Hosea 9:6
For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 14
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הָֽלְכוּ֙
For lo they are gone
H1980
הָֽלְכוּ֙
For lo they are gone
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
3 of 14
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
מַחְמַ֣ד
them the pleasant
H4261
מַחְמַ֣ד
them the pleasant
Strong's:
H4261
Word #:
9 of 14
delightful; hence, a delight, i.e., object of affection or desire
לְכַסְפָּ֗ם
places for their silver
H3701
לְכַסְפָּ֗ם
places for their silver
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
10 of 14
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
יִֽירָשֵׁ֔ם
shall possess
H3423
יִֽירָשֵׁ֔ם
shall possess
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
12 of 14
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
Cross References
Hosea 10:8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.Isaiah 5:6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.Isaiah 7:23And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.Hosea 9:3They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.Hosea 8:13They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.Hosea 7:16They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Historical Context
Some Israelites fled to Egypt after Assyrian pressure (Jeremiah records similar Judean flight, Jeremiah 42-44). Many died there, buried in Memphis. Meanwhile, Israel became desolate - thorns overgrowing homes. Archaeological evidence shows 8th century abandonment of sites. This fulfilled covenant curse: enjoying others' labor, losing your own (Deuteronomy 28:30-33). Modern application: fleeing God's discipline into worldly refuge (Egypt) leads to death and loss. Only submitting to divine discipline brings restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- What Egypts (worldly refuges) am I fleeing to instead of submitting to God's discipline?
- How does imagery of pleasant places overtaken by thorns warn about consequences of abandoning God's ways?
Analysis & Commentary
For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles. Prophecy of exile death: Egypt gathers (collects bodies), Memphis (Egyptian city) buries them. Pleasant places (homes) become overgrown with nettles and thorns - complete desolation. Reverses promised land blessings to curse imagery (Genesis 3:18, thorns/thistles). Only Christ removes curse, creating new creation where curse exists no more (Revelation 22:3).