Hosea 6:3

KJV1611 – Modern English

Then shall we know, if we pursue to know the LORD: his coming is as certain as the morning; and he will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְנֵדְעָ֣ה נִרְדְּפָ֗ה לָדַ֙עַת֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה כְּשַׁ֖חַר נָכ֣וֹן מֽוֹצָא֑וֹ וְיָב֤וֹא כַגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ לָ֔נוּ כְּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ י֥וֹרֶה אָֽרֶץ׃

Transliteration

And-nēḏә'āh nirdәp̄āh to-lāḏa'aṯ ʾeṯ-YHWH; like-šaḥar nāḵôn môṣāʾô, and-yāḇôʾ like-the-gešem to-us, like-malqôš yôreh ʾāreṣ

Grammar Details

• *nēḏә'āh*: cohortative, 1st person plural - let us know
• *nirdәp̄āh*: cohortative, 1st person plural - let us pursue
• *lāḏa'aṯ*: infinitive construct with preposition - to know
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *šaḥar*: noun, masculine singular - dawn
• *nāḵôn*: Niphal participle, masculine singular - established/fixed
• *môṣāʾô*: noun + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his going forth
• *yāḇôʾ*: imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will come
• *gešem*: noun, masculine singular - rain/shower
• *malqôš*: noun, masculine singular - latter rain/spring rain
• *yôreh*: Hiphil participle - waters/gives early rain to
• *ʾāreṣ*: noun, feminine singular - earth/land

Word Meanings

• *šaḥar*: dawn/morning/daybreak
• *nāḵôn*: established/fixed/certain
• *môṣāʾô*: his going forth/his appearance/his rising
• *gešem*: rain/shower/downpour
• *malqôš*: latter rain/spring rain (March-April)
• *yôreh*: early rain/autumn rain/teaches

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to know Him. His coming is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And let us know,{H3045} let us follow{H7291} on to know{H3045} Jehovah:{H3068} his going forth{H4161} is sure{H3559} as the morning;{H7837} and he will come{H935} unto us as the rain,{H1653} as the latter{H4456} rain{H3384} that watereth the earth.{H776}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then shall we know{H3045}{(H8799)}, if we follow{H7291}{(H8799)} on to know{H3045}{(H8800)} the LORD{H3068}: his going forth{H4161} is prepared{H3559}{(H8737)} as the morning{H7837}; and he shall come{H935}{(H8799)} unto us as the rain{H1653}, as the latter{H4456} and former rain{H3384}{(H8802)} unto the earth{H776}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then shal we haue vnderstondinge, & endeuoure oure selues to knowe the LORDE. He shal go forth as the sprynge of the daye, and come vnto vs as the euenynge and mornynge rayne vpon the earth.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then shall we haue knowledge, and indeuour our selues to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come vnto vs as the raine, and as the latter raine vnto the earth.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then shall we haue vnderstanding, and endeuour our selues to knowe the Lord: he shal go foorth as the spring of the day, & come vnto vs as the rayne, and as the latter rayne vnto the earth.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain that waters the earth."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And 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.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And 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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So let us search for him! Let us seek to know the LORD! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land.”

Referenced Verses

• Ps 72:6 : 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
• Prov 2:1-5 : 1 My son, if you will receive my words and hide my commandments with you; 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
• Acts 17:11 : 11 These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
• Phil 3:13-15 : 13 Brothers, I do not count myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us, therefore, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think differently, God will reveal even this to you.
• Mic 4:2 : 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 His ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
• Mic 5:2 : 2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origins have been from of old, from everlasting.
• Mic 5:7 : 7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people like dew from the LORD, like showers upon the grass that do not wait for man nor wait for the sons of men.
• Zech 10:1 : 1 Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make bright clouds and give them showers of rain, to everyone grass in the field.
• Mal 4:2 : 2 But to you who fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and you shall go forth and grow up like stall-fed calves.
• Matt 13:11 : 11 He replied, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
• Luke 1:78 : 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us,
• John 7:17 : 17 If anyone will do his will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority.
• John 17:3 : 3 And this is eternal life, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
• Prov 4:18 : 18 But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
• Isa 5:6 : 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor dug; but briers and thorns shall come up: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
• Isa 32:15 : 15 Until the spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest.
• Isa 44:3 : 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing upon your offspring:
• Isa 54:13 : 13 And all your children shall be taught by the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children.
• Jer 24:7 : 7 And I will give them a 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 to Me with their whole heart.
• Ezek 36:25 : 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
• Hos 2:20 : 20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness: and you shall know the LORD.
• Hos 10:12 : 12 Sow for yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
• Hos 14:5 : 5 I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and strike his roots as Lebanon.
• Joel 2:23-24 : 23 Be glad then, children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the former rain in due measure, and he will cause the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
• Heb 3:14 : 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end;
• 2 Pet 1:19 : 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy, to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts:
• Rev 22:16 : 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
• Deut 32:2 : 2 My teaching shall drop as the rain, my words shall distill as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
• 2 Sam 23:4 : 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
• Job 29:23 : 23 They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
• Ps 19:4 : 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,
• Ps 65:9 : 9 You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it with the river of God, which is full of water; You prepare them grain, for so You have provided for it.