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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hosea 5:6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/5-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/28_Hos_05_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 5:6 - God's Judgment on Israel and Judah" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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he has withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the LORD, they will not find him, because he has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find <i>him</i>; he hath withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“With their flocks and herds They shall go to seek the LORD, But they will not find <i>Him;</i> He has withdrawn Himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the LORD, but they will not find <i>Him;</i> He has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the LORD, but they will not find <i>Him;</i> He has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and herds To seek Yahweh, but they will not find <i>Him</i>; He has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and with their herds To seek the LORD [diligently searching for Him], but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them [refusing to hear the prayers of the unrepentant].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD but do not find him; he has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD but do not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Jehovah; but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You offer sheep and cattle as sacrifices to me, but I have turned away and refuse to be found. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They go with their sheep and their cattle to search for the LORD, but they can't find him. He has left them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/hosea/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They take their sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the LORD, but it does them no good. They cannot find him, for he has left them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Although they bring their flocks and herds to seek the favor of the LORD, They will not find him--he has withdrawn himself from them! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they won't find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />With their flock and with their herd, "" They go to seek YHWH, and do not find, "" He has withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> With their flock and with their herd, They go to seek Jehovah, and do not find, He hath withdrawn from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />With their sheep and with their oxen they will go to seek Jehovah; and they shall not find; he withdrew himself from them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />With their flocks, and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />With their flocks and their herds, they will go to seek the Lord, and they will not find him. He has taken himself away from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />With their flocks and herds they will go to seek the LORD, but will not find him; he has withdrawn from them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him, because he has withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />With their sheep and with their oxen they shall go to seek LORD JEHOVAH and they shall not find him, because he has separated himself from them<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />With their flocks and with their herds they shall go To seek the LORD, but they shall not find Him; He hath withdrawn Himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/5-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=731" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/hosea/5.htm">God's Judgment on Israel and Judah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">5</span>Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: yê·lə·ḵū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">They go</a> <a href="/hebrew/6629.htm" title="6629: bə·ṣō·nām (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 3mp) -- Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock. Or tsaown; from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock; also figuratively.">with their flocks</a> <a href="/hebrew/1241.htm" title="1241: ū·ḇiḇ·qā·rām (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3mp) -- Cattle, herd, an ox. From baqar; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender; collectively, a herd.">and herds</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: lə·ḇaq·qêš (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">to seek</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">but they do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: yim·ṣā·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To attain to, find. ">find Him;</a> <a href="/hebrew/2502.htm" title="2502: ḥā·laṣ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to pull off; hence to strip, To depart; by implication, to deliver, equip; present, strengthen.">He has withdrawn Himself</a> <a href="/hebrew/mê·hem (Prep-m:: Pro-3mp) -- ">from them.</a> </span><span class="reftext">7</span>They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-15.htm">Isaiah 1:15</a></span><br />When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-12.htm">Jeremiah 14:12</a></span><br />Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-21.htm">Amos 5:21-23</a></span><br />“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-4.htm">Micah 3:4</a></span><br />Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/1-28.htm">Proverbs 1:28</a></span><br />Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/59-2.htm">Isaiah 59:2</a></span><br />But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/11-11.htm">Jeremiah 11:11</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/8-18.htm">Ezekiel 8:18</a></span><br />Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/7-13.htm">Zechariah 7:13</a></span><br />And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-21.htm">Matthew 7:21-23</a></span><br />Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/13-25.htm">Luke 13:25-27</a></span><br />After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ / Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ / And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-31.htm">John 9:31</a></span><br />We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-3.htm">James 4:3</a></span><br />And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm">1 Samuel 28:6</a></span><br />He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/58-2.htm">Isaiah 58:2-3</a></span><br />For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” / “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.