As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
Hosea 9:11 belongs to Hosea's warning that the northern tribes would be taken captive. In that warning Ephraim's glory would fly away like a bird, meaning it would vanish swiftly and disappear. The swiftness of a bird in flight pictures how quickly that glory would be gone.
The loss would cut off children at every stage of life, from conception and the womb to birth and infancy. Even the hope of children at conception, in the womb, and at birth would be taken away. In this way the verse portrays the loss of Ephraim's future and prosperity as part of the judgment described in Hosea.
Hosea 9:11 belongs to Hosea's warning that the northern tribes would be taken captive. In that warning Ephraim's glory would fly away like a bird, meaning it would vanish swiftly and disappear. The swiftness of a bird in flight pictures how quickly that glory would be gone.
The loss would cut off children at every stage of life, from conception and the womb to birth and infancy. Even the hope of children at conception, in the womb, and at birth would be taken away. In this way the verse portrays the loss of Ephraim's future and prosperity as part of the judgment described in Hosea.