Hosea 5:10

Authorized King James Version

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הָיוּ֙
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
שָׂרֵ֣י
The princes
a head person (of any rank or class)
#3
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#4
כְּמַסִּיגֵ֖י
were like them that remove
to retreat
#5
גְּב֑וּל
the bound
properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed
#6
עֲלֵיהֶ֕ם
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#7
אֶשְׁפּ֥וֹךְ
therefore I will pour out
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
#8
כַּמַּ֖יִם
upon them like water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#9
עֶבְרָתִֽי׃
my wrath
an outburst of passion

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection