Hosea 8:13

Authorized King James Version

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They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

Original Language Analysis

זִבְחֵ֣י for the sacrifices H2077
זִבְחֵ֣י for the sacrifices
Strong's: H2077
Word #: 1 of 16
properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
הַבְהָבַ֗י of mine offerings H1890
הַבְהָבַ֗י of mine offerings
Strong's: H1890
Word #: 2 of 16
gift (in sacrifice), i.e., holocaust
יִזְבְּח֤וּ They sacrifice H2076
יִזְבְּח֤וּ They sacrifice
Strong's: H2076
Word #: 3 of 16
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
בָשָׂר֙ flesh H1320
בָשָׂר֙ flesh
Strong's: H1320
Word #: 4 of 16
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
וַיֹּאכֵ֔לוּ and eat H398
וַיֹּאכֵ֔לוּ and eat
Strong's: H398
Word #: 5 of 16
to eat (literally or figuratively)
יְהוָ֖ה it but the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה it but the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 6 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 7 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
רָצָ֑ם accepteth H7521
רָצָ֑ם accepteth
Strong's: H7521
Word #: 8 of 16
to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy a debt
עַתָּ֞ה H6258
עַתָּ֞ה
Strong's: H6258
Word #: 9 of 16
at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
יִזְכֹּ֤ר them not now will he remember H2142
יִזְכֹּ֤ר them not now will he remember
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 10 of 16
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
עֲוֹנָם֙ their iniquity H5771
עֲוֹנָם֙ their iniquity
Strong's: H5771
Word #: 11 of 16
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
וְיִפְקֹ֣ד and visit H6485
וְיִפְקֹ֣ד and visit
Strong's: H6485
Word #: 12 of 16
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
חַטֹּאותָ֔ם their sins H2403
חַטֹּאותָ֔ם their sins
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 13 of 16
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
הֵ֖מָּה H1992
הֵ֖מָּה
Strong's: H1992
Word #: 14 of 16
they (only used when emphatic)
מִצְרַ֥יִם to Egypt H4714
מִצְרַ֥יִם to Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 15 of 16
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃ they shall return H7725
יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃ they shall return
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 16 of 16
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

Cross References

Hosea 9:6For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.Hosea 9:9They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.Isaiah 1:11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.Jeremiah 14:10Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.Deuteronomy 28:68And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.Amos 8:7The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.Amos 5:22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.Hosea 5:6They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.Hosea 11:5He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

Analysis & Commentary

Sacrifices of hypocrisy: 'They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.' They perform זִבְחֵי הַבְהָבַי (zivchei havhavai, sacrifices of My offerings), eating flesh—outward ritual maintained. Yet God neither accepts (לֹא רָצָם, lo ratsam) nor forgets iniquity (יִזְכֹּר עֲוֺנָם, yizkor avonam). Result: return to מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, Egypt)—bondage revisited. This teaches that ritual without obedience is worthless (1 Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6). Sacrifices from unrepentant hearts compound rather than remove guilt. Only Christ's perfect sacrifice, offered once, secures eternal acceptance (Hebrews 10:10-14).

Historical Context

Israel maintained sacrificial system even while violating covenant. Archaeological evidence shows animal bones at northern worship sites, confirming continued sacrifice. Yet divorced from proper sanctuary, priesthood, and heart-obedience, sacrifices became empty ritual. The threat 'return to Egypt' prophesies renewed bondage—fulfilled through Assyrian exile. Some fled literally to Egypt (later, after northern fall, refugees went to Egypt and Judah). Spiritually, exile represented returning to pre-Exodus condition: slavery and oppression. Deuteronomy covenant curses threatened this reversal (Deuteronomy 28:68). This demonstrates that covenant violation results in covenant blessings reversed—from freedom to bondage, promised land to exile.

Questions for Reflection