Hosea 12:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The call is to return to God, to practice mercy and justice, and to wait on him without ceasing.
What Does Hosea 12:6 Mean?
After recalling Jacob, the prophet presses the lesson home with a direct command. Turn thou to thy God: the same word used for repentance throughout the prophets, a wholehearted turning back. The marks of that return are named plainly: keep mercy and judgment, that is steadfast love and justice, and wait on God continually.
This is the heart of the chapter's appeal. Returning to God is not mere ritual but a changed life that holds to covenant kindness and does right by others, while keeping the soul fixed on God in patient trust. To wait continually is to live with one's hope set always on him rather than on schemes and alliances. The verse gathers the whole summons into a single, livable path: turn, love, do justice, and keep waiting on the Lord.
Hosea 12:6 in the Original Language
shuv (שׁוּב), 'turn' -- to return or turn back, the central prophetic word for repentance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 12:6
What does Hosea 12:6 mean?
The call is to return to God, to practice mercy and justice, and to wait on him without ceasing.