Hosea 14 · Verse 9

Hosea 14:9

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Hosea 14:9, King James Version

Hosea 14:9 in other translations

BSB	Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
WEB	Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
ASV	Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.
YLT	Who is wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein!
DARBY	Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.
BBE	He who is wise will see these things; he who has good sense will have knowledge of them. For the ways of the Lord are straight, and the upright will go in them, but sinners will be falling in them.
Webster	Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall in them.

What does Hosea 14:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. Epilogue, summing up the whole previous teaching. Here alone Hosea uses the term "righteous," so rare were such characters in his day. There is enough of saving truth clear in God's Word to guide those humbly seeking salvation, and enough of difficulties to confound those who curiously seek them out, rather than practically seek salvation. fall--stumble and are offended at difficulties opposed to their prejudices and lusts, or above their self-wise understanding (compare Pr 10:29; Mi 2:7; Mt 11:19; Lu 2:34; Joh 7:17; 1Pe 2:7, 8). To him who sincerely seeks the agenda, God will make plain the credenda. Christ is the foundation-stone to some: a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to others. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. But their fall is the most fatal who fall in the ways of God, split on the Rock of ages, and suck poison out of the Balm of Gilead.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? - What things? Those which relate to the backslidings, iniquity, and punishment of Israel; and to the mercy and kindness of God in their promised restoration. The things which belong to the work of sin in the heart; the things which belong to the work of grace in the soul; and particularly the things mentioned in this wonderful chapter. Prudent, and he shall know them? - He who endeavors to understand them, who lays his heart to them, such a person shall understand them. For the ways of the Lord are right - This is the conclusion which the prophet makes from the whole. All God's conduct, both in the dispensation of justice and mercy, is right: all as it should be, all as it must be; because he is too wise to err, too good to be unkind. The just shall walk, in them - This is a truth which he will always acknowledge; and illustrate it by a righteous and godly life. But the transgressors shall fall therein - Howsoever good they might have been before, if they do not consider the necessity of depending upon God; of receiving all their light, life, power, and love from him; ever evidencing that faith which worketh by love; maintaining an obedient conduct, and having respect to all God's precepts; they shall fall, even in the "way of righteousness." When still using the Divine ordinances, and associating with God's people, they shall perish from the way; and be like Ephraim, who once "spoke trembling," and "was exalted in Israel," who was "God's beloved son," and "called out of Egypt;" yet, by "offending in Baal," giving way to "the idols of his heart," fell from God, fell into the hands of his enemies, and became a wretched thrall in a heathen land. "Whoso is wise, let him understand these things! Whoso is prudent, let him know them!" - He who is well instructed will make a proper application of what he has here read; will tremble at the threatenings, and embrace the promises, of his God. The Targum is worthy the most serious attention. "The ways of the Lord are right, and the just who walk in them shall live for ever; but the ungodly, because they have not walked in them, shall be delivered into hell." How instructive, how convincing, how awakening, and yet how consolatory, are the words of this prophecy! Reader, lay them to heart. A godly mind cannot consider them in vain; such shall know them, and know that the ways of the Lord are right.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Who profit by the truths the prophet delivered? Such as set themselves to understand and know these things. The ways of God's providence towards us are right; all is well done. Christ is a Foundation Stone to some, to others a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence. That which was ordained to life, becomes, through their abuse of it, death to them. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. But those transgressors certainly have the most dangerous, fatal falls, who fall in the ways of God, who split on the Rock of Ages, and suck poison out of the Balm of Gilead. Let sinners in Zion fear this. May we learn to walk in the right ways of God, as his righteous servants, and may none of us be disobedient and unbelieving, and stumble at the word.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Hosea 14:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִ֤יmiwho?H4310

חָכָם֙cha.Kham[is] wiseH2450

וְיָ֣בֵֽןve.Ya.venand let him understandH995

אֵ֔לֶּה'E.lehthese [things]H428

נָב֖וֹןna.Vondiscerning?H995

וְיֵֽדָעֵ֑םve.ye.da.'Emand let him know themH3045

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588

יְשָׁרִ֞יםye.sha.Rim[are] uprightH3477

דַּרְכֵ֣יdar.Khei[the] ways ofH1870

יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068

וְצַדִּקִים֙ve.tza.di.Kimand righteous [people]H6662

יֵ֣לְכוּYe.le.khuthey walkH1980

בָ֔םVamin them

וּפֹשְׁעִ֖יםu.fo.she.'Imand transgressorsH6586

יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּyi.Ka.she.luthey stumbleH3782

בָֽם\׃Vamin them

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 14:9

Proverbs 10:29
The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Psalms 107:43
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Proverbs 1:5-6
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Psalms 19:7-8
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Jeremiah 9:12
Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Zephaniah 3:5
The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
Isaiah 26:7
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
1 Peter 2:7-8
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
John 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

wise.
Ps 107:43; Pr 1:5,6; 4:18; Jer 9:12; Da 12:10; Mt 13:11,12; Joh 8:47
Joh 18:37
for.
Ge 18:25; De 32:4; Job 34:10-12,18,19; Ps 19:7,8; 119:75,128
Eze 18:25; 33:17-20; Zep 3:5; Ro 7:12
and the.
Job 17:9; Ps 84:5,7; Pr 10:29; Isa 8:13-15; Mt 11:19
but.
Lu 2:34; 4:28,29; 7:23; Joh 3:19,20; 9:39; 15:24; Ro 9:32,33
2Co 2:15,16; 2Th 2:9-12; 1Pe 2:7,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Hosea 14:8
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Read all of Hosea 14

Hosea 14:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¿Quién es sabio para que entienda esto, y prudente para que lo sepa? Porque los caminos de Jehová son derechos, y los justos andarán por ellos: mas los rebeldes en ellos caerán.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Éphraïm dira: Qu’ai-je plus à faire avec les idoles? – Moi, je lui répondrai et je le regarderai. – Moi, je suis comme un cyprès vert. – De moi provient ton fruit.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wer weise ist, der wird dieses verstehen; wer verständig ist, der wird es erkennen. Denn die Wege Jehovas sind gerade, und die Gerechten werden darauf wandeln; die Abtrünnigen aber werden darauf fallen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ephraim, quid mihi ultra idola? Ego exaudiam, et dirigam eum ego ut abietem virentem; ex me fructus tuus inventus est.