Revised Standard Version, following the Hebrew, begins this verse with the pronoun They, but since this is the beginning of a new paragraph or stanza, Good News Translation makes the subject specific, saying “My people.” A more specific reference can be “The Israelites.” Good News Translation also has a double quote mark at the beginning of this verse to indicate that the LORD is still speaking. Since this is the beginning of a new section, adding the quote frame “The LORD says” may be helpful.
They made kings … They set up princes refers to the process of selecting leaders and putting them in charge. Again, the Hebrew word for princes does not refer to descendants of the royal family, but to political leaders (see comments on 3.4 and 7.3). Bible en français courant uses the term “ministers.”
But not through me … but without my knowledge: 1 Sam 10.17-24 and 16.1-13, stories of the anointing of Saul and David, provide examples of how Yahweh was involved in the selection of a king. For Israel to select kings and other leaders without involving Yahweh was equivalent to idolatry, even if they consulted no other deity. Hence the accusation of idolatry in the second half of this verse. Israel’s history shows ten different dynasties, every one of which ended with the killing of the king—for reasons of political ambition, of course, not because of consulting Yahweh.
But not through me follows the Hebrew closely, and can be expressed as “but not in consultation with me.” Good News Translation‘s “but they did it on their own” expresses the idea positively but fails to express the Hebrew text’s complaint of no consultation with God. Bible en français courant is better: “but without asking my advice.” Another possible model is “without my will.”
But without my knowledge may give the wrong impression that God was ignorant of the appointment of the leaders. The Hebrew is literally “and I did not know.” Good News Translation says “but without my approval.” Bible en français courant is even better with “but without keeping me informed,” placing emphasis on Israel’s failure, not God’s ignorance.
With their silver and gold they made idols: Silver and gold were the materials used for making the idols (see 2.8). Their silver and gold is literally “their silver and their gold,” which emphasizes that the Israelites provided these materials. Contemporary English Version loses this emphasis by saying simply “you made idols of gold and silver.” Jerusalem Bible keeps it with “Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols.” For the Hebrew word rendered idols, see 4.17.
For their own destruction is literally “so that it might be cut off.” The Hebrew conjunction rendered for (“so that”) is used normally for introducing an intentional purpose on the part of the actor. In this context it introduces a negative result, which provides a touch of irony. The pronoun “it” makes the interpretation of this line difficult, but it is clear that Israel’s manufacture and worship of idols will lead to God’s judgment. This pronoun can refer to the kingdom of Israel, the idols, or the silver and gold. The translator is free to select any one of these. Since the last thing mentioned in the previous line is the idols of silver and gold, that seems more likely to be the intended thing to be destroyed. New Jerusalem Bible says “With their silver and gold, they have made themselves idols, but only to be destroyed,” which is somewhat ambiguous, reflecting the problem of the original, but can be understood to refer to the destruction of the idols rather than the people. Bible en français courant has an exclamation: “They take their money, their gold, to make idols. An excellent way to lose it [the money]!” It captures the irony well. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes use of an idiomatic expression: “Their silver and gold they lay upon [that is, invest in] idols—thus it [their money] is most safely lost!” This tone of irony reappears in 8.6-7.
A translation model for this verse is:
• The LORD says, “The Israelites appointed kings, but without my will;
they chose leaders, but without my consent.
They have made idols out of their silver and gold,
a sure way to have it destroyed.
Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .