Hosea 9:6

Look! ¹  Even if ²  they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold ³  of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure ⁴  – thorn bushes will occupy their homes. ⁵ 

De 28:63,64; 1Sa 13:6; 2Ki 13:7; Ps 107:34; Pr 24:31; Isa 5:6; Isa 7:23; Isa 11:11; Isa 27:12; Isa 32:13; Isa 34:13; Ho 7:13; Ho 7:16; Ho 8:13; Ho 9:3; Ho 10:8; Ho 11:11; Zec 10:10,11

¹ tn The deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “Behold!”) is used frequently in prophetic announcements, introducing a solemn or important declaration, particularly in threats of judgment (BDB 244 s.v. הִנֵּה b.β). Many modern English versions leave this particle untranslated here.

² tn The conjunction כִּי (ki) introduces a concessive clause: “Although, when, if, even if” (BDB 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.β). It has a force approximating “even if” (so NIV, NCV, NRSV, CEV, NLT), but it represents a situation as more likely to occur than אִם (‘im, “if”). The concessive use of כִּי is normally followed by an imperfect, but occasionally a perfect is used, as is the case here (e.g., Mic 7:8; Nah 1:10; Pss 21:12; 119:83).

³ tn The verb קָבַץ (qavats, “to gather together”) should be nuanced “grab hold” in this context (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ). This pictures a personified Egypt taking the fugitives prisoner.

⁴ tn Heb “the treasured things of their silver”; NASB, NIV, TEV, NLT “treasures of silver.”

⁵ tn Heb “their tents” (so NIV, NRSV); CEV “your tents.”