Hosea 12:6

“Therefore turn thou to thy God, etc.] Judah, with whom the Lord had a controversy, is here addressed and exhorted to return to the Lord, from whom they had backslidden; and this is urged, from the consideration of their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob; whose example they should follow, and make supplication to the Lord as he did; and from this instance of their progenitor might encourage themselves, that God, who was his God, and their God, would be gracious and merciful to them, and that they should prevail with him likewise, and obtain the blessing, and especially since he is the everlasting and unchangeable Jehovah. Turning to the Lord, as it supposes a going astray from…”

“thou--who dost wish to be a true descendant of Jacob. to THY God--who is therefore bound by covenant to hear thy prayers. keep mercy and judgment-- (Mic 6:8). These two include the second-table commandments, duty towards one's neighbor, the most visible test of the sincerity on one's repentance. wait on thy God--alone, not on thy idols. Including all the duties of the first table (Psa 37:3, Psa 37:5, Psa 37:7; Psa 40:1).”

“Therefore turn thou to thy God - (Literally, “And thou, thou shalt turn” so as to lean “on thy God.”) “And thou” unlike, he would say, as thou art to thy great forefather, now at least, “turn to thy God;” hope in Him, as Jacob hoped; and thou too shalt be accepted. God was the Same. They then had only to turn to Him in truth, and they too would find Him, such as Jacob their father had found Him, and then “trust in him continually. mercy and judgment” include all our duty to our neighbor, love and justice. The prophet. selects the duties of the second table, as Micah also places them first, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?”…”

“Turn - Repent, leave idols and all sins. He worshipped God alone, do you so; he cast idols out of his family, do you so too; be Jacob's children herein. Mercy - Shew kindness to all who need it. Judgment - Wrong none; but with justice in dealings, in judicatures; and public offices, render to every one their due. Wait on thy God - In public worship and private duties serve and trust God alone: let not idols have either sacrifice, prayer, praise, or trust from you; and let your hope and worship, be for ever continued. Hosea 12:7”

“12:6 The Lord admonished Israel to live no longer as Jacob did, but to return to God and act with love and justice.”

“turn: Hos 14:1; Pro 1:23; Isa 31:6, Isa 55:6, Isa 55:7; Jer 3:14-22; Lam 3:39-41; Joe 2:13; Zac 1:3; Act 2:38, Act 26:20 keep: Hos 4:1; Pro 21:3; Isa 1:16, Isa 58:6; Jer 22:15; Amo 5:24; Mic 6:8; Zac 7:9; Zac 8:16; Jam 1:27, Jam 2:13 wait: Gen 49:18; Psa 27:14, Psa 37:7, Psa 123:2, Psa 130:5-7; Isa 8:17, Isa 30:18, Isa 40:31; Lam 3:25, Lam 3:26; Hab 2:3; Zep 3:8 Hosea 12:7”

“To this God Israel is now to return. Hos 12:6. "And thou, to thy God shalt thou turn: keep love and right, and hope continually in thy God." שׁוּב with ב is a pregnant expression, as in Isa 10:22 : "so to turn as to enter into vital fellowship with God;" i.e., to be truly converted. The next two clauses, as the omission of the copula before chesed and the change in the tense clearly show, are to be taken as explanatory of תּשׁוּב. The conversion is to show itself in the perception of love and right towards their brethren, and in constant trust in God. But Israel is far removed from this now. This thought leads the way to the next strophe ( Hos 12:8 -15), which commences afresh with a…”