Hosea 10:3 Surely now they will say, "We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?"

◄ Hosea 10:3 ►

New International Version
Then they will say, “We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?”

New Living Translation
Then they will say, “We have no king because we didn’t fear the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us anyway?”

English Standard Version
For now they will say: “We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD; and a king—what could he do for us?”

Berean Standard Bible
Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?”

King James Bible
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

New King James Version
For now they say, “We have no king, Because we did not fear the LORD. And as for a king, what would he do for us?”

New American Standard Bible
Certainly now they will say, “We have no king, For we do not revere the LORD. As for the king, what can he do for us?”

NASB 1995
Surely now they will say, “We have no king, For we do not revere the LORD. As for the king, what can he do for us?”

NASB 1977
Surely now they will say, “We have no king, For we do not revere the LORD. As for the king, what can he do for us?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Surely now they will say, “We have no king, For we do not fear Yahweh. As for the king, what can he do for us?”

Amplified Bible
Surely now they will say [in despair], “We have no [true] king, For we do not revere the LORD; And as for the king, what can he do for us [to rescue us]?”

Christian Standard Bible
In fact, they are now saying, “We have no king! For we do not fear the LORD. What can a king do for us? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In fact, they are now saying,” We have no king! For we do not fear the LORD. What can a king do for us?”

American Standard Version
Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?

Contemporary English Version
"We don't have a king," you will say. "We don't fear the LORD. And what good are kings?"

English Revised Version
Surely now shall they say, We have no king: for we fear not the LORD; and the king, what can he do for us?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they'll say, "We have no king because we didn't fear the LORD. Even if we had a king, he couldn't do anything for us."

Good News Translation
These people will soon be saying, "We have no king because we did not fear the LORD. But what could a king do for us anyway?"

International Standard Version
From now on they will say, 'We have no king, because we did not fear the LORD— and what would a king do for us?'

Majority Standard Bible
Surely now they will say, ?We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us??

NET Bible
Very soon they will say, "We have no king since we did not fear the LORD. But what can a king do for us anyway?"

New Heart English Bible
Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we do not fear the LORD; and the king, what can he do for us?"

Webster's Bible Translation
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

World English Bible
Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
For now they say: We have no king, "" Because we have not feared YHWH, "" And the king—what does he do for us?

Young's Literal Translation
For now they say: We have no king, Because we have not feared Jehovah, And the king -- what doth he for us?

Smith's Literal Translation
For now they will say, No king to us because we feared not Jehovah; and what shall the king do to us?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For now they shall say: We have no king: because we fear not the Lord: and what shall a king do to us?

Catholic Public Domain Version
For now they will say, “We have no king. For we do not fear the Lord. And what would a king do for us?”

New American Bible
For now they will say, “We have no king! Since we do not fear the LORD, the king—what could he do for us?”

New Revised Standard Version
For now they will say: “We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD, and a king—what could he do for us?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For from now they shall say, We have no king because we feared not the LORD; what then can a king do for us?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because from now they will say: ”We have no King from LORD JEHOVAH; we do not stand in awe of a King! What shall he do for us?”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Surely now shall they say: 'We have no king; For we feared not the LORD; And the king, what can he do for us?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Because now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lord:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Retribution for Israel's Sin
…2Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars. 3Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?” 4They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

1 Samuel 12:12
But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

1 Samuel 10:19
But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 8:19-20
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. / Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

1 Samuel 12:17-19
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” / So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. / They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

1 Samuel 12:13
Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.

1 Samuel 8:5
“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

1 Samuel 8:6
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

1 Samuel 8:18
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

1 Samuel 12:1-2
Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king. / Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.

1 Samuel 12:14-15
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well. / But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

1 Samuel 12:25
But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

1 Samuel 12:20-21
“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. / Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

1 Samuel 12:24
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

Treasury of Scripture

For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

We have.

Hosea 10:7,15
As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water…

Hosea 3:4
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Hosea 11:5
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

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Hosea 10

1. Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry,
12. and exhorted to repentance.

