John Calvin Commentary Hosea 9:14

"Give them, O Jehovah-what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts." — Hosea 9:14 (ASV)

Interpreters translate these words differently: “Give them what you are about to give,” then they repeat, “Give them.” But, in my opinion, they do not comprehend the Prophet’s design and are entirely mistaken. For the Prophet appears here as one anxious and perplexed. He therefore presents himself before God as a suppliant, as if he said, “Lord, I would gladly intercede for this people. What then should I chiefly desire for them?

Doubtless, my chief wish for them in their miserable dispersion is that you would give them a killing womb and dry breasts”—that is, that none may be born of them. Christ says that when the last destruction of Jerusalem would come, the barren would be blessed (Luke 23:29). He took this from the common doctrine of Scripture, for many such passages can be observed in the Prophets. Among the blessings of God, the birth of a numerous offspring, we know, is not the least.

It is, therefore, a sign of dreadful judgment when barrenness, which in itself is considered a curse, is desired as a special blessing. For what can be more miserable than for infants to be snatched from their mothers’ bosoms, for children to be killed before their eyes, or for pregnant women to be slain? Or for cities and fields to be consumed by fire, so that children not yet born would perish together with their mothers? Indeed, all these things happen when there is an utter destruction.

We therefore see what the Prophet chiefly meant: the people's state would be so deplorable that nothing could be more desirable than the barrenness of the women—that no offspring might be born afterward, and that the name and memory of the people might gradually be blotted out.

He has, indeed, already denounced punishments sufficiently grievous and dreadful. But we know that the stubbornness and hardness of those on whom religion has no hold are very great. Therefore, all threats were derided by that obstinate people. This is why the Prophet now takes the part of an intercessor.

“O Lord,” he adds, “Give them;” that is, “O Lord, forgive them at least in some measure, and still grant them something.” And “What will you give?” Here he reasons with himself, being, as it were, in suspense and perplexity; and he also reasons with God about what would be the most desirable thing.

“I am indeed a suppliant for my own nation, whom I pity; but what shall I ask? I would wish you, Lord, to pardon this people. But what shall be the way? What can give me comfort, or what sort of remedy still remains? Certainly, I see nothing better than that they should be barren, that none hereafter should be born of them, but that you should allow them to be consumed and die away. For this will be their chief happiness in such a deplorable condition.”

It was then the Prophet’s design here to strike hypocrites and profane men with terror, so that they might understand that God’s vengeance, which was near, could by no means be fully expressed. For it would be the best thing for them to be deprived of the blessing of an offspring, so that their infants might not perish with them, that they might not see women with child cruelly slain by their enemies, or their children led away as spoil.

So that such things as these might not take place, the Prophet says that barrenness ought to be desired by them as the chief blessing. The Prophet, I doubt not, meant this.