Hosea 9:8

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

The watchman of Ephraim, should have been with my God: As for the prophet, the snare of the fowler, is on all his ways, a prosecution awaiteth him , in the house of his God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
God and the prophet are like guards watching over Ephraim, but there are many traps along his way. And people hate the prophet, even in the house of his God.

New Living Translation
The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God, yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes. He faces hostility even in the house of God.

New American Standard Bible
Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet; Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways, And there is only hostility in the house of his God.

New Century Version
Is Israel a watchman? Are God's people prophets? Everywhere Israel goes, traps are set for him. He is an enemy in God's house.

New English Translation
The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God, yet traps are laid for him along all of his paths; animosity rages against him in the land of his God.

Update Bible Version
Ephraim [was] a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, [and] enmity in the house of his God.

Webster's Bible Translation
The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God: [but] the prophet [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways, [and] hatred in the house of his God.

Amplified Bible
Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a [true] prophet [to warn the nation]; But the snare of a bird catcher was laid in all his paths. And there is only deep hostility in the house of his God (the land of Israel).

English Standard Version
The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim with my God; yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

World English Bible
A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler's snare is on all of his paths, And hostility in the house of his God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The biholdere of Effraym with my God is a profete; a snare of fallyng is maad now on alle the weies of hym, woodnesse is in the hous of his God.

English Revised Version
Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

Berean Standard Bible
The prophet is Ephraim's watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!

Contemporary English Version
Israel, the Lord sent me to look after you. But you trap his prophets and flood his temple with your hatred.

American Standard Version
Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

Bible in Basic English
There is great hate against the watchman of Ephraim, the people of my God; as for the prophet, there is a net in all his ways, and hate in the house of his God.

Complete Jewish Bible
The watchman of Efrayim is with my God, but a prophet has a fowler's snare set on all his paths and hostility even in the house of his God.

Darby Translation
Is Ephraim a watchman with my God? [nay] the prophet is a fowler's snare on all his ways, enmity in the house of his God.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Ephraim is a watchman with my God; as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

King James Version (1611)
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the Prophet is a snare of a fouler in all his wayes, and hatred in the house of his God.

New Life Bible
Ephraim was meant to be a watchman who would speak for God. Yet there is a net in all his ways, and only anger in the house of his God.

New Revised Standard
The prophet is a sentinel for my God over Ephraim, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hostility in the house of his God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
The watchman of Ephraim shoulde bee with my God: but the Prophet is the snare of a fouler in all his waies, and hatred in the House of his God.

George Lamsa Translation
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God; but the prophet is a snare and a stumbling block in all his ways, and wantonness in the house of God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: the prophet is become a snare of ruin upon all his ways, madness is in the house of his God.

Revised Standard Version
The prophet is the watchman of E'phraim, the people of my God, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God [but] the prophete [is] the snare of a fouler in all his wayes, and an abhomination in the house of his God.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The watchman of Ephraim was with God: the prophet is a crooked snare in all his ways: they have established madness in the house of God.

Good News Translation
God has sent me as a prophet to warn his people Israel. Yet wherever I go, you try to trap me like a bird. Even in God's Temple the people are the prophet's enemies.

Christian Standard Bible®
Ephraim’s watchman is with my God.Yet the prophet encounters a bird trapon all his pathways.Hostility is in the house of his God!

Hebrew Names Version
A prophet watches over Efrayim with my God. A fowler's snare is on all of his paths, And hostility in the house of his God.

King James Version
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

Lexham English Bible
The prophet keeps watch over Ephraim for my God; the snare of a fowler is on all his ways, and hostility in the house of his God.

Literal Translation
Ephraim is a watchman with my God. The prophet is a snare of a fowler on all his ways; hatred is in the house of his God.

Young's Literal Translation
Ephraim is looking [away] from My God, The prophet! a snare of a fowler [is] over all his ways, Hatred [is] in the house of his God.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ephraim hath made himself a watchman of my God, a prophet yt is become a snare to do hurte in euery strete, and abhominacion in the house of his God.

