Hosea 14:2
Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
הערת לימוד
Study Note
God's invitation 'take with you words and return to the Lord' is one of the Hebrew Bible's most striking replacements of sacrificial ritual with spoken words as the medium of covenant restoration. The phrase 'render the calves of our lips' (nishalmah parim sefatenu) substitutes verbal praise for animal sacrifice, a substitution that anticipates the post-Temple traditions of Jewish liturgy and Paul's presentation of 'spiritual worship' (Romans 12:1) and 'sacrifice of praise' (Hebrews 13:15 explicitly quotes this verse). The specific confession proposed — 'take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously' — is a model penitential prayer that has influenced Jewish High Holiday liturgy and the structure of Christian confessional prayers. The verse demonstrates that prophetic spirituality was always capable of locating the heart of covenant relationship in speech and intention rather than exclusively in ritual performance.
תרגומים נוספים
Take with you words, and return unto Jehovah: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips.
Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah, Say ye unto Him: `Take away all iniquity, and give good, And we do render the fruit of our lips.
Take with you words, and come back to the Lord; say to him, Let there be forgiveness for all wrongdoing, so that we may take what is good, and give in payment the fruit of our lips.
הפניות צולבות
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath …
And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have …
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the …
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken …