Hosea 9:10-11

9:10 When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness.

I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season.

Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame –

they became as detestable as what they loved.

The Fertility Worshipers Will Become Infertile

9:11 Ephraim will be like a bird;

what they value will fly away.

They will not bear children –

they will not enjoy pregnancy –

they will not even conceive!

Hosea 9:16

9:16 Ephraim will be struck down

their root will be dried up;

they will not yield any fruit.

Even if they do bear children,

I will kill their precious offspring.


tn Heb “fathers”; a number of more recent English versions use the more general “ancestors” here.

tn Heb “their glory” (so NASB); TEV “Israel’s greateness.”

tn Heb “no childbearing, no pregnancy, no conception.” The preposition מִן (min) prefixed to the three parallel nouns functions in a privative sense, indicating deprivation (BDB 583 s.v. מִן 7).

tn Or perhaps, following the plant metaphor, “will be blighted” (NIV similar).