Hosea 14

Hosea 14 is the fourteenth chapter of the Book of Hosea in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This chapter contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Hosea son of Beeri as an exhortation to repentance, Hosea 14:1-3 and a promise of God’s blessing, Hosea 14:4-9.^[3] It is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.^[4][5]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew language.
• This chapter is divided into 9 verses.

Textual versions

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter in Hebrew language:

• Masoretic Text (10th century)
• Dead Sea Scrolls: (2nd century BC)^[6][7]
  • 4Q78 (4QXII^c): extant: verses 2-3, 5 (verse 3‑4, 6 in Masoretic text)^[6]
  • 4Q82 (4QXII^g): extant: verses 8-9 (verses 9‑10 in Masoretic text)^[6]

Ancient translations in Koine Greek:

• Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• Theodotion version (~AD 180)

Structure

NKJV groups this chapter into:

• Hosea 14:1-9 = Relentless Judgment on Israel

Verse 1

O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God;

for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.^[8]

• Numbered Hosea 14:2 in Masoretic text
• "For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity": A reason is here assigned for the preceding invitation; ka-shalta is properly "thou hast stumbled," "made a false step," fallen, yet so that recovery was among future possibilities. The same thought may be included in the fact that Jehovah continues to call his erring people by the honored and honorable name of Israel, and to acknowledge himself their God. Kimchi says, "For thou seest that through thine iniquity thou hast fallen, therefore it behooves thee to return to Jehovah, as nothing besides can raise thee from thy fall but thy return to him." "There is none," says Aben Ezra, "can raise thee from thy fall but the Eternal alone."^[9]

Verse 9

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?

prudent, and he shall know them?

for the ways of the Lord are right,

and the just shall walk in them:

but the transgressors shall fall therein.^[10]

• Numbered Hosea 14:10 in Masoretic text
• Epilogue, summing up the whole previous teaching. Here alone Hosea uses the term "righteous," so rare were such characters in his day. There is enough of saving truth clear in God's Word to guide those humbly seeking salvation, and enough of difficulties to confound those who curiously seek them out, rather than practically seek salvation.^[3]
• "The ways of the Lord": called "the 'course' of His providence;" of which Scripture says, "His ways are judgment" Deuteronomy 32:4; Daniel 4:37; "God, His ways are perfect" Psalm 18:30; "the Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" Psalm 145:17; "Thy way is in the sea, and Thy paths in the great waters, and Thy footsteps are not known" Psalm 77:19; "lo, these are parts of His ways, but how little a portion is heard of Him, and the thunder of His power who can understand?" Job 26:14; "who hath enjoined Him His way, and who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?" Job 36:23. These "ways of God" include His ordering for us, in His eternal wisdom, that course of life, which leads most directly to Himself. They include, then, all God's commandments, precepts, counsels, His whole moral law, as well as His separate purpose for each of us. In the one way, they are God's ways toward us; in the other they are God's ways for us.^[11]
• "But the transgressors shall fall therein": the transgressors of the law of God, not being used to his ways, as Kimchi's father observes, stumble in them and fall; or rather, as Jarchi and the Targum, they fall into hell, into ruin and destruction, because they walk not in them; though the sense seems to be, that as Christ himself, so his ways and his word, his doctrines and his ordinances, are stumbling blocks to wicked men, at which they stumble, and fall, and perish; see Luke 2:34; Romans 9:33.^[12]

See also

• Related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 4, Psalm 111, Proverbs 1, Hosea 13

Notes and references

Bibliography

External links

Jewish

• Hosea 14 Hebrew with Parallel English
• Hosea 14 Hebrew with Rashi's Commentary

Christian

• Hosea 14 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate