Hosea 10 7

Hosea 10:7 kjv

As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

Hosea 10:7 nkjv

As for Samaria, her king is cut off Like a twig on the water.

Hosea 10:7 niv

Samaria's king will be destroyed, swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

Hosea 10:7 esv

Samaria's king shall perish like a twig on the face of the waters.

Hosea 10:7 nlt

Samaria and its king will be cut off;
they will float away like driftwood on an ocean wave.

Hosea 10 verses

Hosea 10 7 meaning

Hosea 10:7 foretells the utter destruction and swift disappearance of the king of Samaria, symbolic of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The vivid imagery compares the king's demise to an ephemeral element like foam, froth, or a fragile splinter on the water's surface, which is effortlessly swept away, indicating complete insignificance and a swift, irreversible end to his power and rule under divine judgment.

Hosea 10 7 Context

Hosea 10 is part of the prophet's denouncement of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) for its spiritual infidelity and idolatry, which will inevitably lead to its destruction. The chapter specifically details Israel's reliance on their own strength, their accumulation of wealth through unrighteousness, and their rejection of God's law. Verse 7 speaks of the king of Samaria in the present or very near future, signifying the imminent collapse of the monarchy itself. Historically, the Northern Kingdom experienced immense political instability, with several kings overthrown or assassinated. The period leading up to the Assyrian conquest (722 BCE), when Hosea prophesied, was marked by such turmoil. This verse directly foreshadows the ultimate removal of Israel's human leadership as God's judgment sweeps away their corrupt system.

Hosea 10 7 Word analysis

• Samaria's (שֹׁמְר֥וֹן - Shomron): This refers to the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, strategically located and highly fortified. It represents not just the city itself but the entire apostate kingdom and its governing power, embodying their idolatry and political instability. The judgment on "Samaria" implies the judgment on all that it stands for—its false religion, unrighteous kingship, and alliances against Yahweh.
• king (מַלְכָּ֖הּ - malkah): The Hebrew word includes the suffix "-ah," meaning "her king" or "its king," explicitly referring to the sovereign ruler of Samaria/Israel. This singles out the leadership as a primary target of divine wrath, not just the general populace. It highlights the failure of the human monarchy in Israel to uphold the covenant with God, often characterized by idolatry, political maneuvering, and trust in foreign powers rather than Yahweh.
• is cut off (נִדְמֶ֑ה - nidmeh): From the Hebrew root damah (דָּמָה), meaning "to be silent," "cease," "be destroyed," "cut off," or "perish." This is a Niphal (passive) perfect verb, indicating a completed action, as if it has already occurred due to its certainty. It conveys a sense of finality and utter destruction, implying that God is the agent of this termination. It is not just removal but an end to existence as a ruling entity.
• like a twig / as foam (כְּקֶ֥צֶף - ke'qeṣeph):
  • כְּ (ke'-): The prefix means "like" or "as," introducing a simile.
  • קֶצֶף (qeṣeph): This term most commonly means "foam," "froth," "scum," or "splinter" in some contexts. The image is of something incredibly light, insubstantial, fragile, and easily dispersed. It lacks permanence, power, or value. While "twig" (often chosen in translations) emphasizes a broken piece of something, the more primary meaning "foam" highlights its evanescence, being nothing more than air bubbles easily dissolved. Both meanings convey insignificance and swift disappearance, which contrasts sharply with the king's presumed authority. This imagery profoundly underscores the futility and powerlessness of Samaria's king against God's decree.
• on the surface of (עַל־ פְּנֵי־ - ʿal-pene-): This phrase explicitly indicates the ephemeral nature of the qeṣeph atop the water, visible but not deeply rooted or stable. "On the face of" emphasizes the superficiality and exposed nature of the king's rule—it has no lasting foundation.
• the waters (מָֽיִם - mayim): "Waters" in biblical imagery can represent vast, powerful, and often chaotic or destructive forces (e.g., a flood, the sea). In this context, it represents the overwhelming judgment and destruction that is about to sweep away Samaria's king, making his presence on the surface utterly inconsequential and transient. He is utterly defenseless against these forces.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Samaria's king is cut off: This establishes the direct target and the certain outcome. The focus is on the institution of kingship in Samaria, which God views as corrupt and due for abolition. The "cutting off" speaks of divine decisive action, terminating their reign.
• like a twig on the surface of the waters: This entire simile emphasizes the complete insignificance, fragility, and ephemerality of the king's power. Just as a piece of foam or a small twig cannot withstand a flowing body of water, but is effortlessly carried away, so too will Samaria's king and his rule be utterly undone, leaving no trace or power. The contrast between a king (expected to be powerful) and something so insubstantial highlights the utter impotence of human rule when confronted by divine judgment.

Hosea 10 7 Bonus section

The metaphor used in Hosea 10:7, comparing a powerful entity to something insubstantial on water, has roots in ancient Near Eastern thought, where vast waters often symbolized chaos or unstoppable forces. For Israel, the consistent instability of their monarchy—marked by frequent assassinations and coups—makes this prophecy particularly poignant. Each successive king built his power on shaky ground, without divine legitimacy or a faithful covenant. This verse serves not just as a prophecy but also as a polemic against any notion that their kings held inherent or divinely-guaranteed stability apart from their faithfulness to Yahweh. The Assyrian conquest, which followed shortly after Hosea's prophecies, concretely fulfilled this imagery, literally sweeping away the Samarian monarchy and its last king, Hoshea, into oblivion.

Hosea 10 7 Commentary

Hosea 10:7 vividly encapsulates the coming divine judgment upon Israel's corrupt monarchy. Through the striking simile of "Samaria's king" being "cut off like a twig on the surface of the waters" (or "as foam"), the verse underscores the utter insignificance, fragility, and transience of human power, particularly when it stands in defiance of God. The imagery implies that the king's demise will be swift, effortless for God, and leave no lasting legacy or mark, disappearing as utterly as froth on a stream. It reflects God's complete sovereignty over human rulers and kingdoms, reducing the once-powerful king to a mere object of divine discard. This swift end serves as a stark warning against false trust in human leaders or systems and highlights the consequences of chronic spiritual unfaithfulness that plagued the Northern Kingdom, ultimately leading to its fall and the exile of its people.