Hosea 6:1-10

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.

Images for Hosea 6:1-10

Hosea 6:1-10 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 24

  • 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

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  • [b]. Or "Like Adam" ; or "Like human beings"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.