Book of Hosea Chapter 2 Vs. 6

 Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished

Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. Hos 2:6

Therefore,...

כֵּן

kēn: A word that is used either as an adverb or adjective, depending on the context of the sentence. The word is derived from the verb meaning to stand upright or to establish. As an adjective, it means correct, according to an established standard (Num. 27:7); upright and honest (Gen. 42:11); it is used as a statement of general agreement (Gen. 44:10; Jos. 2:21). As an adverb, it is usually translated as "thus" or "so" but conveys quality (Est. 4:16; Job 9:35; Nam. 1:12); quantity (Jdg. 21:14); cause and effect (Jdg. 10:13; Isa. 5:24); or time (Neh. 2:16).

behold,...

הִנֵּה

hinnēh: A interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. It is used often and expresses strong feelings, surprise, hope, expectation, certainty, thus giving vividness depending on its surrounding context. Its main meanings can only be summarized briefly here: It stresses a following word referring to persons or things (Gen. 12:19; 15:17; 18:9). It is used to answer, with the first person suffix attached, when one is called (Gen. 22:1, 22:7; 27:1; Exo. 3:4; 1Sam. 3:4). It is used of God's response (Isa. 52:6; 58:9; 65:1). It indicates a call to realize something God or others have done (Gen. 1:29; 17:20). It is followed with a particle of entreaty nā’ when a request is involved (Gen. 12:11; 16:2; 1Kgs. 20:31). It can call attention to something about to happen, a future reference (Exo. 32:34; 34:10). It is used to announce the Lord's sending of a child as a sign (Isa.. 7:14). The word adds vividness and emotional involvement for the reader: "Behold, it was very good" (NASB) (Gen. 1:31; 6:12; 8:13; 18:2; 37:7; Amos 7:1; 8:1). Finally, it is used to introduce a formula of challenge (Jer. 21:13). In a few passages, it has the sense of if (Lev. 13:5-6, 13:8; Deu. 13:14,15; 1Sam. 20:12).

I will hedge up... The prediction is that she would not be happy and successful in her life of harlotry—she would long for her husband again and return to him (Hos. 2:6-8). I will erect impassable barriers that shall pierce and mangle her flesh.

שׂוּךּ

śûḵ: A verb meaning to hedge in, fence in. It refers to erecting a protective or restraining barrier of some kind (Job 1:10; Hos. 2:6,8). It refers in a figurative sense to fencing a person about with sinews and bones (Job 10:11).

אֵת

’ēṯ: This particle points out the definite direct object in a biblical Hebrew sentence. It is usually not translatable. It is normally employed in Hebrew prose but may often be missing in Hebrew poetry. It occurs as ’eṯ, ’eṯ-, or ’ēṯ-. It may take pronominal suffixes, ’ôtı̄y, me; ’ôtkā, you, etc. (1Sam. 8:7). Used before mı̄y, ’eṯ mı̄y, it indicates whom. In fact, it is able to point out any kind of accusative in a sentence (cf. 1Kgs. 15:23). It is used thousands of times in the Old Testament.

thy way...

דֶּרֶךּ

Derek: A masculine noun meaning path, journey, way. This common word is derived from the Hebrew verb dāraḵ, meaning to walk or to tread, from which the basic idea of this word comes: the path that is traveled. The word may refer to a physical path or road (Gen. 3:24; Num. 22:23; 1Kgs. 13:24) or to a journey along a road (Gen. 30:36; Exo. 5:3; 1Sam. 15:18). However, this word is most often used metaphorically to refer to the pathways of one's life, suggesting the pattern of life (Pro. 3:6); the obedient life (Deu. 8:6); the righteous life (2Sam. 22:22; Jer. 5:4); the wicked life (1Kgs. 22:52,53). The ways are described as ways of darkness (Pro. 2:13); pleasant ways (Pro. 3:17); and wise ways (Pro. 6:6).

with thorns... The path of evil shall be a path of thorns.”

סִיר

siyr: I. A common noun meaning pot. It refers to a cooking pot for various food items (Exo. 16:3; 2Kgs. 4:38-41; Mic. 3:3), especially those used in the Temple area (2Kgs. 25:14; Zec. 14:20-21). It is used in the sense of a bowl for washing one's feet (Psm. 60:8,10; 108:9,10).

II. A common noun meaning thorn, hook. It refers to thorn-bushes commonly used to fire a pot (Ecc. 7:6). They were a sign of an uncultivated area (Isa. 34:13); or a barrier (Hos. 2:6,8). It clearly means a hook to hang something on or to use to catch something (Amos 4:2).

and make...

גָּדַר

gāḏar: A verb indicating to close off, to wall up. It is used figuratively of false prophets failing to erect a wall of stones of truth and justice to stand in the day of battle (Ezk. 13:5; 22:30) around Israel. It describes, again figuratively, the Lord's action to wall up or repair the breeches in the Davidic dynasty of kings (Amos 9:11). In its participial form, it denotes a mason, one who works with stones (2Kgs. 12:12,13). Used ironically, the word describes the Lord's building a wall against His unfaithful people (Hos. 2:6,8), much as He did, seemingly, against Job (Job 19:8).

a wall,...

