For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

HOSEA 8:6KJV
Know the Bible

Hosea 8:6 (KJV)

What does Hosea 8:6 mean?

Hosea 8:6 says that Israel’s calf image has no claim to be God: an Israelite craftsman made it. The verse also announces that the calf of Samaria will be shattered, exposing the weakness of an object treated as divine.

Following the rejection of the calf in verse 5, Hosea gives the reason for that judgment. The prophet speaks God’s message to the northern kingdom of Israel, where calf images were associated with worship.

The Hebrew behind Hosea 8:6

  • “workman” — חָרָשׁ (ḥarash): A craftsman or skilled worker. The word draws attention to the human skill involved in producing the image.
  • “calf” — עֵגֶל (ʿegel): A young bull or calf. The word identifies the image as an animal figure, a familiar kind of image in the ancient world.

Why Hosea 8:6 matters

  • The verse connects the calf to Israel’s own activity. “From Israel was it also” places the source of the image among the people being addressed.
  • “Samaria” identifies the center of the northern kingdom, but the verse need not mean the image stood in the city itself. The kingdom also had calf images at Bethel and Dan, as described in 1 Kings 12:28–29.
  • The promised destruction is tied to the argument about the calf’s nature. The words “therefore it is not God” lead to the announcement that the image will be broken.

Where else these words appear

“workman” Hebrew H2796 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
  • 1 Chronicles 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
  • Isaiah 44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

“calf” Hebrew H5695 · used in 35 verses

  • Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
  • 1 Samuel 28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
  • Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

“Samaria” Hebrew H8111 · used in 101 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
  • 2 Kings 10:36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.