God’s Word Translation
Hosea 14:9
9Wise people will understand these things. A person with insight will recognize them. The Lord’s ways are right. Righteous people live by them. Rebellious people stumble over them.
Hosea 14:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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 upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.
Context of Hosea 14:9
7They will live again in God’s shadow. They will grow like grain. They will blossom like grapevines. They will be as famous as the wines from Lebanon. 8“The people of Ephraim will have nothing more to do with idols. I will answer them and take care of them. I am like a growing pine tree. Their fruit comes from me.” Wise people will understand these things. A person with insight will recognize them. The Lord’s ways are right. Righteous people live by them. Rebellious people stumble over them.
Read all of Hosea 14Hosea 14:9 word by word
מִ֤י חָכָם֙ וְיָ֣בֵֽן אֵ֔לֶּה נָב֖וֹן וְיֵֽדָעֵ֑ם כִּֽי־יְשָׁרִ֞ים דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- and he shall understandבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- and he shall knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- them? for the waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- rightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
- and the justצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- shall walkיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- in them: but the transgressorsפָּשַׁעpâsha‛ · to transgressH6586
- shall fallכָּשַׁלkâshal · to stumbleH3782
Cross-references for Hosea 14:9
- Psalms 107:43Let those who ⌞think⌟ they are wise pay attention to these things so that they may understand the Lord’s blessings.
- Proverbs 1:5a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction—
- Proverbs 4:18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.
- Jeremiah 9:12No one is wise enough to understand this. To whom has the Lord revealed this so that they can explain it? The land dies; it has been ruined like the desert so that no one can travel through it.
- Daniel 12:10Many will be purified, made white, and refined. But wicked people will do wicked things, and none of them will understand. Only wise people will understand.
- Matthew 13:11Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.
- John 8:47The person who belongs to God understands what God says. You don’t understand because you don’t belong to God.”
- John 18:37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus replied, “You’re correct in saying that I’m a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”
- Genesis 18:25It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
- Deuteronomy 32:4He is a rock. What he does is perfect. All his ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong. He is honorable and reliable.
- Job 34:10“You people who have understanding, listen to me. It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.
- Psalms 19:7The teachings of the Lord are perfect. They renew the soul. The testimony of the Lord is dependable. It makes gullible people wise.
- Psalms 119:75I know that your regulations are fair, O Lord, and that you were right to make me suffer.
- Ezekiel 18:25“But you say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Listen, nation of Israel, isn’t my way fair? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair?
- Ezekiel 33:17“But your people say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Yet, their ways are unfair.
- Zephaniah 3:5The righteous Lord is in that city. He does no wrong. He brings his judgment to light every morning. He does not fail. But those who are perverted are shameless.
Commentaries on Hosea 14:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Who 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Who is wise and he shall understand these things? - The prophet says this, not of the words in which he had spoken, but of the substance. He does not mean that his style was obscure, or that he had delivered the message of God in a way difficult to be understood. This would have been to fail of his object. Nor does he mean that human acuteness is the key to the things of God. He means that those only of a certain character, those “wise,” through God, unto…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9Verse 9 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9This final verse praises Hosea's words to wise and thoughtful believers of all generations.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Hosea 14:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hosea 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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