Hosea 6 Commentary

The book of Hosea contrasts God’s faithfulness to Israel’s faithlessness. In the first three chapters, Hosea introduces the reader to Israel’s infidelity to their Suzerain (Ruler) God who entered into a covenant with Him, and spelled out the path they could take that would lead to great blessing. God’s covenant with Israel can be viewed as a marital contract. By using Hosea’s own marriage to his unfaithful wife, Gomer, God demonstrated that Israel is an unfaithful covenant partner. Israel had broken her vows to her Covenant Husband.

Throughout the rest of Hosea, Israel’s condition is described as disobedient, rebellious, and idolatrous. As God had warned, Israel’s adoption of pagan principles of self-indulgence led to exploitation, deception, and violence (Hosea 4:2). The people of Israel stood in need of repentance and genuine righteousness. Hosea called them to repentance, but Israel declined.

Israel spent years sowing to its own destruction, making and breaking alliances with the world’s superpowers at the time, Egypt and Assyria, dealing treacherously. Hosea describes Israel as acting like a “silly dove” flitting from one nation to the other, rather than turning to God for protection (Hosea 7:11). Thus Assyria will come and put Israel into exile, which God will use as a way of punishing Israel for its infidelity to its covenant with God (Hosea 11:5).

Through it all, however, the book offers hope to Israel. For although the Suzerain God invoked the discipline provisions of their covenant contract with Him, resulting in them being wounded grievously, in the end times He will heal them, revive them, and restore their blessings (Hosea 2:20, 14:7). May all who read this book find comfort and hope in the steadfast love and faithfulness of God!

Hosea 6 begins with a brief interlude in the form of a penitent prayer, in verses 1-3. A voice from the covenant community earnestly urges the people to seek the LORD after they have experienced His severe judgment. After the interlude of verses 1-3, the LORD resumes His indictment on Israel and Judah that began in Chapter 4.

In verses 4-10, God accuses and condemns the people for covenant infidelity and false worship. The crux of the passage is that God delights in loyalty more than outward observance. This commentary takes the position that verse 11 is best seen as the beginning of Chapter 7.

The chapter’s outline is as follows:

1. After being severely afflicted, a future generation of Israelites will earnestly seek the LORD. A voice from the nation will urge the people to return to the LORD so that they may live in His presence and experience His blessings (vv. 1-3).

2. The LORD accuses and condemns Israel and Judah for their covenant infidelity and false devotion to Him. He tells His people that He desires loyalty more than sacrifices performed as religious formalism (vv. 4-6).

3. The LORD ends this chapter with an illustration of covenant infidelity committed by both Israel and Judah (vv. 7-11a).

The Bible Project - Hosea Summary