AfterwardThis term indicates a future time following the events described earlier in the book of Hosea, where Israel is depicted as unfaithful. It suggests a period of restoration and hope after judgment and exile. The prophetic nature of this word points to a time when God's redemptive plan will unfold.
the people of Israel will return
The return of Israel signifies repentance and a turning back to God. Historically, this can be seen in the context of the Babylonian exile and the eventual return to the land. Spiritually, it represents a broader return to faithfulness and covenant relationship with God. This theme of return is echoed in other prophetic books, such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
and seek the LORD their God
Seeking the LORD implies a sincere desire to know and follow God, contrasting with Israel's previous idolatry. This phrase emphasizes a restored relationship and a renewed commitment to the covenant. It aligns with the call to seek God found throughout the Old Testament, such as inDeuteronomy 4:29 andIsaiah 55:6.
and David their king
This reference to David points to the messianic hope rooted in the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7). It suggests a future leader from David's line, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the Son of David in the New Testament. This expectation of a Davidic king is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, including Isaiah and Jeremiah.
They will come trembling to the LORD
The imagery of trembling conveys a sense of awe, reverence, and fear of the LORD. It reflects a deep recognition of God's holiness and power. This response is consistent with biblical accounts of encounters with God, such as at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16) and in the visions of the prophets.
and to His goodness
God's goodness encompasses His mercy, grace, and faithfulness. This phrase highlights the benevolent character of God, who desires to bless and restore His people. The goodness of God is a central theme in the Psalms and is often associated with His covenant love and faithfulness.
in the last days
The term "last days" is eschatological, pointing to the future fulfillment of God's promises. It encompasses both the immediate future of Israel's restoration and the ultimate culmination of history in the coming of the Messiah. This concept is further developed in the New Testament, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul and Peter.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
HoseaA prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Hosea's life and marriage symbolize God's relationship with Israel.
2.
Children of IsraelRefers to the people of Israel, God's chosen nation, who are called to return to Him.
3.
The LORD their GodThe one true God of Israel, whom the people are urged to seek.
4.
David their kingSymbolically refers to the Messiah, a descendant of David, whom Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
5.
The Last DaysA prophetic term often used to describe the time of fulfillment of God's promises, including the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of God's kingdom.
Teaching Points
Return to GodThe call to return to God is timeless. Just as Israel was called to return, believers today are invited to seek God wholeheartedly.
Messianic FulfillmentUnderstanding Jesus as the fulfillment of the Davidic promise encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness to His promises.
Reverence and AweComing "trembling" to the LORD signifies a deep reverence and recognition of God's holiness and goodness.
Hope in the Last DaysThe prophecy points to a future hope, encouraging believers to live with an eternal perspective, anticipating Christ's return.
Personal RepentanceThe call to return is personal. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives and turn from anything that hinders their relationship with God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Hosea 3:5?
2.How does Hosea 3:5 illustrate Israel's future return to God and Davidic leadership?
3.What does "fear the LORD and His goodness" mean in a modern context?
4.How does Hosea 3:5 connect to the promise of a Messiah in Scripture?
5.How can we apply the concept of seeking the LORD in our daily lives?
6.In what ways does Hosea 3:5 encourage us to prioritize spiritual over worldly leadership?
7.What does Hosea 3:5 reveal about the future relationship between Israel and God?
8.How does Hosea 3:5 foreshadow the coming of the Messiah?
9.In what ways does Hosea 3:5 emphasize the importance of seeking God?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Hosea 3?
11.How does Jeremiah 30:9's prophecy of King David's restoration align with the fact that David was long dead and no successor reclaimed the throne?
12.If Ezekiel 37:24 refers to David as king, how is this consistent with a historical timeline where David’s dynasty effectively ended during the exile?
13.How do claims in Isaiah 4 regarding future restoration align or conflict with other Old Testament prophecies about judgment and destruction?
14.How can one reconcile the temple-building timeline in 1 Kings 5:5 with different dates given in other biblical passages?What Does Hosea 3:5 Mean
Afterward“Afterward” (Hosea 3:5) signals a real point in history following Israel’s exile and period of spiritual unfaithfulness.
• Scripture consistently pictures a future moment when God moves on Israel’s behalf after judgment has run its course (Ezekiel 36:33;Amos 9:14).
• The word sets our expectation for a literal, observable change, not merely a vague spiritual idea.
the people of Israel will returnGod promises that the very nation dispersed among the nations will be brought back.
•Deuteronomy 30:3-5 andIsaiah 11:11-12 anticipate a physical regathering.
•Ezekiel 37:21-22 describes one united Israel “from all the nations.”
• Modern returns to the land preview but do not exhaust the complete fulfillment that Hosea envisions.
and seek the LORD their GodRegathering is matched by heartfelt repentance.
• “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13-14).
•Zechariah 12:10 pictures Israel mourning over the One they pierced—a national turning that joins repentance with revelation.
•Hosea 6:1-3 links returning to the land with returning to the Lord spiritually.
and David their kingThe nation will also “seek … David their king.”
•Jeremiah 30:9 andEzekiel 34:23-24 speak of a future “David” shepherd-king.
• The promise can be taken literally as Messiah Jesus, the Son of David (Luke 1:32-33), reigning on earth, fulfilling the covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
•Ezekiel 37:24-25 joins restored Davidic rule with Israel’s permanent dwelling in the land, reinforcing a literal throne.
They will come tremblingReturn is marked by awe-filled humility.
•Psalm 2:11 couples “rejoice with trembling,” describing reverent joy.
•Hosea 11:10-11 shows children coming “trembling from the west.”
• This fear is not terror but reverent submission to God’s majesty.
to the LORD and to His goodnessIsrael will discover that the God they feared is overflowing with kindness.