גָּדֵר

gāḏēr: A common noun meaning wall, fence, hedge. It depicts a stone wall of loose stones (Num. 22:24) but also a city wall (Mic. 7:11) or a wall in general (Ecc. 10:8). It denotes a wall of Ezekiel's Temple (Ezk. 42:7). Used in a figurative sense, it refers to the hedge or wall of the Lord's vineyard (Psm. 80:12,13; Isa. 5:5), which no one could build up and make firm (Ezk. 22:30). An unstable wall is used to depict threatening persons (Psm. 62:3,4).

that she shall not...

לֹא

lō’, לוֹא

lô’, לֹה

lōh: An adverb meaning no, not. The term is primarily utilized as an ordinary negation, as in Genesis 3:4: "You will not surely die" (NIV cf. Jdg. 14:4; Psm. 16:10). Often it is used to express an unconditional prohibition, thus having the force of an imperative: "You shall not (= do not ever) steal"(Exo. 20:15 NIV; cf. Jdg. 13:5). Frequently, it functions as an absolute in answer to a question (Job 23:6; Zec. 4:5). The word is also employed in questions to denote that an affirmative answer is expected (2Kgs. 5:26; Jon. 4:11). When it is prefixed to a noun or adjective, it negates that word, making it have an opposite or contrary meaning (e.g., god becomes non-god; strong becomes weak; cf. Deu. 32:21; Pro. 30:25). When prefixed by the preposition b^e, meaning in or by, the combined term carries the temporal meaning of beyond or before (Lev. 15:25); the meaning without is also not uncommon for this combination (Job 8:11). A prefixed preposition l^e, meaning to or for, gives the term the meaning of without (2Chr. 15:3) or as though not (Job 39:16). Occasionally, the word suggests the meaning not only, on account of the context (Deu. 5:3).

find... She was determined to go her own way. She does not follow in the path God has made for her. When she decides to do this, God covers His path that He had left for her with thorns. She will not be able to find her way back, unless God removes the thorns. Christians know that Jesus is the Way. To try to get to heaven other than by Jesus is impossible. To walk in sin even now, obscures the path that leads to God.

מָצָא

māṣā’: A verb meaning to find, attain. The verb is employed in both the active and passive senses (to be found). In addition, it is also used in a causative sense, to cause to find. Finally, the word is employed in several idioms that carry special meanings. The word is used to indicate finding or seeking just about anything: water (Gen. 26:32; Exo. 15:22); a place, goal, or location (Gen. 8:9); a knowledge of the Lord (Pro. 2:5); the word of the Lord (Amos 8:12); or words of wisdom (Pro. 4:22). The word indicates coming on something (Gen. 44:8); of finding something (Job 11:7; Ecc. 3:11). Additional idiomatic phrases include finding heart, meaning to be able to do something (2Sam. 7:27); finding the vigor (life) of one's hand, renewing one's strength (Isa. 57:10); to not be found, not to exist or be dead (Job 20:8). The meanings discussed are used in passive constructions as well. Persons being sought are found (Gen. 18:29-30; Jos. 10:17); and crime or evil can be found out (Exo. 22:4,3; 1Sam. 25:28); as can evildoers (Exo. 22:2,1, 22:7,6). The verb means to happen to be, literally to be found, in several passages (Deu. 17:2; 18:10; Jer. 5:26). Finally, in the passive usage of the verb, it means not sufficient for someone, as in Jos. 17:16 where the hill country was not found to be sufficient for the people of Joseph. In the stem indicating cause, the verb can mean to bring on someone their just desserts, i.e., to cause proper justice to find them (Job 34:11; cf. Job 37:13). In 2Sam. 3:8, the verb indicates the deliverance of someone into the power of another person, i.e., to make someone be found in the hand of another, in this case in the hand of David.

her paths...

נָתִיב

naṯiyḇ, נְתִיבָה

n^eṯiyḇāh: I. A masculine noun indicating a path, a pathway, a wake. It refers to a trail or navigable pass made by humans or by nature. It indicates figuratively the path, the way of life, of the wicked (Job 18:10); and the path to wisdom (Job 28:7). It is used of a wake, the foam and waves left in the water (Job 41:32,24). God's tragic treatment of the Egyptians created a path for His people (Psm. 78:50); His commandments are a path of life (Psm. 119:35); as is the way (path) of righteousness (Pro. 12:28).

II. A feminine noun indicating a path, a pathway, a wake. It indicates well-traveled paths or roads, highways (Jdg. 5:6). Figuratively, it indicates the paths of life (Job 19:8); of ethical and moral guidance (Psm. 119:105; 142:3,4); as well as the way of the wicked (Pro. 1:15). It describes the paths of salvation and restoration which the Lord prepares for His people (Isa. 42:16). The ancient way of obedience to the Lord, the ancient paths, are the sources of guidance for God's people (Jer. 6:16). The Lord is capable of hiding, blocking the true paths of His people (Hos. 2:6,8).

In response the Lord declared that He would soon eliminate all means of access to these lovers. Israel would find familiar paths blocked with thorns and stone walls (Hos. 2:6). Her frantic efforts to find her lovers would be thwarted (Hos. 2:7).