Hosea 6 Commentary

Hosea 6 begins with a brief interlude in the form of a penitent prayer, in verses 1-3. A voice from the covenant community earnestly urges the people to seek the LORD after they have experienced His severe judgment. After the interlude of verses 1-3, the LORD resumes His indictment on Israel and Judah that began in Chapter 4.

In verses 4-10, God accuses and condemns the people for covenant infidelity and false worship. The crux of the passage is that God delights in loyalty more than outward observance. This commentary takes the position that verse 11 is best seen as the beginning of Chapter 7.

The chapter's outline is as follows:

1. After being severely afflicted, a future generation of Israelites will earnestly seek the LORD. A voice from the nation will urge the people to return to the LORD so that they may live in His presence and experience His blessings (vv. 1-3).
2. The LORD accuses and condemns Israel and Judah for their covenant infidelity and false devotion to Him. He tells His people that He desires loyalty more than sacrifices performed as religious formalism (vv. 4-6).
3. The LORD ends this chapter with an illustration of covenant infidelity committed by both Israel and Judah (vv. 7-11a).