Hosea 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Original Language Analysis
לִצְדָקָה֙
to yourselves in righteousness
H6666
לִצְדָקָה֙
to yourselves in righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
3 of 18
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
קִצְר֣וּ
reap
H7114
קִצְר֣וּ
reap
Strong's:
H7114
Word #:
4 of 18
to dock off, i.e., curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)
לְפִי
in
H6310
לְפִי
in
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
5 of 18
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
חֶ֔סֶד
mercy
H2617
חֶ֔סֶד
mercy
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
6 of 18
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
נִ֑יר
your fallow ground
H5215
נִ֑יר
your fallow ground
Strong's:
H5215
Word #:
9 of 18
properly, plowing, i.e., (concretely) freshly plowed land
וְעֵת֙
for it is time
H6256
וְעֵת֙
for it is time
Strong's:
H6256
Word #:
10 of 18
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
לִדְר֣וֹשׁ
to seek
H1875
לִדְר֣וֹשׁ
to seek
Strong's:
H1875
Word #:
11 of 18
properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
14 of 18
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
יָב֕וֹא
till he come
H935
יָב֕וֹא
till he come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
15 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְיֹרֶ֥ה
and rain
H3384
וְיֹרֶ֥ה
and rain
Strong's:
H3384
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, to flow as water (i.e., to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e., to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by
Cross References
Isaiah 45:8Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.James 3:18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.Proverbs 11:18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.Isaiah 55:6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:Hosea 6:3Then 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.Isaiah 44:3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:Ecclesiastes 11:6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.Psalms 105:4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.Luke 13:24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.Amos 5:15Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Historical Context
Hosea's agricultural metaphor—'Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD'—employed imagery familiar to his 8th century agrarian audience. The command to 'break up fallow ground' addressed a spiritually hardened generation that had allowed hearts to become compacted and unresponsive to God's word, like neglected fields crusted over and unable to receive seed. Written during Israel's final years of independence, this exhortation called for radical spiritual renewal before divine judgment arrived. The promise that God would 'rain righteousness' upon prepared hearts anticipated the New Covenant work of the Spirit, who alone can transform human hearts from stony to receptive.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Hosea 10:12 deepen your understanding of God's character, particularly His holiness, justice, and mercy?
- What specific attitudes, thought patterns, or behaviors does this verse call you to examine and change in light of the gospel?
- How does this passage point forward to Christ and His redemptive work, and how should that shape your worship and obedience?
Analysis & Commentary
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy (זִרְעוּ לָכֶם לִצְדָקָה קִצְרוּ לְפִי־חָסֶד)—Agricultural metaphor for covenant ethics: plant צְדָקָה (righteousness) and harvest חֶסֶד (covenant love). Break up your fallow ground (נִירוּ לָכֶם נִיר)—uncultivated, hard-packed soil represents Israel's hardened heart needing deep plowing before new planting. Jeremiah uses the same imagery (Jeremiah 4:3). It is time to seek the LORD (עֵת לִדְרוֹשׁ אֶת־יְהוָה)—urgent call to repentance. Till he come and rain righteousness upon you—God Himself will bring revival like latter rains. Paul echoes this: 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap' (Galatians 6:7).