The Bible — World English Bible
Hosea 6
In brief
Hosea 6 begins with a call to return: God has torn but he will heal, and he raises up on the third day. The people are invited to press on to know the Lord, whose coming is as sure as the dawn. But God observes that the loyalty of Ephraim and Judah is like the morning dew that vanishes. He declares that he prefers mercy to sacrifice, and the knowledge of God to burnt offerings. The chapter finally denounces unfaithfulness to the covenant, including that of the priests.
The chapter in 3 parts
1“Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.
2After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.
3Let’s acknowledge Yahweh. Let’s press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
4“Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.
5Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.
6For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there.
8Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood.
9As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder on the path toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.
10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.
11“Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.
Key verses
“Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.
A call to return to God, who has struck but will heal, and who raises up on the third day. Many Christians hear an echo of the resurrection here, others see first a promise of restoration for Israel.
Let’s acknowledge Yahweh. Let’s press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. God's coming is compared to the dawn and to the spring rain, two images of sure renewal. The verse invites us to make an effort to know God.
“Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.
The people's loyalty is like the morning cloud, like the dew that vanishes. God reproaches a passing faithfulness, with no constancy.
For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
God loves mercy more than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Jesus quotes this verse in the Gospel to answer the Pharisees, which makes it a key text for understanding the welcome given to sinners.
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Frequently asked questions about Hosea 6
What does “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” mean (Hosea 6:6)?
God does not reject worship, but he refuses worship without heart. He wants lived faithfulness and the knowledge of himself, more than rites performed. Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7 to justify his compassion toward sinners in the face of the Pharisees, who valued observance above all.
What does “on the third day he will raise us up” mean (Hosea 6:2)?
In context, the people hope that God will heal them and raise them up after the judgment. Many Christians see here an announcement of the resurrection of Jesus on the third day, while others read first an image of national restoration. Both readings coexist in Christian traditions.
Why is the people's loyalty compared to the morning dew?
Dew appears at dawn and vanishes as soon as the sun rises. God reproaches Ephraim and Judah for a passing loyalty, made of impulses without constancy. The chapter answers with a call to know the Lord in a lasting way: his coming is as certain as the dawn.
Articles quoting Hosea 6
World English Bible translation — public domain.