Paragraph 10:12–15

Hosea is the speaker in this paragraph. He speaks to the people directly, using second person pronouns such as “you” and “yourselves.” He urges the people to seek the LORD instead of sinning as in their past. He also warns them how terrible the future judgment will be.

10:12–13

In 10:12–13, there is a new metaphor that compares Israel to a farmer. This replaces the metaphor of Israel as a heifer in 10:11.

10:12a–c

10:12a–c is a saying about sowing and reaping. It has a different purpose from the saying about sowing and reaping in Hosea 8:7a–b. Here Hosea urges the people to begin living righteous lives.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

12a
Sow for yourselves righteousness

12b and reap the fruit of loving devotion;

12c
break up your unplowed ground.

10:12a–b

Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion: This is a metaphor. It compares people who live in righteous ways to people who plant seeds and then harvest a crop. People who plant seeds of righteousness will harvest a crop of unfailing love.

Here are some ways to translate these two commands:

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Sow justice, and reap loyalty. (Revised English Bible)

Here are three ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

You should be people who are righteous, like someone who plants good seeds. The crop that you harvest later will be like a crop of love.

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

Live righteous lives and love will be the result.

10:12a

Sow for yourselves righteousness: To sow/plant righteousness is a figurative way to tell people to live righteous lives. righteousness is behavior that is fair and proper and conforms to the standards of the LORD’s covenant with Israel. It especially concerns good relationships between people. The meaning of the Hebrew word for righteousness includes being loyal, honest and just.

Here are other ways to translate this command:

Plant goodness (New Century Version)
-or-
Sow saving justice for yourselves (New Jerusalem Bible)

Sow: This word implies planting seeds. Some versions make “seeds” explicit. For example:

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
scatter seeds of justice (Contemporary English Version)

for yourselves: In Hebrew, this phrase emphasizes the importance of the command for the people Hosea is addressing. Some versions, including the New Living Translation (2004) and Contemporary English Version quoted above, do not make this phrase explicit.

10:12b

reap the fruit of loving devotion:
This clause is a figurative way to tell people that righteous conduct will result in love.

reap the fruit: The word reap normally means to harvest ripened grain or fruit. Some versions make it explicit that love is a figurative crop or fruit. For example:

and you will harvest a crop of love (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
harvest the fruit of loyalty (New Century Version)

loving devotion: This is the kind of love that conforms to the standards of the LORD’s covenant with Israel. The meaning of the Hebrew word for loving devotion includes being loyal, faithful, gracious, kind and merciful. See also the note on “loving devotion” at 4:1c.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

harvest faithfulness (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Reap loyalty (Revised English Bible)

10:12c

break up your unplowed ground: This command is part of the metaphor in 12a–b that compares the people of Israel to people who plant seeds and then harvest a crop. In order to plant seeds they must first prepare the ground by loosening up the soil. In this metaphor the hard, unplowed ground is similar to the people’s stubborn hearts or minds. That hardness must become soft. Then they will be willing to start living according to righteousness and love.

The Hebrew clause is more literally “plow for yourselves unplowed-ground.” See the note on “for yourselves” under 12a–b above.

Here are some ways to translate this command:

• Keep the metaphor. Make the implicit similarity explicit if it will be helpful. For example:

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts (New Living Translation (2004))

• Change the metaphor to a simile. Make the implicit similarity explicit if it will be helpful. For example:

Loosen your hard hearts/livers like people break up hard ground for planting.

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

Open your hearts/minds and start following the ways of the LORD.

General Comment on 10:12a–c

In some languages, it may be confusing that the command to prepare the ground in 12c follows the commands to sow and reap in 12a–b. A farmer will normally break up unplowed ground first, before he sows and reaps. For that reason, it may be preferable to rearrange the order of these three clauses. See 10:12a–c (combined/reordered) in the Display.

10:12d

For it is time to seek the LORD: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The Masoretic Text has “and it is time.” For example:

break up your fallow ground; It is time to seek the Lord (Revised English Bible)

(2) The LXX has “of knowledge.” For example:

plow the new ground of knowledge (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

In the Hebrew text, this clause begins with a conjunction that often means “and.” However, in this context, it probably introduces a reason. The reason to sow righteousness, reap love and break up hard ground is because it is time to seek him. Some versions make it clear that this is a reason by using a word such as “for.” For example:

Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the LORD (NET Bible)

Some versions leave it implied that this is a reason. Some use punctuation to indicate it. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible has a colon that implies reason:

break up your fallow ground: it is time to seek out Yahweh (New Jerusalem Bible)

it is time: This phrase indicates that the people should not delay to seek the LORD. The words may add a sense of urgency to the command. Some versions make this urgency explicit. For example:

for now is the time to seek the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))

to seek the LORD: This phrase implies serious and persistent effort. It may refer to a time of distress or crisis in which the people turn away from their sin and turn to him in order to worship and serve him. For more information on what it means to seek the LORD, see the note on 3:5a.

10:12e

until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain: In this clause, Hosea tells the people how long they should seek the LORD and what his response will be when they seek him.

until He comes: They should seek the LORD until He comes. This phrase is a figurative way to say that the LORD will restore his relationship with them. He will be gracious to them again. This statement implies that previously the LORD had withdrawn from them. See 5:6 and 5:15 for more information.

and sends righteousness upon you like rain: More literally, this clause part says “he will rain down righteousness on you.” The words like rain or showers imply that the righteousness he gives is refreshing and life-giving. The phrase indicates that the LORD will treat them justly and bless them according to what is right.

The word righteousness here is the same Hebrew word as in 12a, that the people are to sow. For the meaning of this word see the note on “Sow for yourselves righteousness” in 10:12a.

Here are some other ways to translate 10:12e:

until he comes and pours goodness on you like water. (New Century Version)
-or-
and I will come and pour out blessings upon you. (Good News Translation)

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