9:6a
For even if they flee destruction: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “for look/behold they have gone from devastation.” Hosea uses the past tense “have gone” here to indicate that fulfillment of this prophecy is absolutely certain. Some versions use past tense. For example:
What a scene of devastation they have left! (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
For look, the people have fled from a scene of devastation (Revised English Bible)
In most languages, it will be clearer to use non-past or future verbs as Hebrew does in 9:6b–e. The meaning lines in the Display will do the same.
This verse part means that when their enemy destroys their cities and land, the people of Israel who are still alive will try to escape. But if they do escape, the event(s) in 6:b-c will still happen.
Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:
Even if they escape without being destroyed (God’s Word)
-or-
When the disaster comes and the people are scattered (Good News Translation)
In Hebrew, the first two words of this clause are literally “For look,” as in the Revised English Bible quoted above.
The word For introduces the reason the people will not be able to celebrate their feasts (see 9:5). It is because Israel will be destroyed, and the people who escape the destruction will never live there again. For example:
For even if they escape destruction (New Revised Standard Version)
The word “look” draws attention to the statement that follows it. Some versions translate the word literally here. For example:
Look ! Even if they flee from the destruction (NET Bible)
Some English versions leave the words For and “look” implied.
9:6b–c
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
6b
Egypt will gather them
6c and Memphis will bury them.
These lines indicate that the people of Israel will die in a land that is foreign to them. Egypt and Memphis probably refer indirectly here to Israel’s past, when the people died in the foreign land of Egypt. Hosea compares their future exile and death in Assyria to their slavery and death in Egypt in the past. This is similar to 9:3b.
9:6b
Egypt will gather them: There are two ways to interpret the word gather here:
(1) It refers here to gathering people together to be punished. They will be captured and sent/guided to their destination in exile. The captives will later die in exile and be buried. For example:
Egypt will capture them (New Century Version)
-or-
Egypt will round them up (New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) It refers here to gathering up dead bodies. The bodies will then be buried. For example:
Egypt will gather them up (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
The Egyptians will gather them up—gather them for burial… (Good News Translation)
The Display will follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It fits better with the preceding context in chapter 8 and with 9:6a. However, interpretation (2) fits better with the parallel phrase “will bury them.” Whichever interpretation you follow, it is suggested that you put the other interpretation in a footnote.
9:6c
and Memphis will bury them: Memphis was an important city in the country of Egypt. It was well known for its large burial grounds and pyramid tombs.
Hosea describes Memphis as if it is a person who buries dead bodies. This is a figure of speech (personification). In some languages, it may not be clear or natural to say that a country or a city buries people.
Here are some other ways to express the meaning:
Memphis will be their grave (Revised English Bible)
-or-
they will be buried in ⌊the city/graveyards of ⌋ Memphis
-or-
⌊ the people of⌋Memphis will bury them
9:6d–e
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
6d
Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles,
6e and thorns will overrun their tents.
These lines describe what will happen to the former possessions and property of the people of Israel after the Assyrians take the people into exile. It will be abandoned and weeds will grow there.
9:6d
Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “nettles will take possession of their treasure of silver.” Normally it is people who take possession of things. However, in this clause, it is thorny weeds that figuratively take possession of the treasures of the people.
Their precious silver: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as precious refers to something that is pleasant or desirable. The Hebrew word for silver can refer to literal silver or money. Here the phrase precious silver may be a figure of speech that refers to wealth. Either way, it refers to treasures that are precious to the people.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
the silver they treasure (NET Bible)
thistles: In Hebrew, this word means “thistle” or “nettle.” These are thorny weeds.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver (English Standard Version)
-or-
Weeds will grow over their silver treasures. (God’s Word)
9:6e
and thorns will overrun their tents: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “thorn[s] [will be] in their tents.” The Hebrew word for tents can also mean “dwellings.” It probably refers to the former homes of the people of Israel. Thorns will grow where their homes were once located.
thorns: In Hebrew, this word means “brier” or “bramble.” It is a thorny weed similar to “nettle” in the previous clause.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Thorns will grow over their tents. (God’s Word)
-or-
and thorn-bushes ⌊will ⌋ invade their homesteads (New Jerusalem Bible)
General Comment on 9:6d–e
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts in these two lines. See 9:6d–e (combined/reordered) in the Display for an example.
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