Hos 9:6 | NETfull | STEP | Look! Even if they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure

Hosea 9:6

No Escape for the Israelites This Time!

6 Look! ^{▼▼ 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.} Even if ^{▼▼ 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).} they flee from the destruction,
Egypt will take hold ^{▼▼ 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.} of them,
and Memphis will bury them.
The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure ^{▼▼ Heb “the treasured things of their silver”; NASB, NIV, TEV, NLT “treasures of silver.”} –
thorn bushes will occupy their homes. ^{▼▼ Heb “their tents” (so NIV, NRSV); CEV “your tents.”}