Hosea 6:5

Similar fitful repentances have already forced Jehovah to interpose, like a severe but kind physician who will cut out the diseased part rather than suffer the evil to spread.

hewed them by the prophets i.e. warned them of the fatal consequences of their conduct. The divine or prophetic word has a destroying power ascribed to it (Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 49:2; Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 5:14; 1 Kings 19:17).

thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth -Thy judgments," i.e. those pronounced upon thee. According to this reading we have to supply -as," and suppose a sudden change of pronoun. The Septuagint, however, with the Peshito, and even the Targum, reads differently my judgment shall go forth as the light (this simply involves a slightly different grouping of the letters). -My judgment", viz. that upon Israel; -shall go forth", for we are no longer in the imagined future (as in Hosea 6:1); -as the light", that all may see it and tremble.