Hosea 14:4

Authorized King James Version

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I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

Original Language Analysis

אֶרְפָּא֙ I will heal H7495
אֶרְפָּא֙ I will heal
Strong's: H7495
Word #: 1 of 8
properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e., (figuratively) to cure
מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔ם their backsliding H4878
מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔ם their backsliding
Strong's: H4878
Word #: 2 of 8
apostasy
אֹהֲבֵ֖ם I will love H157
אֹהֲבֵ֖ם I will love
Strong's: H157
Word #: 3 of 8
to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
נְדָבָ֑ה them freely H5071
נְדָבָ֑ה them freely
Strong's: H5071
Word #: 4 of 8
properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift
כִּ֛י H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 5 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שָׁ֥ב is turned away H7725
שָׁ֥ב is turned away
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 6 of 8
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אַפִּ֖י for mine anger H639
אַפִּ֖י for mine anger
Strong's: H639
Word #: 7 of 8
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ H4480
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 8 of 8
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

Cross References

Isaiah 12:1And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.Isaiah 57:18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.Jeremiah 3:22Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.Hosea 6:1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.Zephaniah 3:17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.Jeremiah 14:7O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.Psalms 78:38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.Jeremiah 8:22Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?Jeremiah 5:6Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.Jeremiah 17:14Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Analysis & Commentary

I will heal their backsliding (אֶרְפָּא מְשׁוּבָתָם)—The verb רָפָא (rapha, heal) treats Israel's apostasy (מְשׁוּבָה, meshuvah—turning away) as a disease requiring divine cure. Only God can heal chronic unfaithfulness; Israel cannot self-reform. I will love them freely (אֹהֲבֵם נְדָבָה)—נְדָבָה (nedavah) means voluntary, spontaneous, uncoerced—a freewill offering. God's love is neither earned nor obligated; it flows from His sovereign grace alone. For mine anger is turned away (אַפִּי שָׁב מִמֶּנּוּ)—same verb שׁוּב (shuv): God 'returns' from anger as Israel 'returns' to Him. Hosea ends with covenant restoration—the marriage reconciled, the son welcomed home.

Historical Context

Hosea's final chapter offers unconditional restoration—'I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away'—after thirteen chapters of judgment pronouncements. This promise was delivered to a nation on the verge of Assyrian destruction (within decades of 722 BC), yet it looks beyond immediate judgment to ultimate restoration based purely on God's sovereign grace, not Israel's merit. The phrase 'love them freely' (Hebrew: ahavah nedavah, 'voluntary love' or 'freewill love') emphasizes that restoration depends entirely on God's gracious initiative, anticipating the New Covenant reality where God's love precedes and produces human response rather than rewarding prior faithfulness.

Questions for Reflection