Definition: Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down Hosea 8:11. It's a really important and somewhat harsh verse from the book of Hosea, which is about a broken relationship between Hosea and his wife, Betsey. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: Hosea 8:11 is saying that because the people of Ephraim have built many temples – shrines to worship sin – that these temples will be used only for sinful activities. It’s a warning about the dangers of focusing on worldly pleasures and traditions over God's truth. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Because Ephraim hath made many altars…” This refers to the people of Ephraim, who are known for their elaborate religious practices and building temples. "Hath made" is a slightly archaic way of saying "have." “…to sin.” This is the key part. It means that these temples are designed to be places where people worship and celebrate sin – things like greed, anger, lust, or any other act of wrongdoing. So, what does it mean practically? It’s telling us that focusing on religious rituals and practices that encourage sinful behavior is a dangerous path. It's suggesting that if people are too busy worshipping things rather than God, they might lose their way and turn away from the true path of righteousness. The Context in Hosea: This verse comes during a time when Hosea is desperately trying to reconcile with his wife, Betsey. He’s expressing frustration and pain because she's not appreciating his efforts to lead her back to God. It’s highlighting a fundamental problem: people are often more interested in doing things than in being righteous. In essence, Hosea 8:11 is a warning about the potential for religious practices to become corrupted and used as a distraction from true faith. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the significance of Hosea’s situation in more detail? Give you some related interpretations or lessons?