And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The striking phrase "idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen" highlights the utter folly of their worship. It’s not just that they worship things, but things they made themselves from their own wealth, revealing their idols were ultimately reflections of their own ingenuity and pride, not divine power.
And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Hosea continues to condemn Israel's persistent idolatry, noting that their sin is escalating rather than diminishing. They are not only sinning more but are actively crafting elaborate silver idols, deviating further from God's commands and relying on their own flawed understanding. The prophet highlights the ultimate absurdity of their worship by quoting their own pronouncements, suggesting that even those who offer sacrifices are instructed to kiss the calves, an act of deep adoration towards lifeless objects.
The verse paints a grim picture: 'sin more and more.' What drives this relentless downward spiral, and how are their idols more than just statues?
Hosea declares that the Israelites aren't just repeating past sins; they're actively increasing their guilt. "And now they sin more and more." This isn't stagnation; it's a deepening corruption. They're not content with the calf images of old; they're now fashioning 'molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding.'
This highlights two crucial points:
The final line is shocking: 'Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!' What does this bizarre scene reveal about their worship and its ultimate destination?
The prophet delivers a final, damning indictment with the words, 'Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!' This isn't just about worshipping false gods; it's about the extreme perversion and illogical nature of their devotion.
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Understand the original words
chata · Hebrew Verb
Missing the mark of God's standard or law. It is an act of rebellion against God's authority, character, and covenant, which separates humanity from communion with the Creator.
massekah · Hebrew Noun
Representations of created things or false deities made by human hands, intended to take the place of the true God in worship. They are forbidden by the second commandment and represent spiritual adultery.
Hosea's prophecy against the calf worship and idolatry of the Northern Kingdom comes during a time when this practice had become deeply entrenched, evolving from Jeroboam's initial political move to a pervasive, syncretistic system that included human sacrifice. The verse highlights the depth of their sin and the absurdity of worshipping man-made objects, even as their nation faced imminent destruction.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides, Calf Worship Begins
Following the death of King Solomon, the united Israelite kingdom splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. King Jeroboam I of Israel, to prevent his people from worshipping in Jerusalem (the capital of Judah), sets up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, encouraging idolatry.
c. 874–853 BC
Ahab and Baal Worship
During the reign of King Ahab in the Northern Kingdom, the worship of the Phoenician god Baal is widely promoted, often alongside or instead of the established calf worship. This period marks a significant escalation of syncretism and departure from Yahweh worship.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Hosea's Ministry Begins
The prophet Hosea begins his ministry in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His prophecies are delivered during a period of increasing political instability, Assyrian pressure, and pervasive religious corruption, characterized by a decline in true worship and an increase in idolatry.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian Campaigns Intensify
The Assyrian Empire, under Tiglath-Pileser III, launches significant military campaigns against the Northern Kingdom, leading to the deportation of Israelites from northern and eastern territories. This heightens the sense of impending doom and divine judgment.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and End of Northern Kingdom
The capital city of Samaria falls to the Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. The Northern Kingdom ceases to exist as an independent entity, and many Israelites are exiled, fulfilling the prophecies of judgment for their persistent idolatry and disobedience.
This passage describes the Israelites making a golden calf to worship, mirroring the calf worship Hosea condemns as a work of human hands and a perversion of God's presence.
1 Kings 12:28-29This highlights Jeroboam's establishment of calf worship in Israel as an alternative to Jerusalem, directly leading to the kind of idolatry Hosea is denouncing generations later.
Psalm 115:4-7This psalm directly contrasts the living God with idols made of silver and gold, emphasizing their lifelessness and the futility of those who create and worship them, a theme central to Hosea's prophecy.
Isaiah 44:10-20This prophetic passage offers a scathing critique of idol-making, detailing the process of crafting gods from wood and metal and mocking the absurdity of worshipping what one's own hands have made, echoing Hosea's imagery.
Romans 1:22-23This New Testament passage speaks of people exchanging the truth of God for a lie and worshiping created things, reflecting the spiritual descent described in Hosea where people made idols according to their own understanding.
jfbHosea 13:2: "And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves."
- according to their own understanding—that is, their arbitrary devising. Compare "will-worship," Col 2:23. Men are not to be "wise above that which is written," or to follow their own understanding, but God's command in worship.kiss the calves—an act of…
cambridgeHosea 13:2: "And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves."
2 . And now , &c.] The present race is no better; they go on adding to their guilt. idols according to their own understanding ] Sarcastically. Sept., Targ., Vulg., however, read ‘according to the pattern of idols’ (there could be no art, then, in these re…
The striking phrase "idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen" highlights the utter folly of their worship. It’s not just that they worship things, but things they made themselves from their own wealth, revealing their idols were ultimately reflections of their own ingenuity and pride, not divine power.
Hosea continues to condemn Israel's persistent idolatry, noting that their sin is escalating rather than diminishing. They are not only sinning more but are actively crafting elaborate silver idols, deviating further from God's commands and relying on their own flawed understanding. The prophet highlights the ultimate absurdity of their worship by quoting their own pronouncements, suggesting that even those who offer sacrifices are instructed to kiss the calves, an act of deep adoration towards lifeless objects.
Hosea continues to condemn Israel's persistent idolatry, noting that their sin is escalating rather than diminishing. They are not only sinning more but are actively crafting elaborate silver idols, deviating further from God's commands and relying on their own flawed understanding. The prophet highlights the ultimate absurdity of their worship by quoting their own pronouncements, suggesting that even those who offer sacrifices are instructed to kiss the calves, an act of deep adoration towards lifeless objects.
"And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calve…" — The striking phrase "idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen" highlights the utter folly of their worship. It’s not just that they worship things, but things they *…
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Last reviewed October 2026