Hosea 6:3-6

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.

Hosea 6:3-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Job 4:3; Joel 2:23
• 2. Psalms 72:6; Hosea 11:10; Hosea 12:6
• 3. Hosea 11:8
• 4. Hosea 7:1; Hosea 13:3
• 5. Jeremiah 1:9-10; Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 23:29
• 6. Hebrews 4:12
• 7. S 1 Samuel 15:22; S Isaiah 1:11; Matthew 9:13*; Matthew 12:7*; Mark 12:33
• 8. S Jeremiah 4:22; S Hosea 2:20
• 9. S Psalms 40:6; Micah 6:8

Footnotes

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