Hosea 6:4-11

4 The Lord says, "Israel, what should I do with you? Judah, what should I do with you? Your faithfulness is like a morning mist, like the dew that goes away early in the day.

5 I have warned you by my prophets that I will kill you and destroy you. My justice comes out like bright light.

6 I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

7 But they have broken the agreement as Adam did; they have been unfaithful to me.

8 Gilead is a city of people who do evil; their footprints are bloody.

9 The priests are like robbers waiting to attack people; they murder people on the road to Shechemn and do wicked things.

10 I have seen horrible things in Israel. Look at Israel's prostitution; Israel has become unclean.

11 "Judah, I have set a harvest time for you when I will make the lives of my people good again.

Hosea 6:4-11 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.