Hosea 8:11

Because Rather, For. It is a justification of the foregoing threat.

hath made many altars to sin In times of national trouble, sacrifices were multiplied, to propitiate the national God (comp. Isaiah 1:11). But as no corresponding effort was made to purify the conduct and the character, such sacrifices did but increase the load of the national guilt. Instead of -many sacrifices", Hosea says -many altars" because there was even less attempt in the times of Hosea and Isaiah to centralize worship in the northern kingdom than in the southern. The strict rule of Deuteronomy (one temple and one altar) seems at present far removed from the general consciousness. See Introduction, part v.

altars shall be unto him to sin Rather, ( yea,) altars are to him for sinning ( thereby). There is no unfairness on Jehovah's part; Israel cannot pretend ignorance of His will.