Hosea 6:1-3

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

1 “Come, let us ¹return to the Lord; for ²he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and ³he will bind us up.

2 After two days ⁴he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

3 ⁵Let us know; ⁶let us press on to know the Lord; ⁷his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us ⁸as the showers, ⁹as the spring rains that water the earth. ”

Hosea 6:1-3 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.

Cross References

• 1. 6:1 ch. 14:1; [ch. 3:5]
• 2. 6:1 ch. 5:14; [ch. 13:7, 8]
• 3. 6:1 [Isa. 30:26]
• 4. 6:2 Ps. 71:20; [Luke 24:27, 44; John 2:22; 20:9; 1 Cor. 15:4]
• 5. 6:3 [ch. 4:6]
• 6. 6:3 [ch. 4:6]
• 7. 6:3 Mic. 5:2
• 8. 6:3 [ch. 14:5]
• 9. 6:3 Joel 2:23