HOSEA

Hosea 14

1An exhortation to repentance. 4A promise of God's blessing.


1O ISRAEL, 1returna unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast 2fallen by thine iniquity.

1 See of this manner of speech Joel 2 on verse 12.

a Hosea 12:7.

2 Compare Hosea 4:5; 5:5.

2Take with you 3words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, 4Take away all iniquity, and 5receive us 6graciously: so will we 7render the 8calves of our lips.b

3 Understand the confession of your sins with fervent and faithful prayers for grace and forgiveness, joined with sincere promises of thankfulness, whereof the pattern follows.

4 That is, forgive it, impute it not. See Psalm 25 on verse 18; Psalm 32 on verse 1.

5 Hebr. take, that is, take and give, take to give it us or to distribute among us, impart. See Gen. 12 on verse 15; Gen. 24 on verse 22; Psalm 68 on verse 18. Other, receive us graciously, or, accept the good, that is, regard or receive graciously our conversion and good works, which we do as born again children.

6 That is, all manner of spiritual and temporal blessings, or mercies, benefits. See Mat. 7:11, compared with Luke 11:13.

7 For Thy undeserved mercy we shall show Thee our due thankfulness.

8 Or thus, bullocks (namely, the bullocks or young oxen) of our lips, Other, bullocks with our lips, as if they said: We know well enough that Thou art not satisfied with the slaying and offering of beasts, therefore we shall offer unto Thee the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. See Psalm 50:14; 69:30, 31; 116:12, 13; Heb. 13:15, etc.

b Heb. 13:15.

39Asshur shall not save us; we will not 10ride upon 11horses: neither will we say any more to the 12work of our hands, Ye are our 13gods: 14for in thee the 15fatherless findeth mercy.

9 We shall not seek our salvation and our prosperity with men, but only with Thee, for such is vanity, yea, our destruction. See Hosea 12:2, etc.

10 We will confide no more in any human means, or travel to and fro, or send abroad for help and confederacies. Compare Hosea 5:13; 7:11; 12:2.

11 Hebr. horse.

12 The idolatrous images. See Hosea 13:1, 2, etc.

13 Or, god.

14 Thus the Hebrew word is likewise used as yea in 1 Sam. 15:20. Other, for yet, or that yet, etc., as petitioning.

15 A very moving conclusion of this penitent and faithful prayer whereby they acknowledge that there is no salvation for them anywhere but in God alone, they, being on earth (much like an orphan), are entirely destitute of any human help, and are humbly confident that God will not reject such little orphans, crying unto Him for mercy and compassion. Compare Psalm 10:14; 68:5; 146:9; Lam. 5:3; John 14:8.

416I will 17heal their backsliding, I will love them 18freely: for mine anger is turned away from 19him.

16 A most sweet and Fatherly answer and promise of God, upon the foregoing penitent petition.

17 Forgiving them all their evil, and giving them My good things, as they have desired, verse 3. See Psalm 30 on verse 2.

18 Or, liberally, from a good heart (as they say). Compare Deut. 30:9; Jer. 32:41, 42; John 16:26, 27, and see of the Hebrew word Lev. 7 on verse 16; Job 12 on verse 21.

19 Namely, Israel, presently expressed by name in the next verse and verse 1.

520I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as 21Lebanon.

20 These promises, representing by very elegant comparisons the grace of Jesus Christ and the abundance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, do all belong to the new Covenant of Grace, and are grounded upon the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom all promises are yea and amen, 2 Cor. 1:20, appertaining to all Israel, that is, to the entire church of believing Jews and Gentiles. Compare Hosea 13 on verse 14.

21 That is, the trees that stand on Mount Lebanon (also verse 6), where the sweet-smelling frankincense grows, from which it is conceived this mountain had its name; for lebona signifies frankincense, and this mountain is called in Hebrew Lebanon.

