Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. New Living Translation I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ English Standard Version Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Berean Standard Bible Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. Berean Literal Bible Sow for yourselves unto righteousness, and reap to the mouth of loving devotion; break up for yourself the fallow ground, for it is time to seek YHWH, until He should come and shower righteousness upon you?. King James Bible Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. New King James Version Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. New American Standard Bible Sow for yourselves, with a view to righteousness; Harvest in accordance with kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. NASB 1995 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. NASB 1977 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Legacy Standard Bible Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with lovingkindness; Break up your fallow ground, Indeed, it is time to seek Yahweh Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. Amplified Bible Sow with a view to righteousness [that righteousness, like seed, may germinate]; Reap in accordance with mercy and lovingkindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, For it is time to seek and search diligently for the LORD [and to long for His blessing] Until He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation on you. Berean Annotated Bible Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your? unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD {YHWH} until He comes and sends righteousness upon you? like rain. Christian Standard Bible Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the LORD until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain. Holman Christian Standard Bible Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain. American Standard Version Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Contemporary English Version Plow your fields, scatter seeds of justice, and harvest faithfulness. Worship me, the LORD, and I will send my saving power down like rain. English Revised Version Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Break new ground. Plant righteousness, and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me." It's time to seek the LORD! When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you. Good News Translation I said, 'Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.' International Standard Version Sow in righteousness in your own interest, reap in gracious love, break up your own unprepared ground; It is now time to inquire of the LORD, until he comes to pour out righteousness for you. NET Bible Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers deliverance on you. New Heart English Bible Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. Webster's Bible Translation Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he shall come and reign righteousness upon you. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. World English Bible Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSow for yourselves in righteousness, "" Reap according to loving-kindness, "" Till for yourselves tillage of knowledge, "" To seek YHWH, "" Until He comes and shows righteousness to you. Berean Literal Bible Sow for yourselves unto righteousness, and reap to the mouth of loving devotion; break up for yourself the fallow ground, for it is time to seek YHWH, until He should come and shower righteousness upon you?. Young's Literal Translation Sow for yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to loving-kindness, Till for yourselves tillage of knowledge, To seek Jehovah, Till he come and shew righteousness to you. Smith's Literal Translation Sow to yourselves for justice, reap ye for the mouth of kindness; break up to you the fallow ground: and the time to seek Jehovah till he shall come and cast justice upon you. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy, break up your fallow ground: but the time to seek the Lord is, when he shall come that shall teach you justice. Catholic Public Domain Version Sow for yourselves in justice, and harvest in the mouth of mercy; renew your fallow land. But the time when you will seek the Lord is the time when he will arrive who will teach you justice. New American Bible “Sow for yourselves justice, reap the reward of loyalty; Break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he comes and rains justice upon you.” New Revised Standard Version Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSow for yourselves righteousness, and reap a harvest of mercy; light a lamp for yourselves; for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and reveal his righteousness to you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Sow to yourselves righteousness and reap the mouth of grace; light up for yourselves a lamp because it is the time to seek LORD JEHOVAH until he comes and shows to you his righteousness OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Sow to yourselves according to righteousness, Reap according to mercy, Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He come and cause righteousness to rain upon you. Brenton Septuagint Translation Sow to yourselves for righteousness, gather in for the fruit of life: light ye for yourselves the light of knowledge; seek the Lord till the fruits of righteousness come upon you. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Retribution for Israel's Sin…11Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground. 12Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. 13You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,… Cross References Sow for yourselves righteousness Proverbs 11:18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward. James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. and reap the fruit of loving devotion; Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor. Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. break up your unplowed ground. Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns. Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.” Luke 8:15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop. For it is time to seek the LORD 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. Isaiah 45:8 Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it. Hosea 6:3 So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth. Joel 2:23 Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Matthew 13:3-9 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. / And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. … Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. / Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Treasury of Scripture Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness on you. Sow. Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Psalm 126:5,6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy… Proverbs 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. break. Jeremiah 4:3,4 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns… time. Psalm 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: rain. Hosea 6:3 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. Psalm 72:6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. Isaiah 5:6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. Jump to Previous Accordance Break Cause Earth Fallow Fruit Grain Ground Kindness Love Mercy Rain Rains Reap Reign Righteousness Salvation Seed Seek Sends Shew Showers Sow Steadfast Tillage Time Turned Unfailing View YourselvesJump to Next Accordance Break Cause Earth Fallow Fruit Grain Ground Kindness Love Mercy Rain Rains Reap Reign Righteousness Salvation Seed Seek Sends Shew Showers Sow Steadfast Tillage Time Turned Unfailing View YourselvesHosea 10 1. Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry, 12. and exhorted to repentance. Sow for yourselves righteousness This phrase calls for intentional action towards living a life that aligns with God's standards. In the agricultural society of ancient Israel, sowing was a familiar concept, symbolizing preparation and investment for future harvest. Biblically, righteousness involves living in accordance with God's laws and commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:25. The call to "sow" suggests that righteousness is not automatic but requires deliberate effort and commitment. and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain. Persons / Places / Events 1. HoseaA prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC, Hosea's ministry focused on calling Israel to repentance and warning of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness to God. 2. Israel The Northern Kingdom, often depicted in Hosea as an unfaithful spouse, symbolizing the nation's idolatry and spiritual adultery against God. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who desires a relationship with His people characterized by righteousness and loving devotion. 4. Agricultural Imagery The use of farming terms like "sow," "reap," and "unplowed ground" to illustrate spiritual truths about repentance and renewal. 5. Righteousness and Loving Devotion Key themes in Hosea, representing the ethical and relational aspects of Israel's covenant obligations to God. Teaching Points Sow RighteousnessBelievers are called to actively pursue righteousness in their lives, aligning their actions with God's standards. Reap Loving Devotion A life sown in righteousness will yield a harvest of loving devotion, deepening one's relationship with God. Break Up Unplowed Ground Examine and prepare your heart, removing any hardness or sin that hinders spiritual growth and receptivity to God's word. Seek the LORD Prioritize seeking God earnestly and consistently, trusting that He will respond with His righteousness and blessings. Divine Timing Understand that God's timing is perfect; be patient and faithful as you await His intervention and blessings. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Hosea 10:12?2. How can we "sow righteousness" in our daily lives according to Hosea 10:12? 3. What does it mean to "break up your unplowed ground" spiritually? 4. How does Hosea 10:12 connect with the concept of repentance in the New Testament? 5. In what ways can we "seek the LORD" more earnestly today? 6. How does God "rain righteousness" upon us when we follow Hosea 10:12? 7. What does "sow righteousness" mean in the context of Hosea 10:12? 8. How does Hosea 10:12 relate to the concept of divine justice? 9. What historical events influenced the message of Hosea 10:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Hosea 10? 11. Why did Assyria conquer Israel? 12. What does the Bible say about sowing and reaping? 13. What does "You Reap What You Sow" mean? 14. What did Jesus mean by "plentiful harvest, few workers"? What Does Hosea 10:12 Mean Sow for yourselves righteousnessWhen farmers scatter seed, they are choosing what kind of harvest will fill their barns months later. God calls His people to do the same with daily choices. • Personal responsibility—“for yourselves” reminds us no one can sow obedience for us (Galatians 6:7-8). • The seed—righteous acts that line up with God’s Word (Proverbs 11:18; James 3:18). • Practical fields—integrity at work, truth in conversation, purity in entertainment, generosity with resources. Every choice plants something that will sprout in time. and reap the fruit of loving devotion A righteous life produces a harvest saturated with “loving devotion,” God’s covenant-steadfast love. • The harvest—peace, joy, and relationships marked by mercy (John 15:8; Hosea 6:6). • God’s response—He delights to surround obedient children with His loyal love (Psalm 103:17). • Others taste the fruit—families, churches, and communities benefit when believers live devoted lives. break up your unplowed ground Hard, untilled soil cannot receive seed. God targets any area we have ignored or refused to change (Jeremiah 4:3). • Identify the hard spots—hidden sin, neglected prayer, pride, unforgiveness. • Tools for breaking ground: – Honest confession (1 John 1:9) – Daily Scripture intake (Psalm 119:9-11) – Consistent worship and fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Result—soft hearts ready for new growth (Luke 8:15). For it is time to seek the LORD The plow is urgent business. Waiting risks missing the season (Isaiah 55:6). • Seek intentionally—set apart time, space, and attention (Psalm 105:4). • Seek continually—make pursuit of God the first priority, not the last resort (Matthew 6:33). • Seek expectantly—He promises to be found by those who seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13). until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain God never commands without promising supply. When His people prepare the soil, He responds with a downpour of transforming grace. • Showers of blessing—just as early and latter rains guaranteed Israel’s crops (Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23), God pours out spiritual refreshment. • Ongoing reliance—the farmer cannot summon clouds; we cannot manufacture righteousness. We wait, pray, and