The Meaning of Hosea 10:7 Explained

Hosea 10:7

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

YLT: Cut off is Samaria! Its king is as a chip on the face of the waters.

Darby: As for Samaria her king is cut off as chips upon the face of the waters.

ASV: As for'samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Hosea 10:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Assyrians would also remove the Israelites (Samaria) along with their king. They would be swept away like a twig floating on the surface of a fast-moving stream. They would be helpless, totally at the mercy of the Assyrians.
"The three centers of authority in the North were king, cult, and capital city. The final two verses of the passage announce the fulfillment of covenant sanctions against each of these, beginning in Hosea 10:7 a with the capital." [1]

Context Summary

Hosea 10:1-15 - "break Up Your Fallow Ground"
Israel brought forth fruit, but not such as God could delight in. It was corrupt and evil. How great a disappointment to the Great Cultivator! The land was covered with obelisks and altars, the symbols of idolatry, and the Canaanites themselves had not been more shameless in sin. But notice the terrible judgments that must befall. There would be revolution, for when men say, We fear not the Lord, they will go on to say, We fear not the king. Beth-aven, the "house of vanity," would replace Beth-el, the "house of God." The golden calves would be carried off by the conqueror. The king would perish as foam upon the water. The yoke of conquest would be placed on Ephraim's fair neck. The fortresses of Israel would be carried by assault, with all the accompaniments of savage warfare. Is it not "an evil thing and bitter" to forsake the Lord!
Is it not time that we should look into our hearts and lives, break up the fallow ground, now covered with thorns and thistles, and begin to sow in righteousness? Let us ask God to drive the plowshares of deep soul-searching and conviction across the hard and sterile acres of our hearts, and sow them with His good seed. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 10

1  Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry,
12  and exhorted to repentance

What do the individual words in Hosea 10:7 mean?

Is cut off [As for] Samaria her king Like a twig on on the water
נִדְמֶ֥ה שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מַלְכָּ֑הּ כְּקֶ֖צֶף עַל־ פְּנֵי־ מָֽיִם

נִדְמֶ֥ה  Is  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּמָה 
Sense: to cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy, perish.
שֹׁמְר֖וֹן  [As  for]  Samaria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׁמְרֹון  
Sense: the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the 0 tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam.
מַלְכָּ֑הּ  her  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
כְּקֶ֖צֶף  Like  a  twig 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶצֶף 
Sense: wrath, anger.
מָֽיִם  the  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.