6His branches 22shall spread, and 23his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

22 Hebr. shall go.

23 Compare Isa. 60:13; Jer. 11:16; Ezek. 31:3, 7, 8, 9.

724They that dwell under 25his shadow shall return; they shall 26revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: 27the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

24 The true Israelite shall convert themselves, as they are exhorted to do in verse 1. Other, They shall sit again.

25 Refreshing themselves and being secured under the Lord’s Fatherly protection. See Ruth 2 on verse 12; Psalm 91:1.

26 That is, they shall be fruitful and multiply; understand this especially of the spiritual fruits, which they shall bring forth as new and regenerate people, and cause likewise others, by means of teaching and edifying, to bring forth the like, through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit, Who quickens us unto good. Compare Psalm 72:16, and see the annotation there.

27 The remembrance, that is, his name, fame and rumor of the converted Israel shall be as sweet and acceptable as the noblest wine of Lebanon. Other, his fragrance or smell, because the Hebrew word, signifying remembrance, sometimes appears to be used for smell, according as a sweet perfume causes one to remember, see Isa. 66:3. Likewise Lev. 2:2, 9; Num. 5:26; Psalm 20:3, with the annotations.

828Ephraim shall say, 29What have I to do any more with idols? I have 30heard him, and 31observed him: I am like a green 32fir tree. From me is 33thy fruit found.

28 This may be taken as words from God, Who takes a singular pleasure (as one who rejoices) that Ephraim had rejected all idolatry, and was no more troublesome to Him by it as formerly. See Hosea 12:1, etc. Or, it may be taken for the words of the converted Ephraim, thus: Ephraim shall say, etc.

29 Hebr. What is to me and the idols? See 2 Sam. 16 on verse 10, and of the word idols Hosea 8 on verse 4.

30 This seems to have regard to the prayer made in verses 2, 3. Other, I will hear him, or, I do hear and regard or look upon him.

31 Mine eyes shall be continually upon him for good; I will not hide My face from him. See Jer. 24:6, as before I watched him for evil, Hosea 13:7. Other, I have regarded him, namely, graciously, minded him.

32 Which keeps its verdure or leaf (as the herbalists testify) all winter long, and yields a very refreshing shadow; so, does God imply, will I refresh them against the heat of all adversities and persecutions.

33 Whereof Hosea 13:15. That is, through My gracious and powerful working ye shall be fruitful for good; your fruit shall be sure. See Psalm 1:3, etc.; John 15:1, etc., and compare above, verses 5, 6, 7. For the word found, or not being found, compare Micah 1:13; Zeph. 3:13; Mal. 2:6; 1 Peter 2:22. Likewise Num. 11 on verse 22; Psalm 46 on verse 1.

934Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall 35know them? for the 36ways of the LORD are 37right, and the just shall 38walk in them: but the 39transgressors shall fall therein.

34 An elegant conclusion of this prophecy, and especially of this chapter and the foregoing evangelical instructions and promises. The sense is: that true wisdom consists in this, and those who will be wise must understand and know this, and govern themselves accordingly, otherwise they will be fools for all their wisdom. See 1 Cor. 1:18, 19, etc.; 1 Cor. 2:2, etc., and as to this manner of asking, compare Deut. 20:5, 6, 7, 8; Psalm 25:12; 34:12; 107:43. Other by way of complaint: Who is wise, and understandeth these things? Understanding and knoweth them? As if the prophet had said: Alas, there are but few who have this wisdom. Compare Jer. 9:12.

35 Or, acknowledge them.

36 His instruction and government. See Gen. 18 on verse 19; Psalm 25 on verse 4. Likewise Deut. 32 on verse 4; Psalm 25 on verse 10.

37 Compare Psalm 7:11; 19:8.

38 With content, delight and joy. See Psalm 119; Mat. 11:30; 1 John 5:3, etc.

39 Or, rebels, they shall take offence and stumble thereat, and fall away. See Isa. 8:14; Hosea 7:13; Luke 2:34; 2 Cor. 2:16, etc.