Hosea 6 · Verse 3

Hosea 6:3

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Hosea 6:3, King James Version

Hosea 6:3 in other translations

BSBSo let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.
WEBLet’s acknowledge the LORD. Let’s press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, the LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
ASVAnd let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.
YLTAnd we know--we pursue to know Jehovah, As the dawn prepared is His going forth, And He cometh in as a shower to us, As gathered rain--sprinkling earth.'
DARBYand we shall know, — we shall follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is assured as the morning dawn; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain which watereth the earth.
BBEAnd let us have knowledge, let us go after the knowledge of the Lord; his going out is certain as the dawn, his decisions go out like the light; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.
WebsterThen shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he will come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth.

What does Hosea 6:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. know, if we follow on to know the Lord--The result of His recovered favor (Ho 6:2) will be onward growth in saving knowledge of God, as the result of perseverance in following after Him (Psa 63:8; Is 54:13). "Then" implies the consequence of the revival in Ho 6:2. The "if" is not so much conditional, as expressive of the means which God's grace will sanctify to the full enlightenment of Israel in the knowledge of Him. As want of "knowledge of God" has been the source of all evils (Ho 4:1; 5:4), so the knowledge of Him will bring with it all blessings; yea, it is "life" (Joh 17:3). This knowledge is practice, not mere theory (Jr 22:15, 16). Theology is life, not science; realities, not words. This onward progress is illustrated by the light of "morning" increasing more and more "unto the perfect day" (Pr 4:18). prepared--"is sure," literally, "fixed," ordered in His everlasting purposes of love to His covenant-people. Compare "prepared of God" (Ge 41:32, Margin; Re 12:6). Jehovah shall surely come to the relief of His people after their dark night of calamity. as the morning--(2Sa 23:4). as the rain ... latter ... former--(Job 29:23; Joe 2:23). First, "the rain" generally is mentioned; then the two rains (De 11:14) which caused the fertility of Palestine, and the absence of which was accounted the greatest calamity: "the latter rain" which falls in the latter half of February, and during March and April, just before the harvest whence it takes its name, from a root meaning "to gather"; and "the former rain," literally, "the darting rain," from the middle of October to the middle of December. As the rain fertilizes the otherwise barren land, so God's favor will restore Israel long nationally lifeless.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Then shall we know - We shall have the fullest evidence that we have not believed in vain. If we follow on to know the Lord - If we continue to be as much in earnest as we now are. His going forth - The manifestation of his mercy to our souls is as certain as the rising of the sun at the appointed time. And he shall come unto us as the rain - As surely as the early and the latter rain come. The first, to prepare the earth for the seed; this fell in autumn: the second, to prepare the full ear for the harvest; this fell in spring. Here is strong confidence; but not misplaced, however worthless the persons were. As surely as the sun, who is now set, is running his course to arise on us in the morning, and make a glorious day after a dreary night, so surely shall the Lord come again from his place, and the Sun of righteousness shall arise on our souls with healing in his wings. He is already on his way to save us.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 6:1-3

An exhortation to repentance. (Hos. 6:1-3) Israel's instability and breach of the covenant. (Hos. 6:4-11) Verses 1-3 Those who have gone from God by consent, and in a body, drawing one another to sin, should, by consent and in a body, return to him, which will be for his glory, and their good. It will be of great use for support under afflictions, and to encourage our repentance, to keep up good thoughts of God, and…

Read the full comment on Hosea 6:1-3 →

Hosea 6:3 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.

וְנֵדְעָ֣הve.ne.de.'Ahand let us knowH3045
נִרְדְּפָ֗הnir.de.Fahlet us pursueH7291
לָדַ֙עַת֙la.Da.'atto knowH3045
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
כְּשַׁ֖חַרke.Sha.charlike [the] dawnH7837
נָכ֣וֹןna.Khon[is] steadfastH3559
מֽוֹצָא֑וֹmo.tza.'Ogoing forth hisH4161
וְיָב֤וֹאve.ya.Vo'so he may comeH935
כַגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙kha.Ge.shemlike the rainH1653
לָ֔נוּLa.nuto us
כְּמַלְק֖וֹשׁke.mal.Ko.oshlike [the] spring rainH4456
י֥וֹרֶהYo.reh[which] it watersH3384
אָֽרֶץ\׃'A.retz[the] landH776

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

Cross references for Hosea 6:3

  • Jeremiah 24:7

    And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

  • Hosea 14:5

    I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

  • Proverbs 2:1-5

    My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; …

  • Psalms 72:6

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

  • Philippians 3:13-15

    Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

  • Matthew 13:11

    He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

  • Zechariah 10:1

    Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

  • Luke 1:78

    Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

  • Micah 4:2

    And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

  • Malachi 4:2

    But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

  • 2 Peter 1:19

    We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we know.
2:20; Isa 54:13; Jer 24:7; Mic 4:2; Joh 17:3
if.
Pr 2:1-5; Mt 13:11; Joh 7:17; Ac 17:11; Php 3:13-15; Heb 3:14
his going.
2Sa 23:4; Ps 19:4; Pr 4:18; Mal 4:2; Lu 1:78; 2Pe 1:19; Re 22:16
as the rain.
10:12; 14:5; De 32:2; Job 29:23; Ps 65:9; 72:6; Isa 5:6; 32:15; 44:3
Eze 36:25; Joe 2:23,24; Mic 5:7; Zec 10:1

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

Context

  • Hosea 6:2

    After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

  • Hosea 6:4

    O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

Read all of Hosea 6

Hosea 6:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y conoceremos, y proseguiremos en conocer á Jehová: como el alba está aparejada su salida, y vendrá á nosotros como la lluvia, como la lluvia tardía y temprana á la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et nous connaîtrons et nous nous attacherons à connaître l’ Éternel. Sa sortie est préparée comme l’aube du jour; et il viendra à nous comme la pluie, comme la pluie de la dernière saison arrose la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So laßt uns Jehova erkennen, ja, laßt uns trachten nach seiner Erkenntnis! Sein Hervortreten ist sicher wie die Morgendämmerung; und er wird für uns kommen wie der Regen, wie der Spätregen die Erde benetzt."
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vivificabit nos post duos dies; in die tertia suscitabit nos, et vivemus in conspectu ejus. Sciemus, sequemurque ut cognoscamus Dominum: quasi diluculum præparatus est egressus ejus, et veniet quasi imber nobis temporaneus et serotinus terræ.