10:7

Samaria will be carried off with her king like a twig on the surface of the water: This clause is a simile. It compares the king of Samaria to a piece of wood or floating debris that a river or ocean current carries away. The simile is probably a figurative way to describe the king of Israel when the Assyrians defeat him and take him into exile. He is helpless and unable to escape.

The clause is literally “[will] be destroyed Samaria its king like a twig on [the] surface of [the] waters.” There are three main interpretations of this clause:

(1) Samaria’s king will be destroyed. The Hebrew phrase “Samaria her king” means the “king of Samaria.” For example:

The king of Samaria will be carried away, like a piece of wood on water. (God’s Word)

(2) Samaria will be destroyed. The Hebrew text should be understood as two clauses. The first clause says, “Samaria will be destroyed.” The second clause says, “Its king [will be] like a twig on the surface of the waters.” For example:

Israel will be destroyed; its king will be like a chip of wood floating on the water. (New Century Version)

(3) Both Samaria and Samaria’s king will be destroyed. The Hebrew text should be understood to say, “Samaria [and] her king.” For example:

Samaria and its king will be carried off like a twig on the surface of the waters. (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries.

will be carried off: The Hebrew word is literally “will be destroyed.” It is a passive form of the word that means “destroy” or “perish.” It refers to a violent end.

Here the word may refer to the death of a specific king. Or the word may refer to the end of the monarchy in Israel. There would be no future kings of Israel.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

Samaria’s king shall perish (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Their king will be carried off (Good News Translation)
-or-
The king of Samaria shall disappear (New American Bible)

twig: The Hebrew word for twig has two main interpretations:

(1) The word means a piece of wood. The same word is in Joel 1:7, where it describes a fig tree. For example:

The king of Samaria will be carried away like a piece of wood on water. (God’s Word)

(2) The word means foam/froth. The word is related to a verb that means, “to be angry.” Here it refers to the churning of water that produces foam/froth. For example:

As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. (King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions. It has good support from Joel 1:7 and other related Hebrew words.

Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

Like a stick on the surface of the water (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
like a chip of wood floating on the water. (New Century Version)

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