Paragraph 8:4–6

This paragraph gives two specific examples of ways that Israel disobeyed the covenant and rejected what is good.

8:4a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4a
They set up kings, but not by Me.

4b
They make princes, but without My approval.

These parallel lines give the first example of Israel’s disobedience. They chose their own kings and other government leaders without consulting the LORD.

8:4a

They set up kings: This phrase means “they chose kings” or “they caused kings to rule.”

They: The pronoun They refers to the people of Israel as a group. In Hebrew, there are two pronouns here. These two pronouns emphasize that it was They who chose their leaders and not the LORD who chose them. If possible, try to express this emphasis in your translation. For example:

They chose their own kings (New Century Version)
-or-
It was they themselves who decided what person would rule as king.

but not by Me: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “and not from me.” This indicates that the LORD had nothing to do with the process of choosing these kings.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

not by my authority (New American Bible)
-or-
they did it on their own (Good News Translation)
-or-
without asking my permission (New Century Version)

8:4b

They make princes: This phrase means “they chose/appointed officials/leaders” or “they have caused officials/leaders to rule.”

princes: In Hebrew, this word refers to government officials or leaders other than kings. It does not refer here to the sons of kings.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they set up rulers (Revised English Bible)
-or-
they appointed other leaders ⌊in the government ⌋

but without My approval: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “but I did not know.” In this context, the phrase implies that the people chose their leaders without informing the LORD or asking him for his approval.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

without my knowledge (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
but they did not consult me

General Comment on 8:4a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

You chose kings and leaders without consulting me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The people have appointed kings and princes, but not with my consent. (New Living Translation (1996))

8:4c

With their silver and gold they make themselves idols: This verse part gives another example of Israel’s disobedience. They used their own silver and gold materials to make themselves idols to worship.

to their own destruction: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as to :

(1) It indicates that the result of making idols was destruction. For example:

Because of this, they will be destroyed. (God’s Word)
-or-
You made silver and gold idols that led to your downfall (Contemporary English Version)

(2) It indicates that the purpose of making idols was destruction. For example:

they made idols for their own destruction (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
that they may be cut off (King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The LXX supports this interpretation. This interpretation is more logical, because destruction was the normal result of idol worship. Commentaries that prefer interpretation (2) agree that the purpose of destruction was not what the people themselves intended.

their own destruction: There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) The phrase refers to someone destroying the people of Israel. For example:

you made silver and gold idols that led to your downfall. (Contemporary English Version)

(2) The phrase refers to someone destroying the idols. For example:

With their silver and gold, they have made themselves idols, but only to be destroyed. (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the Septuagint and most versions. It best fits the overall theme of the chapter (a warning that the LORD will punish Israel). It also fits the following context of 8:5 (the LORD’s anger against Israel), and the various punishments that are specified in 8:7–14).

Here are some other ways to translate 8:4c:

By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold, they have brought about their own destruction. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Of their silver and gold they have made themselves images, to their own undoing. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

© 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.