•Jeremiah 31:12 depicts abundant goodness in the restored land.
•Romans 2:4 reminds that God’s kindness leads to repentance.
•Psalm 31:19 celebrates goodness “stored up” for those who fear Him.
in the last daysThe prophecy lands squarely in the end-times panorama.
• “In the latter days you will return to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 4:30).
•Isaiah 2:2-4 andMicah 4:1-3 envision global recognition of the Lord from Jerusalem, matching Hosea’s timing.
•Romans 11:25-27 foretells all Israel being saved after the fullness of the Gentiles, aligning with Hosea’s “last days” climax.
summaryHosea 3:5 promises that after a season of judgment, literal Israel will return to their land, earnestly seek the LORD, and submit to the Davidic King—Jesus the Messiah. They will approach with reverent awe yet be welcomed by God’s abundant goodness. These events unfold in the closing chapter of history, anchoring our hope in God’s faithful, unbreakable covenant purposes.
(5)
David their king.--Meaning the predicted representative of the Davidic dynasty. Thus Rehoboam and his house are spoken of as "David" (
1Kings 12:16). The phrase "latter days" is used indefinitely of the distant future, the horizon of the seer's gaze. It occurs in
Genesis 49:1 (Authorised version, "last days"). We can only see the fulfilment of this anticipation in the Messianic reign. (Comp.
Ezekiel 34:23;
Ezekiel 37:24.)
Verse 5. -
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord theft God, and David their king. The note of time in the beginning of ver. 5 is explained by Rashi to signify "after the days of the Captivity;" and by Kimchi as follows: "This will take place at the end of the days, near the time of salvation, when the children of Israel shall return in repentance." Though not comprehended in the symbolic representation that precedes, this statement is necessary to complete it. The future of Israel is the burden of this promise; the blessedness of that future is its brightness. It comprises three items - the reversal of their previous career, their loving return to the Lord their God, and their cordial reception of David their king. Contemporaneous with their sorrow for the sins of the past was their serious seeking of the Lord their God and submission to David their king. Their revolt from the Davidic dynasty in the days of Rehoboam was immediately followed by the idolatry of the calves which Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel. The reversal of this course is symptomatic of their complete recovery. The patriarch David was long dead and buried, and his sepulcher was in Palestine at the time when the prophet wrote; one, therefore, in the Davidic line, a descendant from, and dynastic representative of, the patriarch must be meant. That this was Messiah there can be no reasonable doubt; parallel passages in the other prophets prove this; for example: "I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them" (
Ezekiel 34:23, 25; comp. also Ezekiel 37:24). Again in Jeremiah (
Jeremiah 30:9) we read to the same purpose, "They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them." We can by no means concur with those who refer this promise to Zerubbabel as a later occupant of the Davidic throne; and just as little with those who, like Wunsche, hold that the prophet has no particular period and no particular person in view, but presents the prospect of a happy and blissful future when Israel would return to the pure worship of Jehovah and enjoy his gracious protection, and when the national prosperity would equal or even far
surpass that under the glorious reign of David
himself. The best Jewish authorities are quoted in favor of the same; thus Rabbi Tanchum says, "He (the prophet) understands the son of David, occupying his place, from his lineage, walking in his way, by whom his name shall endure and his kingdom be preserved." The Chaldee Targum translates in the same sense: "
They shall seek the worship of Jehovah their God, and obey Messiah, the Son of David, their king." So Aben Ezra
says that "David their king is this Messiah, Like 'My servant David shall be their prince forever' (
Ezekiel 37:25)." The well-known idiom of one idea expressed by two verbs, so that the rendering of the clause would be "They shall again seek the Lord their God, and David their king," if applied here, as undoubtedly it might, would weaken the sense, and so be unsuitable to the context.
And shall fear (literally,
come with trembling to)
the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. The comment of Kimchi on the first part of this clause is as follows: "They shall tremble and be afraid of him when they return to him, and shall with repentance wait for the goodness of redemption on which they have trusted." A somewhat different meaning is assigned to the words by Aben Ezra: "They shall return in haste, when the end (
i.
e. the time of redemption) comes to their own land with hasty course suddenly."
His goodness is taken by some in a concrete sense, as signifying the blessings which he bestows and the good gifts which he imparts; and by others in the abstract, as the Divine goodness or majesty, to which Israel resorts for the pardon of sin and the gracious acceptance of their petitions and answer of their prayers.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Afterward,אַחַ֗ר(’a·ḥar)Adverb
Strong's 310:The hind or following partthe peopleבְּנֵ֣י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descwill returnיָשֻׁ֙בוּ֙(yā·šu·ḇū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7725:To turn back, in, to retreat, againand seekוּבִקְשׁוּ֙(ū·ḇiq·šū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1245:To search out, to strive afterthe LORDיְהוָ֣ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069:YHWHtheir Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם(’ĕ·lō·hê·hem)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeand Davidדָּוִ֣ד(dā·wiḏ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jessetheir king.מַלְכָּ֑ם(mal·kām)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4428:A kingThey will come tremblingוּפָחֲד֧וּ(ū·p̄ā·ḥă·ḏū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6342:To dread, be in dread or in awetoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, tothe LORDיְהוָ֛ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069:YHWHand toוְאֶל־(wə·’el-)Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toHis goodnessטוּב֖וֹ(ṭū·ḇōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2898:Good, goodness, beauty, gladness, welfarein the lastבְּאַחֲרִ֥ית(bə·’a·ḥă·rîṯ)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 319:The last, end, the future, posteritydays.הַיָּמִֽים׃(hay·yā·mîm)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117:A day
Links
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OT Prophets: Hosea 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return (Ho Hs Hos.) 
