The Meaning of Hosea 14:9 Explained

Hosea 14:9

KJV: Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

YLT: Who is wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein!

Darby: Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.

ASV: Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who [is] wise,  and he shall understand  these [things]? prudent,  and he shall know  them? for the ways  of the LORD  [are] right,  and the just  shall walk  in them: but the transgressors  shall fall  therein. 

What does Hosea 14:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Hosea added a conclusion to his prophecies that is a word of wisdom for the discerning reader. One should learn three things from this book. First, the Lord"s ways (covenant commands) are the right (correct and, therefore, best) ways. Second, righteous people will choose to walk in the Lord"s ways and to keep His covenant commands because that results in blessing. Third, transgressors (rebels) will stumble over His ways and bring destruction on themselves for their disobedience. Their downfall results from their failure to obey His commands, to walk in His ways
This is an unusual closing verse in a Bible book in that it applies the teaching of the whole Book of Hosea to the reader.

Context Summary

Hosea 14:1-9 - "i Will Heal Their Backsliding"
The prophet here ransacks the world of nature for phrases sufficiently expressive of his transports of joy. The whole world seems laid under contribution to set forth the love of God. The gentle dew, the rich raiment of the lily, the far-reaching spurs and roots of the Lebanon range, the spreading branches of the olive, the fragrant breath of the wind which is laden with the perfume of the land, the golden corn ripe for the sickle, the scent of the vines-these are the images with which the inspired imagination of the prophet teems.
But how deeply the chapter appeals to us! The very words that returning prodigals would adopt are set down. As we return, we hear the divine voice assuring us that our backslidings shall be healed, that there is no anger and only love, and that God Himself shall be the sap of our fruit-bearing life. Our Father wants it to be clearly understood that these promises do not belong to Israel only but to all who will accept them. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 14

1  An exhortation to repentance
4  A promise of God's blessing

What do the individual words in Hosea 14:9 mean?

Who [is] wise and let him understand these things [Who is] prudent and let him know them for [are] right the ways of Yahweh and the righteous walk in them but transgressors stumble in them
מִ֤י חָכָם֙ וְיָ֣בֵֽן אֵ֔לֶּה נָב֖וֹן וְיֵֽדָעֵ֑ם כִּֽי־ יְשָׁרִ֞ים דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם

מִ֤י  Who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
חָכָם֙  wise 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
וְיָ֣בֵֽן  and  let  him  understand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
אֵ֔לֶּה  these  things 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
נָב֖וֹן  [Who  is]  prudent 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
וְיֵֽדָעֵ֑ם  and  let  him  know  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
יְשָׁרִ֞ים  [are]  right 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
דַּרְכֵ֣י  the  ways  of 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
וְצַדִּקִים֙  and  the  righteous 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
יֵ֣לְכוּ  walk 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בָ֔ם  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים  but  transgressors 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: פָּשַׁע  
Sense: to rebel, transgress, revolt.
יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ  stumble 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
בָֽם  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural