Hos 6:5, 8:12, Mat 13:14 | JFB | STEP | 5. I hewed them by the prophets —that is, I announced by the prophets that they should be hewn asunder, like trees of the forest. God identifies His act with that of His prophets; the word being His instrument for executing His will ( ). by . . . words of my mouth — ( ). thy judgments —the judgments which I will inflict on thee, Ephraim and Judah ( ). So " thy judgments," that is, those inflicted on thee ( ). are as the light, &c.—like the light, palpable to the eyes of all, as coming from God, the punisher of sin. HENDERSON translates, "lightning" (compare Margin, ).

Hosea 6:5

5. I hewed them by the prophets—that is, I announced by the prophets that they should be hewn asunder, like trees of the forest. God identifies His act with that of His prophets; the word being His instrument for executing His will (Jer 1:10; Eze 43:3).

by . . . words of my mouth— (Isa 11:4; Jer 23:29; Heb 4:12).

thy judgments—the judgments which I will inflict on thee, Ephraim and Judah (Ho 6:4). So "thy judgments," that is, those inflicted on thee (Zep 3:15).

are as the light, &c.—like the light, palpable to the eyes of all, as coming from God, the punisher of sin. HENDERSON translates, "lightning" (compare Margin, Job 37:3, 15).

Hosea 8:12

12. great things of . . . law— (De 4:6, 8; Ps 19:8; 119:18, 72; 147:19, 20). MAURER not so well translates, "the many things of My law."

my law—as opposed to their inventions. This reference of Hosea to the Pentateuch alone is against the theory that some earlier written prophecies have not come down to us.

strange thing—as if a thing with which they had nothing to do.

Matthew 13:14

14. And in them is fulfilled—rather, "is fulfilling," or "is receiving its fulfilment."

the prophecy of Esaias, which saith— (Isa 6:9, 10 —here quoted according to the Septuagint).

By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, &c.—They were thus judicially sealed up under the darkness and obduracy which they deliberately preferred to the light and healing which Jesus brought nigh to them.