I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

HOSEA 14:4KJV
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Hosea 14:4 (KJV)

What does Hosea 14:4 mean?

Hosea 14:4 presents God’s answer to Israel’s return: God will restore a people who have turned away from him and will receive them with willing love. The verse gives a reason for that welcome: God’s anger has turned away from Israel.

God speaks after Israel is told what to say on returning in verses 2–3. “Heal their backsliding” pictures Israel’s turning away as a condition that needs healing. The verse moves from “their” to “him,” speaking of the people together and then of Israel as one nation.

The Hebrew behind Hosea 14:4

  • “backsliding” — מְשׁוּבָה (meshuvah): This word carries the sense of turning away or being unfaithful. In Hosea 14:4, the illness to be healed is Israel’s departure from God, rather than a physical sickness.
  • “freely” — נְדָבָה (nedavah): This word conveys willingness or a free gift. God’s love is pictured as given willingly, not as something forced from him.

Why Hosea 14:4 matters

  • God’s words answer the request for mercy in verse 2. Israel asks God to “receive us graciously,” and Hosea 14:4 answers with God’s promise, “I will love them freely.”
  • The promise concerns a change in Israel’s condition as well as in God’s anger. “Heal their backsliding” addresses the turning away itself, while “mine anger is turned away” describes God’s response to the people.
  • The verses that follow develop the picture of recovery through plants and trees. Images such as Israel growing “as the lily” in verse 5 make the healing in verse 4 visible as renewed life and growth.

Where else these words appear

“backsliding” Hebrew H4878 · used in 12 verses

  • Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
  • Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
  • Jeremiah 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

“freely” Hebrew H5071 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
  • Numbers 29:39 These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.
  • Ezra 3:5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.

“heal” Hebrew H7495 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  • Jeremiah 3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.