Hosea 9:14

KJV

Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

KJV (with Strong's)

Give {H5414} them, O LORD {H3068}: what wilt thou give {H5414}? give {H5414} them a miscarrying {H7921} womb {H7358} and dry {H6784} breasts {H7699}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI, give them - what will you give? Give them wombs that miscarry and dried-up breasts!

Berean Standard Bible

Give them, O LORD— what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up!

American Standard Version

Give them, O Jehovah—what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 9:14 presents a stark and unsettling prophetic prayer from Hosea, interceding not for mercy but for a severe judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). This judgment, expressed as a "miscarrying womb and dry breasts," targets the very source of national continuity and vitality, symbolizing the complete desolation and spiritual barrenness that awaits a people who have persistently abandoned their covenant God for idolatry and unfaithfulness. The verse underscores the gravity of divine justice and the dire consequences of apostasy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 9 is a chapter deeply entrenched in the themes of Israel's persistent sin and the impending divine judgment. Following the prophet's lament over Israel's spiritual harlotry and their rejection of God's law in previous chapters, Hosea 9 details specific judgments related to their idolatrous feasts, their inability to escape God's wrath, and the loss of their land and future. Verses 10-13 recall Israel's initial faithfulness at the wilderness but quickly pivot to their subsequent rebellion at Baal-peor, highlighting their spiritual decline. Verse 14, therefore, serves as a climactic, almost rhetorical, prayer for the ultimate expression of this judgment, immediately preceding further pronouncements of God's abandonment and the cutting off of Ephraim's roots in verses 15-17. It is a prayer that echoes the certainty and severity of God's decree, rather than a plea for mitigation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hosea prophesied during the tumultuous 8th century BCE, a period of profound political instability and moral decay in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, culminating in its conquest by Assyria in 722 BCE. The nation had embraced pagan fertility cults, particularly the worship of Baal, who was believed to control rain, crops, and human fertility. This widespread idolatry was a direct affront to Yahweh, Israel's covenant God, who had promised fruitfulness and blessing as part of the [Mosaic Covenant](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). In ancient Israelite society, children, especially sons, were considered an indispensable blessing from God, a sign of divine favor, and essential for the continuation of the family line and national identity. Conversely, barrenness was often perceived as a severe curse, a sign of divine displeasure, and a profound personal and communal tragedy. Hosea's prayer for "a miscarrying womb and dry breasts" thus invokes a judgment that strikes at the very heart of their cultural values and their perceived source of prosperity, directly countering the false promises of Baal.
* **Key Themes:** Hosea 9:14 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Hosea and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment**, emphasizing God's righteous anger and unwavering justice against persistent sin and covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals that God's patience has limits, and He will indeed bring devastating consequences upon those who continually rebel against Him. Secondly, the verse underscores the **Consequences of Apostasy**, illustrating the dire outcomes of abandoning the true God for idols. Israel's spiritual adultery, vividly portrayed throughout Hosea (e.g., [Hosea 4:1-2](/hosea/4-1-2 "Hosea 4:1-2 - God's Controversy with Israel")), led to a judgment that would literally cut off their future. Thirdly, **Barrenness as a Symbol** is a crucial theme; beyond the physical curse, the inability to bear and nurture children symbolizes Israel's profound spiritual fruitlessness. They had failed to produce righteousness or worship God faithfully, and thus, their national identity and future were to be "dried up," mirroring their spiritual condition. Finally, the **Prophetic Intensity** of the prophet's plea, "Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give?", expresses the profound anguish and certainty of this divine decree, serving as a rhetorical question that emphasizes the inevitability and severity of God's chosen judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Give (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This primitive root (H5414) is repeated three times in the verse, emphasizing the directness and certainty of the divine action. While "nâthan" has a wide semantic range, from "put" to "bestow," here it signifies a decisive act of divine imposition or assignment. The repetition underscores the prophet's earnestness and the inevitability of the judgment being "given" by the Lord.