</p><p class="hdg">go.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/10-9.htm">Exodus 10:9,24-26</a></b></br> And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we <i>must hold</i> a feast unto the LORD… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/15-8.htm">Proverbs 15:8</a></b></br> The sacrifice of the wicked <i>is</i> an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright <i>is</i> his delight.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/21-27.htm">Proverbs 21:27</a></b></br> The sacrifice of the wicked <i>is</i> abomination: how much more, <i>when</i> he bringeth it with a wicked mind?</p><p class="hdg">they.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/1-28.htm">Proverbs 1:28</a></b></br> Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm">Isaiah 1:11-15</a></b></br> To what purpose <i>is</i> the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/66-3.htm">Isaiah 66:3</a></b></br> He that killeth an ox <i>is as if</i> he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, <i>as if</i> he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, <i>as if he offered</i> swine's blood; he that burneth incense, <i>as if</i> he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.</p><p class="hdg">he.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/songs/5-6.htm">Song of Solomon 5:6</a></b></br> I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, <i>and</i> was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/5-16.htm">Luke 5:16</a></b></br> And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/4-4.htm">Find</a> <a href="/ezekiel/45-15.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-38.htm">Flocks</a> <a href="/ezekiel/46-6.htm">Herd</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-17.htm">Herds</a> <a href="/hosea/2-7.htm">Search</a> <a href="/hosea/3-5.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-39.htm">View</a> <a href="/ezekiel/18-17.htm">Withdrawn</a> <a href="/hosea/5-4.htm">Won't</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/12-4.htm">Find</a> <a href="/amos/6-4.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/hosea/12-12.htm">Flocks</a> <a href="/jonah/3-7.htm">Herd</a> <a href="/hosea/12-1.htm">Herds</a> <a href="/hosea/5-15.htm">Search</a> <a href="/hosea/5-15.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/hosea/10-12.htm">View</a> <a href="/luke/22-41.htm">Withdrawn</a> <a href="/hosea/9-2.htm">Won't</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/5-1.htm">The judgments of God are denounced against the priests, people, and princes, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/5-9.htm">both of Israel and Judah, for their manifold sins.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/5-15.htm">An intimation is given of mercy on their repentance.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hosea/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD</b><br>In ancient Israel, sacrifices were a central part of worship, and flocks and herds were often used as offerings to God. This phrase indicates that the people are attempting to seek God through ritualistic means, bringing their animals as sacrifices. However, their actions are superficial, lacking genuine repentance or heartfelt devotion. This reflects a broader theme in the Old Testament where God desires obedience and a contrite heart over mere ritual (<a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">1 Samuel 15:22</a>, <a href="/psalms/51-16.htm">Psalm 51:16-17</a>). The Israelites' reliance on external rituals without true faith mirrors the practices condemned by prophets like Isaiah (<a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm">Isaiah 1:11-15</a>).<p><b>but they do not find Him;</b><br>Despite their efforts, the Israelites are unable to find God. This suggests a spiritual blindness or separation due to their sin and idolatry. The inability to find God despite religious activity highlights the futility of empty rituals. It echoes the warnings given in <a href="/deuteronomy/4-29.htm">Deuteronomy 4:29</a>, where seeking God with all one's heart and soul is necessary to truly find Him. The people's failure to find God is a consequence of their unfaithfulness and serves as a call to genuine repentance.<p><b>He has withdrawn Himself from them.</b><br>God's withdrawal signifies His judgment and displeasure with Israel's unfaithfulness. This withdrawal is not arbitrary but a response to persistent sin and idolatry. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where blessings and presence are contingent upon obedience (Deuteronomy 28). The withdrawal of God's presence is a severe consequence, as seen in other instances like the Babylonian exile (<a href="/ezekiel/10-18.htm">Ezekiel 10:18-19</a>). This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate separation from God due to sin, which is reconciled through Jesus Christ, who restores the broken relationship between God and humanity (<a href="/romans/5-10.htm">Romans 5:10</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Hosea's ministry was marked by his marriage to Gomer, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness to God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, often depicted as unfaithful to God, engaging in idolatry and alliances with foreign nations.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The Southern Kingdom, also warned by Hosea, though not as prominently as Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who desires faithfulness and true worship from His people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/flocks_and_herds.htm">Flocks and Herds</a></b><br>Symbolic of the sacrifices and offerings brought by the Israelites in their religious practices.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/true_worship_over_ritual.htm">True Worship Over Ritual</a></b><br>God desires genuine devotion and obedience rather than mere ritualistic practices. Our worship should stem from a sincere heart.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_unfaithfulness.htm">Consequences of Unfaithfulness</a></b><br>Persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry lead to a separation from God, as seen in His withdrawal from Israel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Believers should regularly examine their hearts and motives in worship, ensuring they align with God's desires.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_return.htm">Repentance and Return</a></b><br>The path to finding God again involves sincere repentance and a return to His ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_presence.htm">God's Presence</a></b><br>The presence of God is not guaranteed by external actions but by a heart aligned with His will.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_proof_sacrifices_failed_in_hosea_5_6.htm">Hosea 5:6 – Is there external historical documentation showing that sacrifices stopped working for Israel during this period? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_sacrifices_in_leviticus_so_specific.htm">Why does God require such specific and seemingly arbitrary animal sacrifices in Leviticus 3, yet later biblical texts (e.g., Hosea 6:6) emphasize mercy over rituals?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_leviticus_1_and_hosea_6_6_align.htm">How does the emphasis on burnt offerings in Leviticus 1 align with later scripture stressing mercy over sacrifice (Hosea 6:6)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_god_want_sacrifices.htm">Does God desire sacrifices? (Hosea 6:6 vs. Exodus 29:18)</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) The vain effort to repent when it is too late. The spirit with which sacrifices of flocks and herds were offered is of more consequence than the multitude of such oblations (<a href="/micah/3-4.htm" title="Then shall they cry to the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.">Micah 3:4</a>; <a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm" title="To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? said the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.">Isaiah 1:11</a>; <a href="/psalms/40-6.htm" title="Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; my ears have you opened: burnt offering and sin offering have you not required.">Psalm 40:6</a>). Ghastly and revolting results follow the substitution of ritual of any kind for the weightier matter of the law.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord.</span> In this way they attempt to break, if not pro-vent, their fall. With numerous and costly sacrifices they endeavor to propitiate Jehovah. With sheep and goats out of their flocks, and with bullocks and heifers out of their herd, they try to make reparation for the past or to secure present and future favor. But in vain. Israel might go to Bethel and Judah to Jerusalem; but to no purpose. <span class="cmt_word">They shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself</span>. Their repentance came too late; or when it did come it wanted sincerity; or it was a wrong motive which prompted it - fear of approaching calamity and not love to their Creator; or their sins ran parallel with their sacrifice. Forgetting that obedience is better than sacrifice, they cherished a disobedient spirit or continued in their course of disobedience notwithstanding their outward sacrificial service. For one cause or other they fail in their efforts to find him; for, instead of being a present help in time of trouble, he has withdrawn beyond their reach; he has removed the Shechinah-glory of his presence from among them; or he has loosed himself from all those ties that once bound him in mercy to them, just as a husband frees himself from all responsibilities and disarms all liabilities on behalf of a faithless partner whom he has been forced to divorce. And such is the specific reason assigned in the next verse. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/5-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">They go</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵֽלְכ֛וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yê·lə·ḵū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with their flocks</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּצֹאנָ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṣō·nām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6629.htm">Strong's 6629: </a> </span><span class="str2">Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and herds</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבִבְקָרָ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇiḇ·qā·rām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1241.htm">Strong's 1241: </a> </span><span class="str2">Beef cattle, ox, a herd</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to seek</span><br /><span class="heb">לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḇaq·qêš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> </span><span class="str2">To search out, to strive after</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but they do not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">find Him;</span><br /><span class="heb">יִמְצָ֑אוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yim·ṣā·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He has withdrawn Himself</span><br /><span class="heb">חָלַ֖ץ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·laṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2502.htm">Strong's 2502: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pull off, to strip, to depart, to deliver, equip, present, strengthen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from them.</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(mê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/5-6.htm">Hosea 5:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/5-6.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 5:6 They will go with their flocks (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/5-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 5:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 5:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/5-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 5:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 5:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>