Old Testament
Hosea 6
Overview
The chapter opens with a beautiful summons to repentance — "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us" — and a hope that God will revive His people "on the third day." But God's response exposes the shallowness of this confidence: Israel's love is "like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away," quick to evaporate. The LORD utters the book's most famous principle: "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." The chapter ends grieving over the depth of corruption — priests who murder, treachery at Gilead and Shechem, and "a horrible thing" in the house of Israel.
1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
4O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
5Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
8Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
10I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.