Hosea 9:12

12 Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. Woe to them when I turn away from them!

Hosea 9:12 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them till none is left. Woe to them when I depart from them!
New Living Translation (NLT)
12 Even if you do have children who grow up, I will take them from you. It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone.
The Message Bible (MSG)
12 Even if they did give birth, I'd declare them unfit parents and take away their children! Yes indeed - a black day for them when I turn my back and walk off!
American Standard Version (ASV)
12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, so that not a man shall be left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
12 Even if they bring up children, I will take those children away before they grow up. Yes, how horrible it will be for them when I leave them.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
12 Even if they raise children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
12 But suppose they do have children. Then I will kill every one of them. How terrible it will be for them when I turn away from them!"

Hosea 9:12 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 9:12

Though they bring up their children
Though this be the case of some, as to be conceived, carried in the womb to the full time, and be born, and brought up to a more adult age, and appear very promising to live, and perpetuate the names of their fathers and their families: yet will I bereave them;
their parents of them, by the sword, famine, pestilence, or by carrying them captive into a foreign country: [that there shall] not [be] a man [left];
in the whole land of Israel, but all shall be destroyed, or carried captive; or, "from men" F9; that is, either from being men, as the Targum; though they are brought up to some ripeness, and a more adult age than others, yet arrive not to such a time and age as to be called men, as Kimchi observes; or from being among men, being either taken away by death, or removed from the society of men to live among beasts, and to he slaves like them: yea, woe also to them, when I depart from them;
withdraw my presence, favour, and protection from them; or remove my Shechinah from them, as the Targum; and leave them to the spoil and cruelty of their enemies, which would be a greater calamity and judgment than the former. The Septuagint, and so Theodotion, render it, "woe is to them, my flesh is of them"; which some of the ancients interpret of the incarnation of Christ, not considering that the words are spoken of Ephraim, or the ten tribes; whereas the Messiah was to spring, and did, from the family of David, and tribe of Judah.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Mdam) "ab homine", Montanus, Tigurine version, Schmidt; "ut non sint homines", Pagninus.

Hosea 9:12 In-Context

10 “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.
11 Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.
12 Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. Woe to them when I turn away from them!
13 I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer.”
14 Give them, LORD— what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.

Cross References 3

  • 1. ver 16; S Ezekiel 24:21
  • 2. Hosea 7:13
  • 3. S Deuteronomy 31:17
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