56 Or “cut.” The verb גָּזַר (gazar) means “to cut.” If it is understood here, then one might paraphrase, “They slice off meat on the right.” However, I גזר, proposes here a rare homonym meaning “to devour.”
57 The prefixed verbal form is either a preterite without vav consecutive or an imperfect used in a customary sense, describing continual or repeated behavior in past time.
58 Some suggest that זְרֹעוֹ (zéro’o, “his arm”) be repointed זַרְעוֹ (zar’o, “his offspring”). In either case, the metaphor is that of a desperately hungry man who resorts to an almost unthinkable act to satisfy his appetite. He eats everything he can find to his right, but still being unsatisfied, then turns to his left and eats everything he can find there. Still being desperate for food, he then resorts to eating his own flesh (or offspring, as this phrase is metaphorically understood by some English versions, e.g., , , , ). The reality behind the metaphor is the political turmoil of the period, as the next verse explains. There was civil strife within the northern kingdom; even the descendants of Joseph were at each other’s throats. Then the northern kingdom turned on their southern brother, Judah.
59 The words “fought against” are supplied in the translation both here and later in this verse for stylistic reasons.
60 Heb “in all this his anger is not turned, and still his hand is outstretched” ( and both similar); “his hand is still upraised.” See the note at .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry,

and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied;

each devours the flesh of his own arm,

Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh;

together they are against Judah.

For all this his anger has not turned away,

and his hand is stretched out still.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

On the right they will devour,

but still be hungry;

on the left they will eat,

but not be satisfied.

Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:

Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;

together they will turn against Judah.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

his hand is still upraised.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

They carve meat on the right,

but they are still hungry;

they have eaten on the left,

but they are still not satisfied.

Each one eats the flesh of his arm.

Manasseh eats Ephraim,

and Ephraim, Manasseh;

together, both are against Judah.

In all this, his anger has not turned away,

and his hand is still raised to strike.

NLTNew Living Translation

They will attack their neighbor on the right

but will still be hungry.

They will devour their neighbor on the left

but will not be satisfied.

In the end they will even eat their own children.

Manasseh will feed on Ephraim,

Ephraim will feed on Manasseh,

and both will devour Judah.

But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied.

His fist is still poised to strike.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

They devoured on the right but still were hungry

and devoured on the left but they were not satisfied.

Each one devoured the flesh of his arm,

Manasseh devoured Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;

together they were against Judah.

In all of this his anger has not turned away,

and still his hand is stretched out.

KJV 1900King James Version

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry;

And he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied:

They shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh:

And they together shall be against Judah.

For all this his anger is not turned away,

But his hand is stretched out still.

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