Hosea 6:3

Then 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.

Then shall we know {H3045}, if we follow {H7291} on to know {H3045} the LORD {H3068}: his going forth {H4161} is prepared {H3559} as the morning {H7837}; and he shall come {H935} unto us as the rain {H1653}, as the latter {H4456} and former rain {H3384} unto the earth {H776}.

Let us know, let us strive to know ADONAI. That he will come is as certain as morning; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rains that water the earth.

So let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.

Hosea 6:3 (KJV) offers a profound insight into the nature of knowing God and His consistent, life-giving presence. This verse comes amidst Hosea's prophetic calls for Israel to return to the LORD, highlighting the reciprocal relationship between human seeking and divine revelation.

Context

The book of Hosea primarily addresses the northern kingdom of Israel, highlighting their spiritual adultery and idolatry, which broke their covenant with God. Chapter 6 specifically presents a call for repentance and a hopeful, albeit often short-lived, desire among the people to return to the Lord. Verse 3 stands out as a declaration of faith and expectation, even as the nation struggled with true spiritual commitment. It speaks to the potential for renewed relationship with God if they would genuinely "return unto the LORD".

Key Themes

  • The Pursuit of Knowledge: The phrase "if we follow on to know the LORD" emphasizes that knowing God is not passive but requires active, persistent pursuit. It's a continuous journey, not a one-time event. This pursuit is a prerequisite for experiencing His presence.
  • God's Inevitable Revelation: "His going forth is prepared as the morning" illustrates God's faithfulness and the certainty of His revelation. Just as the dawn is inevitable and brings light after darkness, so God's presence and intervention are sure for those who seek Him. It signifies His reliable, dependable nature.
  • God's Life-Giving Presence: Comparing God's coming to "the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth" speaks to His essential, refreshing, and bountiful provision. In an agricultural society, rain was crucial for life and harvest. The "former rain" (autumn) prepared the ground for planting, and the "latter rain" (spring) brought the crops to maturity. This imagery highlights God's role in bringing spiritual life, growth, and blessing, much like Joel 2:23 also speaks of the former and latter rain as a sign of blessing.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "know" (יָדַע - yada') implies more than mere intellectual understanding; it signifies a deep, intimate, experiential knowledge, often used in the context of covenant relationship. To "follow on to know" suggests a continuous, diligent effort to deepen this relationship.
  • The phrase "prepared as the morning" (כְּמוֹ־שַׁחַר נָכוֹן - k'mo-shachar nakhon) conveys the idea of something firmly established, certain, and unfailing, like the regular appearance of dawn.

Practical Application

Hosea 6:3 encourages believers today to cultivate a diligent and consistent pursuit of God. Our spiritual growth and experience of God's presence are often directly proportional to our intentional efforts to seek Him through prayer, studying His Word, and obedience. Just as the morning brings light and rain brings life, God promises to reveal Himself and refresh those who earnestly seek Him with all their heart. This verse reminds us that God is faithful and will meet us as we draw near, bringing spiritual sustenance and growth into our lives.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hosea 14:5

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

  • Jeremiah 24:7

    And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

  • Psalms 72:6

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.

  • Philippians 3:13

    Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

  • Philippians 3:15

    ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

  • Proverbs 2:1

    ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

  • Proverbs 2:5

    Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

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