Hosea 6:1-6

Israel Unrepentant

1 “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.

5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun.^[a]

6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

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Hosea 6:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 6

This chapter gives an account of some who were truly penitent, and stirred up one another to return to the Lord, encouraged by his power, grace, and goodness, Ho 6:1-3; and of others, who had only a form of religion, were very unstable in it; regarded more the ceremonial law, and the external sacrifices of it, than the moral law; either that part of it which respects the love of the neighbour, or that which concerns the knowledge of God; and dealt treacherously with the Lord, transgressing the covenant, Ho 6:4-7; particularly the city of Gilead is represented as full of the workers of iniquity, and is charged with bloodshed, Ho 6:8; yea, even the priests were guilty of murder and lewdness, Ho 6:9; and Israel, or the ten tribes in general, are accused of whoredom, both corporeal and spiritual, with which they were defiled, Ho 6:10; nor was Judah clear of these crimes, and therefore a reckoning day is set for them, Ho 6:11.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 16

1. S Isaiah 10:20; S Isaiah 19:22
2. S Job 16:9; Lamentations 3:11; Hosea 5:14
3. S Numbers 12:13; S Jeremiah 3:22
4. S Deuteronomy 32:39; S Job 5:18; S Jeremiah 30:17; Hosea 14:4
5. Psalms 30:5; S Psalms 80:18
6. S Matthew 16:21
7. S Psalms 71:20
8. S Job 4:3; Joel 2:23
9. Psalms 72:6; Hosea 11:10; Hosea 12:6
10. Hosea 11:8
11. Hosea 7:1; Hosea 13:3
12. Jeremiah 1:9-10; Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 23:29
13. Hebrews 4:12
14. S 1 Samuel 15:22; S Isaiah 1:11; Matthew 9:13*; Matthew 12:7*; Mark 12:33
15. S Jeremiah 4:22; S Hosea 2:20
16. S Psalms 40:6; Micah 6:8

Footnotes 1

[a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.