Hosea 14:4

ยถ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

I will heal {H7495} their backsliding {H4878}, I will love {H157} them freely {H5071}: for mine anger {H639} is turned away {H7725} from him.

"I will heal their disloyalty, I will love them freely; for my anger has turned from him.

I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.

Commentary

Context of Hosea 14:4

Hosea 14 marks a powerful and hopeful conclusion to the prophetic book of Hosea. After numerous chapters detailing Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and subsequent divine judgment, this final chapter shifts dramatically to a message of repentance, restoration, and unconditional love. Verses 1-3 call the nation of Israel to return to the Lord, confessing their sins and seeking His mercy. Hosea 14:4 is God's direct and compassionate response to this anticipated repentance, promising profound healing and reconciliation. It encapsulates the heart of God's desire for His people, even after their persistent backsliding.

Meaning of Hosea 14:4

This verse reveals three profound aspects of God's character in His dealings with His wayward people:

  • "I will heal their backsliding": This is a divine promise of spiritual restoration. "Backsliding" refers to Israel's turning away from God, their spiritual apostasy and unfaithfulness. God promises to not only forgive their sins but also to mend the spiritual wounds and inclinations that led them astray. It speaks to a complete renewal of their relationship with Him, a theme echoed in other prophetic books regarding God's healing of backsliding.
  • "I will love them freely": This phrase highlights the unmerited, spontaneous, and unconditional nature of God's love. The Hebrew word for "freely" (nedabah) implies willingness, generosity, and absence of compulsion or expectation of payment. God's love is not contingent upon their perfect obedience but flows from His very nature. This echoes the sentiment found in Romans 5:8, where God demonstrates His own love towards us while we were still sinners.
  • "for mine anger is turned away from him": This provides the reason for God's gracious actions. The divine wrath, which was a just response to Israel's sin, has now subsided or been removed. This turning away of anger is a consequence of their repentance (as encouraged in the preceding verses) and God's boundless mercy. It signifies a complete cessation of hostility and the establishment of peace, a powerful declaration of forgiveness and reconciliation. This concept of God's anger being turned away is a recurring theme of comfort and hope in scripture, as seen in Isaiah 12:1.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration and Healing: God's ability and willingness to heal spiritual brokenness and restore a fractured relationship.
  • Unconditional Love and Grace: The emphasis on God's love being "freely" given, not earned or deserved, highlighting His immense grace.
  • Mercy and Forgiveness: The turning away of divine anger underscores God's readiness to forgive and reconcile with those who repent.
  • Hope After Judgment: This verse provides a beacon of hope, demonstrating that even after severe judgment, God's ultimate desire is for His people's restoration.

Linguistic Insight

The word "freely" in Hebrew is nedabah (ื ึฐื“ึธื‘ึธื”). While often translated as "freely," it carries connotations of voluntariness, generosity, and spontaneous willingness. It implies that God's love is not coerced or obligated, but flows from His benevolent nature without any requirement for prior merit from Israel. This emphasizes the sheer gratuity of His affection.

Practical Application

Hosea 14:4 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that no matter how far we may have strayed or "backslid," God's heart is always inclined towards healing and restoration upon repentance. His love is truly unconditional, not dependent on our performance, but freely given. This verse encourages us to:

  • Return to God: When we recognize our spiritual wandering, we can confidently turn back to Him, knowing He desires to heal us.
  • Embrace His Love: Understand and receive God's love as a free gift, not something we must earn. This liberates us from performance-based religion.
  • Trust His Forgiveness: Believe that when we confess our sins, His anger is turned away, and we are fully reconciled through Christ.

This verse stands as a powerful testament to God's enduring faithfulness and His boundless compassion, offering a path to renewed relationship for all who seek Him.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 57:18

    I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

  • Isaiah 12:1

    ยถ And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

  • Zephaniah 3:17

    The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

  • Ephesians 2:4

    ยถ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

  • Ephesians 2:9

    Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  • Hosea 6:1

    ยถ Come, 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.

  • Jeremiah 3:22

    Return, ye backsliding children, [and] I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou [art] the LORD our God.