HEBREW WORD STUDY – IDOL –  ‘ATSAVIM עצבימ

Hosea 14:8: “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols, I have heard him and observed him, I am like a green fir tree, from me is thy fruit found. 

The Hebrew word for idol is a strange word to be used for idol. It is the word ‘atsav   ‘Atsav is rarely used in Jewish literature as idol, it is usually rendered as bringing “grief, suffering or pain.” You see the word what is mah which can also be rendered as why. I believe Ephraim was saying here: “Why should I bring pain and grief (to God).  I’ve heard Him (his cry) I have observed Him (his grief) and I want now be a tree of rest for him from this heartbreak.  He has earned my love, to love Him in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse.

Perhaps you are saying like Ephraim: “For me things are getting worse not better, I am growing poorer and not richer. Yet, can you also say: “My love for God has not changed and I will not seek another god that offers riches or promises to make things better.  I am refusing to be a fair weathered friend to God. Can you say: “I will not ‘asav, bring grief, suffering or pain.  I plan to be a true friend to God even if He doesn’t provide in the way I want.”  Because, you know what?  If you turn to anything else to supply these needs you are turning to the alternative rendering of ‘asav which is an idol which causes grief, suffering and heartbreak to God.