Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god - in contrast to the the "inheritance" and "pleasant places" (Psalms 16:5-6) which belong to those who have "the Lord" for their "portion" (Psalms 16:5-6). The names in Hebrew for idol-gods and for sorrows are similar-a bad omen for those who choose such objects of trust х `atsªbowt (H6094), sorrows; `ªtsabiym (H6091)]; the idols being so called from the troubles which befell their votaries (Isaiah 65:14). The Hebrew for "hasten after another" х 'acheer (H312) maahaaruw (H4116)] is applied in Exodus 22:15 to buying a wife with a dowry. So it represents figuratively the idolaters purchasing their idol paramours with costly sacrifices. Whereas Yahweh, as the Husband, took the initiative in purchasing Israel to Himself out of the bondage of Egypt, the false gods gave no token of love, or, indeed, of their existence: the first advance was made (Hosea 8:9; Ezekiel 16:33-34) by their infatuated votaries in buying them at a dear cost. But a bought god could only bring sorrow, not salvation.
Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer. Not that they literally offered blood; but be means, Their drink offerings are as much my abhorrence (because offered to idols) as if they were not of wine, but of blood. The phrase is appropriate, since wine is "the blood of grapes" (Genesis 49:11).
Nor take up their names into my lips - obedience to the command, Exodus 23:13 (cf. also Hosea 2:17).