trust (James 5:7). • Ultimate fulfillment—Christ’s return will drench the whole earth in perfect righteousness (Isaiah 45:8; Revelation 19:11-16). summary Hosea 10:12 pictures the spiritual life as a field. We are called to break up hard ground, deliberately plant righteous choices, and passionately seek the Lord. In response, He promises an abundant harvest of steadfast love and a life refreshed by showers of His righteousness. Sow well today; the rain is coming. (12) In their despair come some characteristic gleams of hope on the desolation; the eternal law which makes reaping a consequence of sowing will still apply. The mercy of God will be the harvest of a sowing to the Spirit. (Comp. Galatians 6:8; Romans 8:7-13; and Micah 6:8.) The very soil of the soul is fallow and unbroken. Break it up, seek Jehovah, and He will come as never before. This momentary rift in the storm-cloud shows the light behind it.Verses 12, 13. - Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy. These two verses contain a call to repentance and reformation of life, in figurative language borrowed from the same department of human industry, לצדי is "for righteousness;" that is, sow such seed as that righteousness may spring from it. לפי הי is "according to," or "in proportion to, mercy." When two imperatives are joined, is here, the latter indicates a promise, and may be expressed by a future, as, "Do this and live," i.e. "ye shall live" (Genesis 42:18). Kimchi explains it correctly, thus: "Sow to yourselves, etc., that is, do good in mine eyes, and the recompense from me shall be far greater than your good deeds, just as if one sows a measure (seah), and hopes to reap therefore two measures (seahs) or still more. Therefore, he uses in sowing righteousness, and in connection with reaping grace, in order to intimate that grace surpasses righteousness. Or that God rewards men's actions, not according to merit, but according to grace. As men sew, they reap; accordingly Israel is directed to sow ac-eroding to righteousness - to act righteously in their dealings with their fellow-men; and their reaping or reward would be, not in proportion to what they had sown, not merely commensurate with their righteous actions or dealings, not proportionate to what justice would give; but in proportion to mercy - Divine mercy, and so far above their highest deserts. They are promised a reward far above their poor doings, and irrespective of their sad failings - a reward, not of debt, not of merit, but of grace. The seed-time of righteousness would be followed by a reaping-time proportionate to the boundless measure of the Divine mercy. Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Here they are urged to turn over a new leaf, as we say; to begin a new life; to root out the weeds of sin; to eradicate those evil passions that checked and stifled any noble feelings, as the husbandman runs his plough through the fallow field, and breaks it up, clearing out the weeds and roots, that the ground may be pure and clean for the sowing of the seed in spring. The LXX., reading נוּרו, instead of נֵיר נירוּ for נִיר, and דָּעַח for וְעֵח translates accordingly by φωτίσατε ἑαυτοῖς φῶς γνώσεως. They are further reminded that it is high time to begin this process, laying aside their stiff-necked, perverse ways; expelling from their heart the noxious growth that had overspread it; and by every way and means working earnestly and zealously for a renewal of life and return to the long-neglected work and worship of Jehovah. Neither were they to relax their efforts till the blessed end was attained, עד, with imperfect, marking the goal to be reached; nor would their efforts be in vain. The Lord would rain - bestow abundantly upon them, or touch (another and more frequent meaning of the word), their righteousness. Thus the ground that had long lain fallow must be broken up; its waste, wild state must cease and give place to cultivation; the ploughshare must be driven through it; its wild growths and weeds must be cut down and uprooted. A process of renewal must succeed; the vices of their natural state, the idolatrous and wicked practices that had sprung up, must be abandoned. Renewal and radical reform are imperatively demanded. Matters had remained too long in a miserable and unsatisfactory condition. A long night of sinful slumber had overcome them; it was high time to awake out of that sleep. Too long had they shamefully forgotten and forsaken God; it was more than time to wait upon him. Nor would such waiting, if persevered in, end in disappointment; notwithstanding their great and manifold provocations, he would come and rain righteousness in welcome, refreshing, and plenteous showers upon returning penitents; and with righteousness would be conjoined its reward of blessing and salvation, both temporal and spiritual.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Sowזִרְע֨וּ (zir·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 2232: To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify for yourselves לָכֶ֤ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew righteousness לִצְדָקָה֙ (liṣ·ḏā·qāh) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively and reap the fruit קִצְר֣וּ (qiṣ·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7114: To dock off, curtail, to harvest of loving devotion; חֶ֔סֶד (ḥe·seḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty break up נִ֥ירוּ (nî·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 5214: To break up, freshly till your לָכֶ֖ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew unplowed ground. נִ֑יר (nîr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5215: Plowing, freshly plowed land For [it is] time וְעֵת֙ (wə·‘êṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular Strong's 6256: Time, now, when to seek לִדְר֣וֹשׁ (liḏ·rō·wōš) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH until עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while He comes יָב֕וֹא (yā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and sends righteousness צֶ֖דֶק (ṣe·ḏeq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity upon you לָכֶֽם׃ (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew like rain. וְיֹרֶ֥ה (wə·yō·reh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach Links Hosea 10:12 NIVHosea 10:12 NLT Hosea 10:12 ESV Hosea 10:12 NASB Hosea 10:12 KJV Hosea 10:12 BibleApps.com Hosea 10:12 Biblia Paralela Hosea 10:12 Chinese Bible Hosea 10:12 French Bible Hosea 10:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness reap according (Ho Hs Hos.) |
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