Hosea 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.

7 As at Adam,^[b] they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.

9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.

11 “Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. “Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,

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Hosea 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

An exhortation to repentance. (1-3) Israel's instability and breach of the covenant. (4-11)

Verses 1-3 Those who have gone from God by consent, and in a body, drawing one another to sin, should, by consent and in a body, return to him, which will be for his glory, and their good. It will be of great use for support under afflictions, and to encourage our repentance, to keep up good thoughts of God, and of his purposes and designs concerning us. Deliverance out of trouble should be to them as life from the dead. God will revive them: the assurance of this should engage them to return to him. But this seems to have a further reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us admire the wisdom and goodness of God, that when the prophet foretold the deliverance of the church out of her troubles, he should point out our salvation by Christ; and now these words are fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ, it confirms our faith, that this is He that should come and we are to look for no other. Here is a precious blessing promised; this is life eternal, to know God. The returns of the favour of God are secured to us as firmly as the return of the morning after a dark night. He shall come to us as the latter and former rain unto the earth, which refreshes it, and makes it fruitful. The grace of God in Christ is both the latter and the former rain; and by it the good work of our fruit-bearing is begun and carried on. And as the Redeemer was raised from the grave, so will He revive the hearts and hopes of all that trust in him. The feeblest glimpse of hope in his word, is a sure earnest of increasing light and comfort, which shall be attended with purifying, comforting grace that makes fruitful.

Verses 4-11 Sometimes Israel and Judah seemed disposed to repent under their sufferings, but their goodness vanished like the empty morning cloud, and the early dew, and they were as vile as ever. Therefore the Lord sent awful messages by the prophets. The word of God will be the death either of the sin or of the sinner. God desired mercy rather than sacrifice, and that knowledge of him which produces holy fear and love. This exposes the folly of those who trust in outward observances, to make up for their want of love to God and man. As Adam broke the covenant of God in paradise, so Israel had broken his national covenant, notwithstanding all the favours they received. Judah also was ripe for Divine judgments. May the Lord put his fear into our hearts, and set up his kingdom within us, and never leave us to ourselves, nor suffer us to be overcome by temptation.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 26

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
17. S Genesis 9:11; S Jeremiah 11:10; Hosea 8:1
18. S Hosea 5:7
19. Hosea 12:11
20. Psalms 10:8
21. S Hosea 4:2
22. Jeremiah 5:30-31; Jeremiah 7:9-10; S Ezekiel 22:9; S Hosea 5:1; Hosea 7:1
23. S Jeremiah 5:30
24. S Jeremiah 23:14; S Ezekiel 23:7; S Hosea 5:3
25. Jeremiah 51:33; Joel 3:13
26. S Psalms 126:1; Zephaniah 2:7

Footnotes 2

[a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
[b]. Or "Like Adam" ; or "Like human beings"

Chapter Summary

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.