Hosea 9:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hosea, overwhelmed, prays that if judgment must fall it would be the lesser grief of childlessness rather than children born only to be slain.
What Does Hosea 9:14 Mean?
The prophet breaks into prayer, almost at a loss for words. Seeing that children of this generation are destined for the murderer, he asks the LORD for what seems a terrible mercy: a barren womb and dry breasts. Better, he reasons, that children not be born at all than be brought forth only to face slaughter. It is a cry wrung from a heart caught between judgment and compassion.
This raw prayer shows a prophet who feels the coming sorrow deeply, longing to soften an unbearable outcome. It reveals how grief over sin and its consequences moves the faithful to intercede. Even in pronouncing hard words, Hosea's heart breaks for the people, mirroring the God who takes no pleasure in the death of anyone. Such tender wrestling before the Lord points to the greater intercessor who pleads for sinners still.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 9:14
What does Hosea 9:14 mean?
Hosea, overwhelmed, prays that if judgment must fall it would be the lesser grief of childlessness rather than children born only to be slain.