9:16a–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

16a
Ephraim is stuck down;

16b
their root is withered;

16c
they cannot bear fruit.

These lines describe the northern kingdom of Israel in its final years as a nation. The description is a metaphor that compares Israel to an injured or diseased plant that cannot reproduce.

Ephraim is struck down: In the context of this plant metaphor, struck down probably means that a disease or a pest, such as a wood rot or a worm, has injured it. The verb tense indicates certainty that this action will soon happen.

their root is withered: The root of the plant is dried up. The injury to the plant is so severe that the root has died or begun to die.

they cannot bear fruit: In this blighted and withered condition, the plant is unable to bear fruit. This line of the metaphor indicates that the people of Israel will not be able to have children.

General Comment on 9:16a–c

In this metaphor, the Hebrew text uses a combination of singular and plural forms to refer to the plant and its root. This use of both singular and plural forms to refer to a plant may be unnatural in some languages.

If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Israel is beaten down; its root is dying and it has no fruit (New Century Version)
-or-
The people of Ephraim are like sick plants. Their roots are dried up. They have no fruit. (God’s Word)

9:16d

Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs: This part of the verse adds to the previous statement in 9:16c that “they cannot bear fruit.” This clause is very similar to Hosea 9:12a that has “Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one.” This clause in 9:16d is probably another instance of the same figure of speech that is used there. It indicates how complete and serious the punishment from the LORD will be. See the note on 9:12a for more details.

they…their: In the Hebrew phrases “they bear children” and “the darlings of their wombs,” the pronouns they and their are masculine. The masculine form indicates that these phrases refer to both the men and women of Israel, not just the mothers.

slay: This word means “to cause to die, kill.”

the darlings of their wombs: The Hebrew phrase here is more literally “the precious things of their womb.” It refers to newly born babies that are precious to the people of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

beloved children (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
dear children (God’s Word)

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