“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.”
King James Version · the opening of the passage — the whole of it is condensed below
Israel's future return to the LORD after the time of trouble, with Hosea 6:2's resurrection pattern pointing to Christ.
The prophecy, condensed
“
For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. … I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. … Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. … After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. … 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 5:14-6:3 · King James Version · condensed from 148 words · every cut marked …
Read the full prophecy — all 5 verses
5:14For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
5:15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
6:1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
6:2After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
6:3Then 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.
Fulfillment References
1 Corinthians 15:4 Luke 24:46
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal'Come, and let us return unto the LORD... after two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up.' Israel's hope of national revival is read by the early church of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 'the third day according to the scriptures' (1 Cor. 15:4; Luke 24:46). The God who tears and heals, who raises up on the third day, is the one God; in Christ's rising, His people are raised with Him.
JewishA call to return to God who wounds and heals; the 'third day' revival read of Israel's national restoration after chastening.
CatholicThe 'third day' resurrection language, applied by the Fathers and the liturgy to Christ's rising; return to the God who heals.
ProtestantPaul's 'raised the third day according to the scriptures' (1 Cor. 15:4) likely alludes here; corporate revival as a type of Christ's resurrection.
AcademicWhether Hosea 6:2 is the referent of Paul's 'third day... according to the scriptures' is debated; in context it speaks of national restoration.
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