Hosea 6:10-11

Hosea 6:10-11 sum up the accusation. Wherever the eye of Jehovah falls, he sees a horrible thing… whoredom The former signifies abominations and crimes of every kind (Jeremiah 18:13); the second, the one outstanding sin, spiritual and literal whoredom.

Israel is defiled Compare Hosea 5:3. In Hosea 6:11 the prophet turns to Judah. This verse and Hosea 7:1 a, are thought by some to be a later addition; so that Hosea 7:1 b, “uncovered is the iniquity of Ephraim,” would be the continuation of Hosea 6:10. The omitted words might, indeed, be left out without affecting seriously the thought of the prophet, but that is not sufficient reason for rejecting them. LXX. differs from the Hebrew, and in some respects is to be preferred. Following LXX. part of Hosea 6:11 should probably be connected with Hosea 7:1, chapter vi, closing, “Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed to thee.”

Harvest Figure of judgment (Joel 3:13; Jeremiah 51:33). Judah, as corrupt as Israel, must share the latter’s fate. 11b, in the same construction as the opening words of Hosea 7:1, should be taken with the latter and rendered, “When I would turn the fortune of my people, when I would heal Israel.”

Returned [“bring back”] the captivity The Hebrew phrase which is frequently thus rendered in the Old Testament is literally turn a turning. In some cases the turning involved is the restoration from exile; in others a more general idea is expressed, a turning in the fortunes of the people, of calamity into prosperity; and this latter meaning is suitable in every place where the phrase occurs (Amos 9:14; Zephaniah 2:7, etc.). So here, “When I would turn the fortunes of my people.”