Hosea 6:3 kjv
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.
Hosea 6:3 nkjv
Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
Hosea 6:3 niv
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6:3 esv
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6:3 nlt
Oh, that we might know the LORD!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring."
Hosea 6 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 6:3 | Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD. | Hosea 6:3 |
| Isaiah 55:6 | Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. | Isaiah 55:6 (Seeking God) |
| Jeremiah 29:13 | You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. | Jeremiah 29:13 (Wholehearted Seeking) |
| Matthew 7:7 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. | Matthew 7:7 (Principles of Seeking) |
| John 7:17 | If anyone is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak for Myself. | John 7:17 (Obedience Leads to Knowledge) |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. | John 14:26 (Spirit as Teacher) |
| 1 Corinthians 13:12 | For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. | 1 Corinthians 13:12 (Progressive Knowing) |
| 1 John 4:16 | So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. | 1 John 4:16 (Knowing God through Love) |
| Psalm 78:34 | When He killed them, they sought Him; they turned back and earnestly sought God. | Psalm 78:34 (Seeking God in Adversity) |
| Psalm 81:13 | Oh, that my people would listen to me, Israel, that you would walk in my ways! | Psalm 81:13 (Listening and Walking) |
| Proverbs 2:4-5 | ... if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. | Proverbs 2:4-5 (Diligent Seeking) |
| Romans 1:19 | For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. | Romans 1:19 (God Revealed) |
| Philippians 3:10 | that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. | Philippians 3:10 (Deeper Knowledge) |
| Hebrews 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Hebrews 11:6 (Seeking with Faith) |
| Isaiah 40:31 | but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. | Isaiah 40:31 (Waiting and Renewing) |
| Jeremiah 3:15 | Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. | Jeremiah 3:15 (Shepherds of Knowledge) |
| Joel 2:27 | So you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame. | Joel 2:27 (God's Presence and Shame) |
| Acts 17:27 | so that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. | Acts 17:27 (Seeking God's Proximity) |
| Romans 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! | Romans 11:33 (Depth of God's Knowledge) |
| 1 Peter 2:2 | Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— | 1 Peter 2:2 (Longing for Spiritual Growth) |
Hosea 6 verses
Hosea 6 3 Meaning
The verse expresses a confident assurance of God's certain and imminent return, akin to the reliable appearance of dawn or spring rain. It signifies that God's justice and salvation will be revealed, just as these natural phenomena are predictable and bring life. This knowledge should lead to earnest seeking and recognition of God.
Hosea 6 3 Context
Hosea 6:1-3 appears in a section of judgment where Israel is rebuked for their superficial repentance and covenant unfaithfulness. After a declaration of impending judgment (vv. 4-5), the prophet calls the people to genuine knowledge of the LORD. The preceding verses describe Israel's facile promises of return to God, contrasted with God's desire for sincere love and knowledge rather than mere ritual. The mention of "dawn" and "rain" is illustrative of God's faithfulness and his eagerness to bestow blessing upon a repentant people. The immediate context highlights Israel's backsliding and their understanding being shallow, not grasping the true nature of God's covenant and mercy.
Hosea 6 3 Word Analysis
- Kiy (כִּי): "Surely," "indeed," "for." This conjunction introduces a statement of certainty or explanation.
- Nedodaa (נֵדְעָה): From the root word "yadah" (יָדַע), meaning "to know." Here it is in the cohortative mood, "let us know." It implies not just intellectual awareness, but experiential, intimate knowledge.
- Nevyera (נִרְדֹּפָה): From the root word "radap" (רָדַף), meaning "to pursue," "to chase," "to press on." It's in the cohortative, "let us pursue" or "let us press on." This conveys an active, earnest seeking.
- Kohades (כַּשַּׁחַר): "As the dawn." Represents the coming of light, revelation, and the beginning of a new day.
- Wakaṭuv (וְכַגֶּשֶׁם): "And as the rain." Specifically, "late rain" (yoreh - יוֹרֶה), which was crucial for the growth of crops and signaled hope and provision.
- Mumtirah (מוּמְטִירָהּ): "Which waters the earth." From the root "masah" (מָסַס), to water or to moisten. It emphasizes the life-giving aspect of the rain.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Let us know... let us pursue to know the LORD.": This pair of verbs emphasizes a dual action required for genuine relationship with God. It's not passive reception but an active seeking and pressing forward in understanding and experiencing God. This reflects a longing for deeper spiritual intimacy beyond superficial religion.
Hosea 6 3 Bonus Section
The verse is a powerful statement about the nature of true spirituality. It contrasts the superficial religious acts of Israel with the profound desire God has for intimate knowledge. The "dawn" imagery speaks of God's revelation, while the "late rain" signifies His provision and blessing, both conditional on Israel's sincere pursuit. This yearning for God's presence and understanding is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, from the patriarchs to the apostles. The Hebrew terms convey a sense of eager, active, and persistent seeking, which is foundational for a genuine relationship with the Creator. The chapter sets up a profound paradox: judgment is coming due to unfaithfulness, yet a path to revival through seeking God remains open.
Hosea 6 3 Commentary
Hosea calls for an active and devoted pursuit of knowing God. Israel had shown a readiness to commit to God, but their commitment was fleeting and easily broken, like mist. The prophet uses the predictable and life-giving phenomena of the dawn and the late rains to illustrate the certainty of God's return and the abundance of blessing that would follow true knowledge and repentance. This implies that just as dawn dispels darkness and rain nourishes life, so God's presence brings revelation and spiritual renewal. The emphasis is on a sincere, diligent, and progressive engagement with God, moving from mere awareness to deep, abiding knowledge and experiencing His covenant faithfulness.