SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:14
Dales, oh SEÑOR, lo que les has de dar; dales matriz que aborte, y enjutos pechos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 9:14
Verse 14. Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give?] There is an uncommon beauty in these words. The prophet, seeing the evils that were likely to fall upon his countrymen, begins to make intercession for them; but when he had formed the first part of his petition, "Give them, O Lord!" the prophetic light discovered to him that the petition would not be answered and that God was about to give them something widely different. Then changing his petition, which the Divine Spirit had interrupted, by signifying that he must not proceed in his request, he asks the question, then, "What wilt thou give them?" and the answer is, "Give them a miscarrying womb, and dry breasts." And this he is commanded to announce. It is probable that the Israelites had prided themselves in the fruitfulness of their families, and the numerous population of their country. God now tells them that this shall be no more; their wives shall be barren, and their land cursed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give them ? etc.] The prophet foreseeing the butchery and destruction of their children, his heart ached for them; and, to show his tender affection for this people, was desirous of putting up a supplication for them; but was at a loss what to ask, their sins were so many, and so aggravated, and the decree gone forth for their destruction: or, “give them what thou wilt give them” f182 ; so Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abarbinel, what thou hast threatened before to give them, ( Hosea 9:11); do not give them to be butchered and murdered before the eyes of their parents by their enemies; but rather let them die in the womb, or as soon as born; so it follows: give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts ; the latter being a sign of the former, as physicians observe; or the words may be rendered disjunctively, give them one, or the other; that is, to the wives of the people of Israel, if they conceive, let them miscarry, prove abortive, rather than bring forth children to be destroyed in such a cruel manner by murderers; or if they bear them to the birth, and bring them forth, let their breasts be dried up, and afford no milk for their nourishment; and so die for lack of it, rather than fall into the hands of their merciless enemies: thus, of two evils, the prophet chooses and prays for the least. Some interpret this as a prediction of what would be, or an imprecation of it; but it rather seems a pathetic wish, flowing from the tender affection of the prophet, judging such a case to be preferable to the former; (see Luke 23:29); though the other sense seems best to agree with what follows, and which is favoured by the Targum, “give thou, O Lord, the recompence of their works; give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel. (Hos. 8:1-4) For their idolatry. (Hos. 8:5-10) Further threatenings for the same sins (Hos. 8:11-14) Hos. 8:1-4 When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protectio from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serv thee, and cleave to thee only?
Hos. 8:5-10 They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What the sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield n fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners wil deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. The take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they wil be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more lik the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and tha satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Thoug men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they wil be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
Hos. 8:11-14 It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and wil be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuse may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temple he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his hear against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths an precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, wil be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
תן 5414 להם יהוה 3068 מה 4100 תתן 5414 תן 5414 להם רחם 7358 משׁכיל 7921 ושׁדים 7699 צמקים׃ 6784
