Hosea 5:15

Authorized King James Version

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I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Original Language Analysis

אֵלֵ֤ךְ H1980
אֵלֵ֤ךְ
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 1 of 12
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
אָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ and return H7725
אָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ and return
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 2 of 12
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 3 of 12
near, with or among; often in general, to
מְקוֹמִ֔י to my place H4725
מְקוֹמִ֔י to my place
Strong's: H4725
Word #: 4 of 12
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
עַ֥ד H5704
עַ֥ד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 5 of 12
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
אֲשֶֽׁר H834
אֲשֶֽׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 6 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יֶאְשְׁמ֖וּ till they acknowledge their offence H816
יֶאְשְׁמ֖וּ till they acknowledge their offence
Strong's: H816
Word #: 7 of 12
to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish
וּבִקְשׁ֣וּ and seek H1245
וּבִקְשׁ֣וּ and seek
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 8 of 12
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
פָנָ֑י my face H6440
פָנָ֑י my face
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 9 of 12
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בַּצַּ֥ר in their affliction H6862
בַּצַּ֥ר in their affliction
Strong's: H6862
Word #: 10 of 12
a pebble (as in h6864)
לָהֶ֖ם H1992
לָהֶ֖ם
Strong's: H1992
Word #: 11 of 12
they (only used when emphatic)
יְשַׁחֲרֻֽנְנִי׃ they will seek me early H7836
יְשַׁחֲרֻֽנְנִי׃ they will seek me early
Strong's: H7836
Word #: 12 of 12
properly, to dawn, i.e., (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking

Cross References

Isaiah 26:16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.Psalms 78:34When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.Psalms 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Jeremiah 2:27Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.Jeremiah 3:13Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.Isaiah 26:9With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.Luke 13:25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:Ezekiel 6:9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.Ezekiel 36:31Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.Hosea 3:5Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Analysis & Commentary

Divine withdrawal unto repentance: 'I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.' God declares withdrawal to 'my place' (מְקוֹמִי, meqomi—likely heaven, or presence), remaining there עַד (ad, until) they acknowledge guilt (אָשַׁם, asham) and seek His face. The phrase 'in their affliction they will seek me early' (בַּצַּר לָהֶם יְשַׁחֲרֻנְנִי, batssar lahem yeshacharuneni—literally 'in distress they will seek me diligently/early') suggests adversity produces desperation driving return to God. This demonstrates God's purpose in judgment: not destruction but repentance. Affliction serves redemptive purpose—suffering intended to produce seeking. Only Christ's finished work makes God permanently accessible (Hebrews 10:19-22), ending need for repeated seeking.

Historical Context

The pattern of affliction producing repentance appears throughout Judges (Judges 3:9,15; 4:3; 6:6-7; 10:10). Israel's cycle: apostasy, oppression, crying out, deliverance. Exile similarly intended to produce genuine repentance. Deuteronomy 4:29-31 promises: 'if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart...in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God.' The promise partially fulfilled in post-exilic return (Ezra, Nehemiah) but ultimately in remnant accepting Messiah. Church history similarly shows persecution producing deeper faith—comfortable Christianity often breeds complacency; affliction refines and purifies.

Questions for Reflection