New King James Version
The watchman of Ephraim is with my God;But the prophet is a fowler's [fn] snare in all his ways--Enmity in the house of his God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet; Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways, And there is only hostility in the house of his God.

Legacy Standard Bible
Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet;Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways,And there is only hostility in the house of his God.

Contextual Overview

⁷ Come are the days of visitation, come are the days of recompense, Let Israel know! The prophet is foolish, the man of the spirit doth rave, because of the greatness of thine iniquity, therefore great is the prosecution. ⁸ The watchman of Ephraim, should have been with my God: As for the prophet, the snare of the fowler, is on all his ways, a prosecution awaiteth him , in the house of his God. ⁹ They have deeply corrupted themselves, like the days of Gibeah: he will call to mind their iniquity, he will punish their sins. ¹⁰ Like grapes in the desert, found I Israel, like the first-ripe in the fig-tree when it is young, saw I your fathers, - they, entered Baal-peor, and devoted themselves to the Shameful Thing, Then became their abominations like their lusts.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

watchman: Song of Solomon 3:3, Isaiah 62:6, Jeremiah 6:17, Jeremiah 31:6, Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7, Micah 7:4, Hebrews 13:17

with: 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:1, 1 Kings 18:36-39, 1 Kings 22:28, 2 Kings 2:14, 2 Kings 2:21, 2 Kings 3:15-20, 2 Kings 4:1-7, 2 Kings 4:33-37, 2 Kings 4:41, 2 Kings 4:43, 2 Kings 5:14, 2 Kings 5:27, 2 Kings 6:17, 2 Kings 6:18, 2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 7:19, 2 Kings 13:21

but: Hosea 5:1, 1 Kings 18:19, 1 Kings 22:6, 1 Kings 22:11, 1 Kings 22:22, Jeremiah 6:14, Jeremiah 14:13, Lamentations 2:14, Lamentations 4:13

in the: or, against the, John 15:24, Romans 3:7

Reciprocal: Psalms 91:3 - snare Song of Solomon 5:7 - watchmen Isaiah 9:15 - the prophet Isaiah 56:10 - are blind Jeremiah 23:13 - prophets Ezekiel 33:2 - set Hosea 4:5 - and the prophet Hosea 9:7 - the prophet Luke 11:44 - for 2 Peter 2:1 - there were

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God,.... Formerly the watchmen of Ephraim, or the prophets of Israel, were with the true God, whom the prophet calls his God; as Elijah and Elisha, who had communion and intimacy with him; had revelations and instructions from him; and were under the direction and inspiration of his Spirit, and prophesied in his name things according to his will, and for the good of his people: or "the watchman of Ephraim [should be] with my God"; on his side, and promote his worship and service, his honour and interest; and give the people warning from him, having heard the word at his mouth: but now they were not with him, nor for him, nor did as they should: or one that bore this character of a watchman in the ten tribes, pretended to be such a one, and would be thought to be with God, and to have his mind and will, and to be sincere for his glory:

[but] the prophet [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways; the false prophet, the same with the watchman, instead of guiding and directing Ephraim in the right way in which he should go, lays snares for him in all the ways he takes, to lead him wrong, and draw him into sin, particularly into idolatry, both by his doctrine and example:

[and] hatred in the house of his God; and so became detestable and execrable it the house of his own god, the calf at Bethel, in the temple there: prophesying such things as in the event prove false, and drawing into such practices as brought on ruin and desolation. The Targum interprets it, of laying snares for their prophets, their true prophets; and Kimchi and Jarchi of slaying Zechariah the prophet in the temple.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The watchman of Ephraim was with my God - These words may well contrast the office of the true prophet with the false. For Israel had had many true prophets, and such was Hosea himself now. The true prophet was at all times with “God.” He was “with God,” as holpen by God, “watching” or looking out and on into the future by the help of God. He was “with God,” as walking with God in a constant sense of His presence, and in continual communion with Him. He was “with God,” as associated by God with Himself, in teaching, warning, correcting, exhorting His people, as the Apostle says, “we then as workers together with Him” 2 Corinthians 6:1.