Berean Study Bible

So now they will say
This phrase introduces a prophetic declaration, indicating a future realization or confession by the people of Israel. The Hebrew word for "now" (עַתָּה, 'attah) often signifies a turning point or a moment of realization. In the context of Hosea, it suggests an impending moment of clarity for Israel, where they will recognize the consequences of their actions. Historically, this reflects a period of impending judgment, where the people are forced to confront the reality of their spiritual and political situation.

We have no king
The absence of a king signifies a loss of leadership and direction. In ancient Israel, the king was seen as God's appointed leader, responsible for guiding the nation in accordance with divine law. The Hebrew word for "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melek) is significant, as it denotes not just a political leader but a spiritual representative of God's authority. This statement reflects Israel's recognition of their political instability and spiritual waywardness, as they have rejected God's kingship in favor of earthly rulers.

because we do not revere the LORD
This phrase highlights the root cause of Israel's predicament: their lack of reverence for God. The Hebrew word for "revere" (יָרֵא, yare) encompasses fear, awe, and respect. It implies a deep, abiding recognition of God's sovereignty and holiness. The Israelites' failure to revere the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh) is a central theme in Hosea, as it underscores their spiritual adultery and covenant unfaithfulness. This lack of reverence leads to their downfall, as they have turned to idols and foreign alliances instead of trusting in God.

What can a king do for us?
This rhetorical question underscores the futility of relying on human leadership in the absence of divine guidance. It reflects a moment of introspection and despair, as the people realize that without God's favor, even a king cannot save them. The question implies a recognition of their misplaced trust in political solutions rather than spiritual repentance. Historically, this reflects the period of the divided kingdom, where political alliances and idolatry led to national decline. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the necessity of placing ultimate trust in God rather than human institutions.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) To us.--Better, as for a king, what will he do for us? The prophet having witnessed a succession of Israelite kings overthrown, and anarchy as its consequence, predicts yet another time of confusion and helplessness, a full vindication of the threatenings of the prophet Samuel. (Comp. 1Samuel 8:19.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lord. In the day of their destruction Israel would be brought to see and even feel that the king appointed through their own self-will and fancied plenitude of power was unable to protect or help them, and that because they had rejected Jehovah and cast aside his fear. The point of time denoted by "now" is either when they see destruction before their eyes, or when Israel is already in captivity. Rashi explains it in the former sense: "When destruction shall come upon them, they shall say, 'We have no king,' that is, our king on whom we set our hopes when we said, 'Our king shall go out before us and light our battles,' affords us no help whatever." Kimchi explains similarly, but fixes the "now" in the time of the Captivity: "Now, when they shall be carried out of their land, they shall recognize and say, 'We have no king;' the explanation is, as it' we had no king among us, for there is no strength in him to deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, as we thought when we asked for a king who should march at our head and fight our battles. God - blessed be he! - was our King, and we needed no king, and he it was that delivered us out of the hand of our enemies when we did his will." Aben Ezra and others understand it as the expression of a wild licorice on the part of Israel, recklessly giving vent to an anarchical and atheistic spirit: "As soon as their heart was divided they had no wish to have a king over them, and had no fear of Jehovah; therefore they had no fear, and every one did what was right in his own eyes." This exposition neglects the note of time, as also the causal particle that follows. They bethought themselves that, as they had not feared Jehovah, but neglected his Law, the king which they had demanded could do them no good. "What," they asked, "can the king do for us? He has no power to deliver us, since God is angry with us, for we have sinned against him?" Such is the confession of Israel in captivity. Pusey remarks in reference to this: "In sin, all Israel had asked for a king, when the Lord was their King; in sin, Ephraim had made Jeroboam king; in sin, their subsequent kings were made, without the counsel and advice of God; and now, as the close of all, they reflect how fruitless it all was."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Surely
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

now
עַתָּה֙ (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

they will say,
יֹֽאמְר֔וּ (yō·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“We have
לָ֑נוּ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

no
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

king,
מֶ֖לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

we do not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

revere
יָרֵ֙אנוּ֙ (yā·rê·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the LORD.
יְהֹוָ֔ה‪‬‪‬ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can a king
וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (wə·ham·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

do
יַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ (ya·‘ă·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for us?”
לָּֽנוּ׃ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

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OT Prophets: Hosea 10:3 Surely now they will say We have (Ho Hs Hos.)