KennethBow's Blog

Return, O Yisrael , to Hashem your God, For you have fallen because of your sin.

SHU-vah yis-ra-AYL AD a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha KEE kha-SHAL-ta ba-a-vo-NE-kha

14:2 Return, O Yisrael , to Hashem your God. Hoshea concludes his prophecy with a direct cry to Israel to repent and return to Hashem .

This is a central theme of Hoshea’s prophecies; in this short book, the Hebrew word for ‘return,’ shuv ( שוב ), appears twenty-five times. Hoshea holds out hope that if the people wholeheartedly repent and return, the upcoming devastation can still be avoided. But for that to happen, two things must occur.

First, the people must recognize that their sinfulness has led to their predicament, as he says “you have fallen because of your sin.” More importantly, the commentators note that Hoshea uses the word ad ( עד ), which means ‘to,’ instead of el ( אל ) which means ‘towards.’

For repentance to work, it cannot be a fleeting fancy or a mere turning in God’s direction. Rather, the people must embrace a sincere commitment to renew the relationship with God and return, not just towards, but all the way to Hashem .

(Note from The Israel Bible in Hosea 14.2) Yisrael=Israel, Hashem=God. Hashem is used because the Rabbi felt God’s name too holy to speak. Hashem means name.

Have a blessed day….

Comments Off on The Return

H3887

לוּץ

lûts

loots

A primitive root; properly to make mouths {at} that {is} to scoff ; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to {interpret} or (generally) intercede: – {ambassador} have in {derision} {interpreter} make a {mock} {mocker} scorn ({-er} {-ful}) teacher.

I would surmise in my years of ambling around the country I could safely say I have met several thousand people. It is interesting that the Bible speaks considerably about a certain type of person called a scorner but I do not remember ever meeting a person who admitted being diagnosed with this condition.

I am wondering why the Bible speaks so much about a type of people who are seemingly extinct? If anyone knows how to identify this disappearing riff I would like your observation.

I read these verses and wonder why so much biblical verbiage for such a diminished group.

Any thoughts?

Psalm 1.1 Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Proverbs 9.7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:

and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

The Hebrew word here in these verses (h3887) is also translated interpreter, ambassador, derision (Psalm 119.51) and mocker (Prov 20.1).

So I am scratching my head saying being I have never met one, and there seems to be none around, and the Bible uses the word 27 times, who are these people?

Can anyone help me nail this down?

3 Responses »