Hosea 10:12

זִרְע֨וּ לָכֶ֤ם לִצְדָקָה֙ קִצְר֣וּ לְפִי־חֶ֔סֶד נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְעֵת֙ לִדְרֹ֣ושׁ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה עַד־יָבֹ֕וא וְיֹרֶ֥ה צֶ֖דֶק לָכֶֽם׃

Sow for yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up for yourselves fallow ground, for it is time to seek YHWH until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.

Morphology

1. זִרְעוּ (zirʿu) – Root: זרע (zaraʿ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Sow”; Notes: A call to moral action and renewal—planting symbolic “seed” of righteousness in contrast to previous corruption.
2. לָכֶם (lakhem) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2mp; Translation: “for yourselves”; Notes: Emphasizes personal responsibility—each must cultivate righteousness individually.
3. לִצְדָקָה (li-tsedaqah) – Root: צדק (tsedeq); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “to righteousness”; Notes: Refers to upright behavior aligned with divine justice and covenant faithfulness.
4. קִצְרוּ (qitsru) – Root: קצר (qatsar); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Reap”; Notes: Follows the sowing metaphor—encouraging them to anticipate a harvest proportionate to mercy, not judgment.
5. לְפִי־חֶסֶד (le-fi-ḥesed) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Preposition לְ + construct phrase “according to the measure of” + noun masculine singular; Translation: “according to kindness”; Notes: “ḥesed” connotes steadfast love or covenantal loyalty—reward comes by divine grace, not mere human effort.
6. נִירוּ (niru) – Root: ניר (nir); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Break up” or “till”; Notes: Agricultural metaphor for repentance—softening one’s hardened heart to receive divine instruction.
7. לָכֶם (lakhem) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2mp; Translation: “for yourselves”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis—underscoring individual and communal responsibility to seek spiritual renewal.
8. נִיר (nir) – Root: ניר (nir); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “fallow ground”; Notes: Represents the unplowed heart, needing cultivation for righteousness to grow.
9. וְעֵת (ve-ʿet) – Root: עת (ʿet); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and it is time”; Notes: Urgent temporal marker—now is the season for spiritual seeking, not delay.
10. לִדְרֹושׁ (li-drosh) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to seek”; Notes: Suggests earnest pursuit of YHWH’s presence through repentance and faithfulness.
11. אֶת־יְהוָה (ʾet-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Particle אֶת + proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The direct object marker emphasizes the object of seeking—YHWH Himself, not mere ritual observance.
12. עַד־יָבֹוא (ʿad-yavo) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Preposition עַד + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “until He comes”; Notes: Marks duration—continuing in faith until divine response and renewal arrive.
13. וְיֹרֶה (ve-yoreh) – Root: ירה (yarah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and He rains” or “He teaches”; Notes: Double meaning—can signify both literal rain and divine instruction descending from heaven.
14. צֶדֶק (tsedeq) – Root: צדק (tsedeq); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “righteousness”; Notes: Represents divine justice and moral order restored through YHWH’s favor.
15. לָכֶם (lakhem) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2mp; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Concludes the verse with assurance—the fruit of righteousness will be granted personally to the repentant people.