Hosea 12:6

Authorized King James Version

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Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

Original Language Analysis

וְאַתָּ֖ה H859
וְאַתָּ֖ה
Strong's: H859
Word #: 1 of 10
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ on thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ on thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 2 of 10
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
תָשׁ֑וּב Therefore turn H7725
תָשׁ֑וּב Therefore turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 3 of 10
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
חֶ֤סֶד mercy H2617
חֶ֤סֶד mercy
Strong's: H2617
Word #: 4 of 10
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
וּמִשְׁפָּט֙ and judgment H4941
וּמִשְׁפָּט֙ and judgment
Strong's: H4941
Word #: 5 of 10
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
שְׁמֹ֔ר keep H8104
שְׁמֹ֔ר keep
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 6 of 10
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
וְקַוֵּ֥ה and wait H6960
וְקַוֵּ֥ה and wait
Strong's: H6960
Word #: 7 of 10
to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e., collect; (figuratively) to expect
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 8 of 10
near, with or among; often in general, to
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ on thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ on thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 9 of 10
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
תָּמִֽיד׃ continually H8548
תָּמִֽיד׃ continually
Strong's: H8548
Word #: 10 of 10
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the re

Analysis & Commentary

God's call to covenant renewal: 'Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.' The Hebrew imperatives are direct: 'we-attah be-Eloheka tashuv' (and you, to your God return), 'hesed u-mishpat shemor' (mercy and justice keep), 'qavveh el-Eloheka tamid' (wait on your God continually). The three-fold summons:

  1. return/repent (shub—turn back from idolatry to YHWH)
  2. practice covenant loyalty and justice (hesed u-mishpat—internal devotion and external righteousness)
  3. wait on God continually (qavah—hope/trust, persistently).

This encapsulates covenant faithfulness: right relationship with God (return/wait) produces right treatment of others (mercy/justice). Micah 6:8 parallels: 'do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with thy God.' True religion combines vertical and horizontal dimensions.

Historical Context

Context includes Israel's history of deception and violence (v. 7-8: merchant using false balances, loving to oppress), contrasted with Jacob's wrestling with God and prevailing through persistence (v. 3-4, referencing Genesis 32:24-30). The call to 'return' assumes Israel had departed; 'wait continually' implies sustained trust, not sporadic devotion. Israel's pattern was cyclical apostasy (Judges period repeated in kingdom era). God calls them back to consistent covenant life: mercy (hesed) toward covenant community, justice (mishpat) in all dealings, persistent dependence on God. This anticipates Jesus's summary of the law: love God, love neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Genuine faith produces both worship and ethics, vertical and horizontal righteousness.

Questions for Reflection