Hosea 10:6

Authorized King James Version

PDF

It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

Original Language Analysis

גַּם H1571
גַּם
Strong's: H1571
Word #: 1 of 13
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
אוֹתוֹ֙ H853
אוֹתוֹ֙
Strong's: H853
Word #: 2 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לְאַשּׁ֣וּר unto Assyria H804
לְאַשּׁ֣וּר unto Assyria
Strong's: H804
Word #: 3 of 13
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
יוּבָ֔ל It shall be also carried H2986
יוּבָ֔ל It shall be also carried
Strong's: H2986
Word #: 4 of 13
properly, to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)
מִנְחָ֖ה for a present H4503
מִנְחָ֖ה for a present
Strong's: H4503
Word #: 5 of 13
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
לְמֶ֣לֶךְ to king H4428
לְמֶ֣לֶךְ to king
Strong's: H4428
Word #: 6 of 13
a king
יָרֵ֑ב Jareb H3377
יָרֵ֑ב Jareb
Strong's: H3377
Word #: 7 of 13
jareb, a symbolical name for assyria
בָּשְׁנָה֙ shame H1317
בָּשְׁנָה֙ shame
Strong's: H1317
Word #: 8 of 13
shamefulness
אֶפְרַ֣יִם Ephraim H669
אֶפְרַ֣יִם Ephraim
Strong's: H669
Word #: 9 of 13
ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
יִקָּ֔ח shall receive H3947
יִקָּ֔ח shall receive
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 10 of 13
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וְיֵב֥וֹשׁ shall be ashamed H954
וְיֵב֥וֹשׁ shall be ashamed
Strong's: H954
Word #: 11 of 13
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל and Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל and Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 12 of 13
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מֵעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ of his own counsel H6098
מֵעֲצָתֽוֹ׃ of his own counsel
Strong's: H6098
Word #: 13 of 13
advice; by implication, plan; also prudence

Analysis & Commentary

Tribute to Assyria: 'It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.' The calves carried to Assyria as מִנְחָה (minchah, gift/tribute) to king Jareb (מֶלֶךְ יָרֵב, likely 'great king'). Result: Ephraim receives בֹּשֶׁת (boshet, shame); Israel ashamed of עֲצָתוֹ (atsato, his counsel). This demonstrates that trusting created things rather than Creator produces shame. What they worshiped becomes tribute to enemies. Only Christ brings honor, not shame (Romans 10:11, 1 Peter 2:6).

Historical Context

Assyrian policy included plundering defeated nations' religious objects—both demonstrating gods' powerlessness and enriching Assyrian temples. Carrying Israel's calves to Assyria fulfilled this pattern. The 'shame' involves public humiliation: their gods proven powerless, their strategies failed, their counsels (political and religious) exposed as foolish. 'King Jareb' (8:9, 10:6) likely means 'great king,' Assyrian imperial title. Archaeological evidence confirms Assyrian practice of displaying conquered peoples' cult objects. This demonstrated that idols cannot save worshipers—instead becoming evidence of defeat and sources of shame.

Questions for Reflection