* **Miscarrying (Hebrew, _shâkôl'_):** Derived from a primitive root (H7921), "shâkôl" primarily means "to miscarry" or "suffer abortion." By extension, it signifies "to bereave" or "make childless." In this context, it refers to the tragic loss of offspring before birth, directly countering the blessing of fruitfulness and ensuring the cessation of future generations.
* **Womb (Hebrew, _rechem'_):** This noun (H7358) refers specifically to the uterus, the organ of gestation. Its mention alongside "miscarrying" directly points to the inability to carry a pregnancy to term, striking at the very core of procreation and the continuation of the family line.
* **Dry (Hebrew, _tsâmaq'_):** This primitive root (H6784) means "to dry up." When applied to "breasts," it indicates an inability to produce milk. This signifies that even if a child were to be born, it would not be able to be nourished, leading to its demise and ensuring the complete eradication of the next generation.
* **Breasts (Hebrew, _shad'_):** This noun (H7699) refers to the female breast, specifically as a source of nourishment. The phrase "dry breasts" vividly portrays the complete inability to sustain life, completing the picture of utter desolation and the cutting off of the future.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give?":** This opening phrase is a profound and rhetorically charged prayer. The prophet Hosea, deeply burdened by Israel's unfaithfulness, addresses Yahweh (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_), the self-existent covenant God. The repetition of "give" and the rhetorical question "what wilt thou give?" are not expressions of uncertainty, but rather of intense anguish and a grim certainty. It signifies that the prophet, having witnessed Israel's incorrigible rebellion, knows that only a severe judgment remains, and he is, in a sense, asking God to unleash the inevitable, emphasizing its devastating nature.
* **"give them a miscarrying womb":** This clause pronounces a specific and devastating curse. A "miscarrying womb" (Hebrew, _rechem shâkôl_) directly attacks the ability of the nation to procreate and continue its lineage. In a society where large families and offspring were seen as the primary blessing and sign of divine favor, this judgment signifies the cutting off of the future, the end of hope for national continuity, and a direct reversal of the Abrahamic covenant's promise of numerous descendants.
* **"and dry breasts.":** This final clause intensifies the curse, ensuring the complete annihilation of the next generation. "Dry breasts" (Hebrew, _tsâmaq shad_) means an inability to lactate or provide nourishment. Even if a child were miraculously born, it would be unable to survive due to lack of sustenance. Together with the miscarrying womb, this paints a picture of absolute desolation, sealing the fate of a nation whose spiritual fruitfulness had long since withered, and whose physical future would now mirror that spiritual barrenness.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 9:14 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its stark message. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, found in "what wilt thou give?" This is not a genuine inquiry but a forceful expression of the prophet's conviction regarding the certainty and severity of God's impending judgment. It heightens the dramatic tension and underscores the inevitability of the divine decree. **Metonymy** and **Symbolism** are profoundly at play with the phrases "miscarrying womb and dry breasts." These physical conditions are not merely literal curses but serve as powerful symbols for Israel's spiritual barrenness and the complete cessation of their national vitality and future. Just as they failed to produce spiritual fruit for God, they would be unable to produce physical offspring to continue their nation. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Irony**: Israel had turned to Baal, the Canaanite god of fertility, for blessings of offspring and agricultural abundance, yet it is Yahweh, the true source of life and blessing, who pronounces a curse of profound barrenness, directly countering the very blessings they sought from false gods. This serves as a grim indictment of their misplaced faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 9:14 stands as a chilling testament to the gravity of God's justice and the severe consequences of persistent covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals a God who, despite His profound mercy and desire for reconciliation, will not tolerate ongoing spiritual adultery and idolatry. The judgment of barrenness directly counters the foundational biblical promise of fruitfulness given to Abraham and reiterated throughout Israel's history, symbolizing the complete reversal of divine blessing due to their rebellion. This verse underscores the principle that sin, especially the rejection of the one true God, leads to spiritual and existential desolation, cutting off the very source of life and future. It serves as a stark reminder that God's character encompasses both boundless love and unwavering righteousness, and His justice will ultimately prevail against those who spurn His grace.

* [Deuteronomy 28:18](/deuteronomy/28-18 "Deuteronomy 28:18 - Curse of Barrenness")
* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")
* [Jeremiah 7:29](/jeremiah/7-29 "Jeremiah 7:29 - Cut Off Your Hair")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 9:14, though a prophecy of severe judgment against ancient Israel, holds profound and sobering lessons for believers today. It serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which God views spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. While we no longer face the physical curses of the Old Covenant, the principle remains: anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts—be it wealth, career, relationships, or even good works—becomes an idol that can lead to spiritual barrenness. This verse challenges us to examine our own lives for areas where we might be seeking "fertility" (blessing, satisfaction, security) from sources other than God. True spiritual fruitfulness, as described in the New Testament, flows from an intimate, obedient relationship with Christ. If our lives are not bearing the fruit of righteousness, love, joy, and peace, it may be a sign of a disconnect from the true Vine. This passage calls us to repentance, to return to the Lord with undivided hearts, recognizing that He is the sole source of life, blessing, and genuine fruitfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be seeking fulfillment or security from "idols" rather than from God alone?**
* **How does the concept of "spiritual barrenness" manifest in my own walk with Christ, and what steps can I take to cultivate greater spiritual fruitfulness?**
* **How does understanding God's justice in Hosea 9:14 deepen my appreciation for His mercy and grace extended through Christ?**

### FAQ

**Why would a prophet pray for such a harsh judgment, rather than for mercy?**

Answer: The prophet Hosea's prayer in [Hosea 9:14](/hosea/9-14 "Hosea 9:14 - A Prayer for Judgment") is not a typical intercessory prayer for mercy, but rather a prophetic utterance that reflects the certainty and severity of God's impending judgment. By this point in Israel's history, their apostasy and idolatry had become so pervasive and entrenched that repentance seemed impossible. Hosea had consistently pleaded with Israel to return to the Lord (e.g., [Hosea 6:1-3](/hosea/6-1-3 "Hosea 6:1-3 - A Call to Return to the Lord")), but they had stubbornly refused. Therefore, the prophet's prayer here is not a personal wish for harm, but a solemn acknowledgment and articulation of what God's righteous justice demands. It's an expression of divine decree through the prophet's lips, emphasizing the inevitability of the consequences for persistent rebellion against the covenant God. It highlights the prophet's anguish and the depth of Israel's sin, which had reached a point where only such a devastating judgment could serve God's just purposes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 9:14, with its stark imagery of barrenness and judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a literal curse upon believers, but in the profound spiritual realities revealed through the Gospel. Israel's physical barrenness was a consequence of their spiritual unfaithfulness, a failure to bear the fruit of righteousness for God. In Christ, the curse of spiritual barrenness is decisively broken. Humanity, dead in sin and spiritually unfruitful (as described in [Ephesians 2:1-3](/ephesians/2-1-3 "Ephesians 2:1-3 - Dead in Sin")), was under the judgment of God. However, Jesus, the true Vine (as He declares in [John 15:1-5](/john/15-1-5 "John 15:1-5 - Jesus the True Vine")), came to enable true spiritual fruitfulness. He bore the curse of the law and the judgment for sin on the cross, becoming a curse for us (as seen in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). Through His sacrifice and resurrection, those who are united with Him are made spiritually alive and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of righteousness, love, and obedience (as outlined in [Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, the judgment of barrenness, which signified the cutting off of a rebellious people, gives way in Christ to the promise of abundant spiritual life and the continuation of God's family through spiritual rebirth, ensuring that His people are no longer fruitless but are eternally fruitful in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 23:29

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Luke 21:23

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Mark 13:17

But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

Hosea 9:16

Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay [even] the beloved [fruit] of their womb.

1 Corinthians 7:26

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be.

Hosea 9:13

Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, [is] planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

Matthew 24:19

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!