King James Version

Hosea 6:6

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

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Hebrew

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כִּ֛יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…חֶ֥סֶדchesedkindnessחֵסֵדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “kindness”, the ordinary formH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.חָפַ֖צְתִּיchafatstidesireחָפֵץverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “desire”, a completed actionH2654properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire[idiom] any at all, (have, take) delight, desire, favour, like, move, be (well) pleased, have pleasure, will, would.וְלֹאveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…זָ֑בַחzavachsacrificeזֶבַחnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “sacrifice”, the ordinary formH2077properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)offer(-ing), sacrifice.וְדַ֥עַתvedaatand cunningדַּעַתconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “and cunning”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1847knowledgecunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).אֱלֹהִ֖יםelohimGodאֱלֹהִיםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.מֵעֹלֽוֹתmeolotfrom ascentעֹלָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “from ascent”, the ordinary formH5930a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also H5766 (עֶוֶל).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

Young’s Literal Translation

For kindness I desired, and not sacrifice, And a knowledge of God above burnt-offerings.

World English Bible

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Darby Translation

For I delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

Douay-Rheims

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For I will have mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than whole-burnt-offerings.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Διότι ἔλεος θέλω ἢ θυσίαν, καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν Θεοῦ ἢ ὁλοκαυτώματα.

Quoted in

Matthew 12:7 Matthew 12:7 · King James VersionBut if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.Matthew 12:7 · King James VersionOpen the Source
have ye not read
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Matthew 9:13 Matthew 9:13 · King James VersionBut go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Matthew 9:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.