The Meaning of Hosea 11:6 Explained

Hosea 11:6

KJV: And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

YLT: Grievous hath been the sword in his cities, And it hath ended his bars, and consumed -- from their own counsels.

Darby: and the sword shall turn about in his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

ASV: And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them , because of their own counsels.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the sword  shall abide  on his cities,  and shall consume  his branches,  and devour  [them], because of their own counsels. 

What does Hosea 11:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Enemy soldiers would swarm around Israel"s cities and break down the gate bars that secured them against foreign attack. They would consume the Israelites because of the decisions the Israelites had made to depart from the Lord (cf. Micah 6:16). These were the result, in part, of false prophets" advice. Yahweh had fed His people ( Hosea 11:4), but now the sword would feed on them (cf. Isaiah 1:19-20).

Context Summary

Hosea 11:1-11 - "bands Of Love"
This is a very tender chapter, full of moving appeals. God looks back on the happy, blessed past, as a fond parent on the innocent childhood of a son who is now causing endless pain and grief. He recapitulates the call from Egypt, and relates how, in obedience to His appeal, Israel came out of the idolatries of that country. He describes Israel as a tiny child beginning to walk, and says, I taught him to go. He compares the Israel of those days to horses or oxen, relieved of the yoke, before whom food is set. Let us remember that God is also willing to teach us to go, and to carry us when we are weary.
The blessed childhood of Israel had become like an overcast morning. They were bent on backsliding. But God's love is not easily repelled. What more pathetic words were ever uttered by broken-hearted parents than Hosea 11:8-9! That is the motive of our plea still. If we were dealing with man, we might despair. But we are dealing with One who forgives us according to the riches of His grace. If a back-slider should read these touching appeals, let him be encouraged to retrace His steps one by one, sure that the Father waits to welcome him where the by-path has broken off from the main road. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 11

1  The ingratitude of Israel unto God for his benefits
5  His judgment
8  God's mercy toward them
12  Israel's falsehood and Judah's fidelity

What do the individual words in Hosea 11:6 mean?

And shall slash the sword in his cities and Devour his districts and consume [them] because of their own counsels
וְחָלָ֥ה חֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְכִלְּתָ֥ה בַדָּ֖יו וְאָכָ֑לָה מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם

וְחָלָ֥ה  And  shall  slash 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
חֶ֙רֶב֙  the  sword 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
בְּעָרָ֔יו  in  his  cities 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
וְכִלְּתָ֥ה  and  Devour 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
בַדָּ֖יו  his  districts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
וְאָכָ֑לָה  and  consume  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם  because  of  their  own  counsels 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מֹועֵצָה  
Sense: counsel, plan, principal, device.