Hosea 10:12 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.

◄ Hosea 10:12 ►

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.

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.

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.

Majority 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.

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.

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 Version
Sow 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.

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 Bible
Sow 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 Bible
Sow 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 1917
Sow 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,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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.

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.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Proverbs 11:18
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

Luke 8:5-15
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. / Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings. ...

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Isaiah 32:17
The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.

Philippians 1:11
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. / Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. / And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.

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 Yourselves

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Hosea 10

1. Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry,
12. and exhorted to repentance.

Berean Study Bible

Sow for yourselves righteousness
The phrase "Sow for yourselves righteousness" calls the believer to actively engage in righteous living. The Hebrew word for "sow" is "zara," which implies planting with the expectation of a future harvest. In the agricultural society of ancient Israel, sowing was a critical activity that required faith in the unseen. Righteousness, or "tsedaqah" in Hebrew, refers to living in a way that is just and aligned with God's standards. This phrase encourages believers to invest in actions and behaviors that reflect God's character, trusting that such a life will yield spiritual fruit.

and reap the fruit of loving devotion
The concept of reaping "the fruit of loving devotion" suggests a harvest of blessings that come from a life dedicated to God. The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "chesed," which encompasses steadfast love, mercy, and kindness. This term is often used to describe God's covenantal love for His people. The imagery of reaping indicates that the actions of righteousness will result in experiencing God's faithful love and mercy. It is a reminder that God's blessings are often the result of living in accordance with His will.

Break up your unplowed ground
"Break up your unplowed ground" is a metaphorical call to prepare one's heart for spiritual renewal. The Hebrew term "nir" refers to fallow or untilled ground, which requires breaking and turning over to become productive. Spiritually, this represents the need for repentance and the removal of obstacles that hinder spiritual growth. Just as a farmer must prepare the soil to receive seed, believers are called to examine their hearts, remove sin, and be open to God's transformative work.

for it is time to seek the LORD
The urgency in "for it is time to seek the LORD" emphasizes the immediacy of turning to God. The Hebrew word "darash" means to seek or inquire, suggesting an active pursuit of God's presence and will. This phrase serves as a wake-up call, urging believers not to delay in seeking a deeper relationship with God. Historically, the prophets often called Israel to repentance and renewal, highlighting the importance of seeking God earnestly and without procrastination.

until He comes and showers righteousness on you
The promise "until He comes and showers righteousness on you" offers hope and assurance of God's response to sincere seeking. The imagery of God "showering" righteousness suggests an abundant and generous outpouring of His blessings. The Hebrew word "yarah" means to throw or cast, often used in the context of rain. This conveys the idea that God will respond to the faithful pursuit of righteousness by bestowing His grace and favor, much like rain that nourishes the earth. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness to those who earnestly seek Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(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.

Pulpit Commentary

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

Sow
זִרְע֨וּ (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

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OT Prophets: Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness reap according (Ho Hs Hos.)