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.

For, lo, they are gone {H1980} because of destruction {H7701}: Egypt {H4714} shall gather them up {H6908}, Memphis {H4644} shall bury {H6912} them: the pleasant {H4261} places for their silver {H3701}, nettles {H7057} shall possess {H3423} them: thorns {H2336} shall be in their tabernacles {H168}.

For suppose they escape the destruction - Egypt will round them up, Memphis will bury them. And their precious treasures of silver? Nettles will possess them, thorns will be in their tents.

For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents.

For, lo, they are gone away from destruction; yet Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them; their pleasant things of silver, nettles shall possess them; thorns shall be in their tents.

Commentary

Hosea 9:6 delivers a stark prophecy of judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often referred to as Ephraim, detailing the devastating consequences of their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. The verse paints a vivid picture of their impending exile and the desolation of their once-cherished land and homes.

Context of Hosea 9:6

The prophet Hosea ministered to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) during a period of spiritual decline and political instability, just before its fall to Assyria in 722 BC. Israel had repeatedly turned away from their covenant with Yahweh, engaging in idolatry and seeking alliances with foreign nations like Egypt, rather than trusting in God. This verse specifically addresses the ironic and tragic fate awaiting those who had sought refuge or strength outside of God's will. Their flight from Assyrian destruction would lead them not to safety, but to further ruin, fulfilling prophecies of their scattering (Deuteronomy 28:64).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse underscores the certainty of God's judgment upon His people for their unfaithfulness. "They are gone because of destruction" points to the inevitable outcome of their rebellion. This reflects the broader biblical principle that what one sows, one will reap.
  • Ironic Exile and Desecration: Israel frequently looked to Egypt for political and military support, often against God's direct command (see Isaiah 30:1 and Isaiah 31:1). Here, Egypt becomes their unwitting captor and burial ground. "Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them" signifies a dishonorable death and burial in a foreign land, a stark contrast to their ancestral burial places. Memphis was a prominent ancient Egyptian city, known for its vast necropolis.
  • Desolation of Homes and Possessions: The phrase "the pleasant [places] for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns [shall be] in their tabernacles" vividly portrays the utter ruin of their former lives. Their valuable possessions and luxurious homes, perhaps acquired through unjust means, would be abandoned. Their ill-gotten gains would be left behind. "Nettles" and "thorns" are common biblical symbols of desolation, neglect, and the wild reclaiming what was once cultivated, signifying that their once-beautiful dwellings would become uninhabitable.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for "nettles" (qimmosh) and "thorns" (choach) are consistently used in prophetic literature to denote barrenness, ruin, and the consequences of divine judgment. They paint a picture of land and homes overgrown and abandoned, emphasizing the completeness of the desolation.

Practical Application

Hosea 9:6 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • Consequences of Disobedience: God's warnings are serious, and there are real, often severe, consequences for persistent sin and rebellion against His will.
  • False Security: Seeking security or solutions outside of God's provision and guidance inevitably leads to disappointment and destruction. Israel's reliance on Egypt proved futile and ironic.
  • Call to Repentance: While this verse details judgment, the broader message of Hosea is one of God's enduring love and call to repentance (Hosea 14:1). It encourages believers to examine where they place their trust and to ensure their hope is firmly rooted in God alone.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 10:8

    The 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 5:6

    And 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.

  • Hosea 9:3

    They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria.

  • Hosea 8:13

    They 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.

  • Isaiah 7:23

    And 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 7:16

    They 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.

  • Isaiah 27:12

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.
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