It might also be rendered in nearly the same sense, “Ephraim was a watchman with my God,” and this is more according to the Hebrew words. As though the whole people of Israel had an office from God , “and God addressed it as a whole, ‘I made thee, as it were, a watchman and prophet of God to the neighboring nations, that through My providence concerning thee, and thy living according to the law, they too might receive the knowledge of Me. But thou hast acted altogether contrary to this, for thou hast become a snare to them. ‘“

Yet perhaps, if so construed, it would rather mean, “Ephraim is a watchman, beside my God,” as it is said, “There is none upon earth, that I desire with Thee” Psalms 73:25, i. e., beside Thee. In God the Psalmist had all, and desired to have nothing “with,” i. e., beside God. Ephraim was not content with God’s revelations, but would himself be “a seer, an espier” of future events, the prophet says with indignation, “together with my God.” God, in fact, sufficed. Ephraim not. Ahab hated God’s prophet, “because he did not speak good concerning him but evil” 1Ki 22:8, 1 Kings 22:18. And so the kings of Israel had court-prophets of their own, an establishment, as it would seem, of four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of Ashtaroth 1 Kings 18:19, which was filled up again by new impostors 2 Kings 3:13; 2 Kings 10:19, when after the miracle of Mount Carmel, Elijah, according to the law Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:5, put to death the prophets of Baal. These false prophets, as well as those of Judah in her evil days, flattered the kings who supported them, misled them, encouraged them in disbelieving the threatenings of God, and so led to their destruction. By these means, the bad priests maintained their hold over the people. They were the antichrists of the Old Testament, disputing the authority of God, in whose name they prophesied. Ephraim encouraged their sins, as God says of Judah by Jeremiah, “My people love to have it so” Jeremiah 5:31. It willed to be deceived, and was so.

“On searching diligently ancient histories,” says Jerome, “I could not find that any divided the Church, or seduced people from the house of the Lord, except those who have been set by God as priests and prophets, i. e. watchmen. These then are turned into a snare, setting a stumbling-block everywhere, so that whosoever entereth on their ways, falls, and cannot stand in Christ, and is led away by various errors and crooked paths to a precipice.” : “No one,” says another great father, “doth wider injury than one who acteth perversely, while he hath a name or an order of holiness.” “God endureth no greater prejudice from any than from priests, when He seeth those whom He has set for the correction of others, give from themselves examples of perverseness, when “we” sin, who ought to restrain sin. What shall become of the flock, when the pastors become wolves?”

The false prophet is the snare of a fowler in - (literally, “upon”) all his ways i. e., whatever Ephraim would do, wherever the people, as a whole or any of them, would go, there the false prophet beset them, endeavoring to make each and everything a means of holding them back from their God. This they did, “being hatred in the house of his God.” As one says, “I am (all) prayer” Psalms 109:4, because he was so given up to prayer that he seemed turned into prayer; his whole soul was concentrated in prayer; so of these it is said, “they” were “hatred.” They hated so intensely, that their whole soul was turned into hatred; they were as we say, hatred personified; hatred was embodied in them, and they ensouled with hate. They were also the source of hatred against God and man. And this each false prophet was “in the house of his God!” for God was still his God, although not owned by him as God. God is the sinners God to avenge, if he will not allow Him to be his God, to convert and pardon.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hosea 9:8. The watchman of Ephraim — The true prophet, was with-faithful to, God.

The prophet — The false prophet is the snare of a fowler; is continually deceiving the people, and leading them into snares, and infusing into their hearts deep hatred against God and his worship.