Bible Strands
Hosea 9:12
Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Ephraim (Israel) amid a declared collapse of fertility and national glory, immediately following the announcement that their political and reproductive strength will vanish.
The words — The text records יְגַדְּלוּ (ye.ga.de.Lu), "they will bring up," contrasted with שִׁכַּלְתִּי (shi.kal.Ti), "I will bereave," establishing that human child-rearing is met with divine stripping of every single offspring.
The thread — This pattern of bereavement and divine withdrawal runs through Hosea 7:13, Hosea 9:16, and Deuteronomy 31:17, where rebellion consistently triggers God’s hidden face and the destruction of progeny.
Why it lands — The passage states that even successful human efforts to raise children cannot prevent God’s judgment, forcing the reader to acknowledge that legacy and security are nullified when divine presence is withdrawn.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
Cross-references
- Hosea 7:13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me.
- Hosea 9:16 Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.
- Deuteronomy 31:17 On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’
- Deuteronomy 32:25 Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.
- Numbers 26:65 For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- Deuteronomy 28:32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, while your eyes grow weary looking for them day after day, with no power in your hand.
- Deuteronomy 28:41 You will father sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, because they will go into captivity.
- Judges 4:16 Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.
- 1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.
- 1 Samuel 28:15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”