Hosea 14:1 kjv
O israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
Hosea 14:1 nkjv
O Israel, return to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Hosea 14:1 niv
Return, Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
Hosea 14:1 esv
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Hosea 14:1 nlt
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for your sins have brought you down.
Hosea 14 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 14:2 | Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will render the fruit of our lips.” | Acknowledges sin and offers confession |
| Isaiah 55:7 | Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | God's willingness to forgive upon repentance |
| Jeremiah 3:22 | “Return, O faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not continue to be angry forever. | Echoes the call to return to God |
| Joel 2:13 | Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and the He may turn back his disaster. | Emphasizes sincere repentance |
| Luke 15:7 | Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. | Christ's teaching on the joy of repentance |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, | Peter's call to repentance |
| Romans 11:23 | And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has power to graft them in again. | God's faithfulness to Israel |
| 2 Corinthians 5:20 | So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. | Plea for reconciliation with God |
| Psalm 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. | God's desire for a contrite heart |
| Psalm 50:23 | The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God! | The connection between thanksgiving and right ways |
| Deuteronomy 4:30 | In your distress, when all these things have come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. | The promise of return in distress |
| Hosea 3:5 | Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. | Prophecy of future return |
| Isaiah 6:10 | And the Lord said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’” | Precedes a call to repentance |
| Jeremiah 29:13 | You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. | The condition for finding God |
| Matthew 18:3 | and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. | Becoming like children for entry |
| 1 Peter 2:25 | For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | Returning to the Shepherd |
| Acts 2:38 | And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. | Repentance leading to forgiveness |
| Ephesians 4:22 | to put off your old self, which belongs to your former conduct and is corrupted through deceitful desires, | Putting off the old self |
| James 4:8 | Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Drawing near to God |
| Psalm 34:18 | The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. | God's closeness to the brokenhearted |
Hosea 14 verses
Hosea 14 1 Meaning
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Hosea 14 1 Context
Hosea chapter 14 is the concluding chapter of the book, offering a message of hope and restoration after a lengthy discourse on Israel's spiritual adultery and God's impending judgment. This verse, the very beginning of the chapter, serves as a crucial turning point. It pivots from the pronouncements of doom to a tender, direct call to repentance and return to God. The prophet Hosea, commissioned by God, delivers this plea to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who had repeatedly turned away from Yahweh to follow pagan deities, leading to their impending destruction and exile. This chapter acts as a final invitation to forsake their idolatry and iniquity, promising abundant forgiveness and renewal if they would but return to their covenantal relationship with God.
Hosea 14 1 Word analysis
- Return (Hebrew: שׁוּבוּ, shuvu): This is a strong imperative verb, meaning "turn back," "turn around," or "return." It's not merely a physical return but a radical spiritual and moral turning from a wrong path back to the right one. It implies a complete reversal of direction.
- O Israel (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): This directly addresses the covenant people. It emphasizes their identity as God's chosen, yet fallen, nation.
- to the Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Yahweh): Refers to the personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship and faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness.
- your God (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֶיךָ, Eloheykha): Possessive, highlighting the covenant relationship. God is their God, chosen by them, yet they have abandoned Him.
- for (Hebrew: כִּי, ki): Introduces the reason for the call to return.
- you have stumbled (Hebrew: נָפַלְתָּ, naphaltā): Literally "you have fallen." It signifies a tripping or falling due to an obstacle, metaphorically representing the spiritual downfall caused by sin and error.
- because of (Hebrew: בְּ, be): Indicates the cause or source.
- your iniquity (Hebrew: עֲוֺנֵךְ, avonēkh): Signifies guilt, depravity, or wrongdoing. It points to the moral corruption and persistent sinfulness that has led to their spiritual collapse.
Hosea 14 1 Bonus section
The term "stumbled" (naphaltā) suggests a moral or spiritual faltering that occurs as a result of straying from God's path, much like tripping over something hidden in the way. This emphasizes that sin creates obstacles that cause spiritual downfall. Hosea's message here is not a new law, but a plea for a return to the foundational covenant established between God and Israel, reminding them of who they were chosen to be. This echoes the New Testament call to "turn from your idols to the living God" (Acts 17:30) and that the core of repentance is a genuine heart change that leads to a redirected life towards God.
Hosea 14 1 Commentary
This verse is a powerful and tender call to repentance from God Himself, delivered through the prophet Hosea. It’s the essence of the gospel invitation: recognizing our fallen state due to sin ("stumbled because of your iniquity") and being summoned to turn back to God, the God who is intimately bound to us by covenant ("your God"). The use of the imperative "Return" is not a gentle suggestion but a divine command rooted in love and a desire for restoration. It's a pivotal moment where judgment shifts to a plea for reconciliation. God initiates the offer of healing and hope by first calling His people back to Himself, highlighting that the solution to their spiritual ruin lies in their turning to Him. This echoes the entire redemptive arc of scripture: humanity's fall and God's persistent pursuit of reconciliation.