; and so Jarchi and Kimchi; according to Aben Ezra, they sacrificed them to Baal; this shows that Gilead was not the only place for idolatry, which was on the other side Jordan, but Gilgal, which was on this side Jordan, was also polluted with it. The Vulgate Latin version is,

"in Gilgal they were sacrificing to bullocks;''

to the calves there, the same as were at Dan and Bethel; so, in the Septuagint version of 1 Kings 12:29; it was formerly read: and so Cyril h quotes it, "[he] (Jeroboam) set the one (calf) in Gilgal, and the other [in] Dan"; hence the fable that Epiphanius i makes mention of, that, when Elisha was born, the golden ox or heifer at Gilgal bellowed very loudly, and so loud as to be heard at Jerusalem. The Targum makes mention of an idol temple here; and as it was near to Bethel, as appears from 1 Samuel 10:3; and from Josephus k; and so Jerom says l, hard by Bethel; some suspect another Gilgal; hence it might be put for it; however, it was a place of like idolatrous worship; it is mentioned as such along with Bethaven or Bethel, in Hosea 4:15; see also Hosea 9:15;

yea, their altars [are] as heaps in, the furrows of the fields; not only in the city of Gilgal, and in the temple there, as the Targum; but even without the city, in the fields they set up altars, which looked like heaps of stones; or they had a multitude of altars that stood as thick as they. So the Targum,

"they have multiplied their altars, like heaps upon the borders of the fields;''

and the Jewish commentators in general understand this as expressive of the number of their altars, and of the increase of idolatrous worship; but some interpret it of the destruction of their altars, which should become heaps of stones and rubbish, like such as are in fields. These words respect Ephraim or the ten tribes, in which these places were, whose idolatry is again taken notice of, after gracious promises were made to Judah. Some begin here a new sermon or discourse delivered to Israel.

e אם גלעד און "an [non in] Galaad iniquitas?" Vatablus. f "En [in] Gileade [tantum] iniquitas?" Piscator. g "Num Gilead Aven?" Schmidt. h Apud Reland. Palestina Illustrata, tom. 2. l. 3. p. 783. i De Vita & Interitu Prophet. c. 6. & Paschal. Chronic. p. 161. apud Reland. ib. k Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4. sect. 9. l De locis Hebr. fol. 91. M.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Is there iniquity in Gilead? - The prophet asks the question, in order to answer it the more peremptorily. He raises the doubt, in order to crush it the more impressively. Is there “iniquity” in “Gilead?” Alas, there was nothing else. “Surely they are vanity,” or, strictly, “they have become merely vanity.” As he said before, “they become abominations like their love.” “For such as men make their idols, or conceive their God to be, such they become themselves. As then he who worships God with a pure heart, is made like unto God, so they who worship stocks and stones, or who make passions and lusts their idols, lose the mind of men and become ‘like the beasts which perish.’” “In Gilgal they have sacrificed oxen. Gilead” represents all the country on its side, the East of Jordan; “Gilgal,” all on its side, the West of Jordan. In both, God had signally shown forth His mercies; in both, they dishonored God, sacrificing to idols, and offering His creatures, as a gift to devils.

Yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field - Their altars are like the heaps of stones, from which men clear the plowed land, in order to fit it for cultivation, as numerous as profuse, as worthless, as desolate. “Their” altars they were, not God’s. They did, (as sinners do,) in the service of devils, what, had they done it to God, would have been accepted, rewarded, service. Full often they sacrificed oxen; they threw great state into their religion; they omitted nothing which should shed around it an empty show of worship. They multiplied their altars, their sins, their ruins; many altars over against His one altar; : “rude heaps of stones, in His sight; and such they should become, no one stone being left in order upon another.” In contrast with their sins and ingratitude, the prophet exhibits two pictures, the one, of the virtues of the patriarch whose name they bore, from whom was the beginning of their race; the other, of God’s love to them, in that beginning of their national existence, when God brought those who had been a body of slaves in Egypt, to be His own people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hosea 12:11. Iniquity in Gilead — Gilgal and Gilead are equally iniquitous, and equally idolatrous. Gilead, which was beyond Jordan, had already been brought under subjection by Tiglath-Pileser. Gilgal, which was on this side Jordan, shall share the same fate; because it is now as idolatrous as the other.

Their altars are as heaps — They occur everywhere. The whole land is given to idolatry.


 
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