Prophetic Scriptures of Jesus' Suffering and Resurrection

Greetings, a servant of God, by the grace of God, teaching the truth of God under the authority of Jesus Christ to any who are willing to receive it. (Mat 13:43).

The Holy Bible contains the truth of God by the word of God (Joh 17:17); therefore, God teaches and gives understanding, wisdom, and knowledge to all who pray and seek Him with all the heart (Deu 4:29-31; Jer 29:12,13; Psa 119:2).

Jesus' Suffering and Resurrection Prophesied

In Luke 24:46, Jesus told His disciples that His suffering, and His resurrection on the third day, were written in advance (prophesied) and therefore necessary. In Luke 24:44, Jesus confirms the written prophecies concerning Him, where they are found, and the necessity to fulfill them. And Luke 24:45 shows that Jesus has the power to open one's mind to the Scriptures.

Here are all three Scriptures:

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

So if Jesus said His suffering and resurrection were written, the Scriptures have to be in the original ancient Hebrew text. His disciples confirmed them (Joh 2:19-22). They "believed " the (third day) "scripture." And later on, so did the apostle Paul (1Co 15:4). Jesus also narrowed down the search to the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms.

The law of Moses and the book of psalms have no contextual reference to one suffering and rising the third day. The prophets, and specifically the prophet Hosea, has two verses that do have contextual references to suffering and rising the third day - Hosea 6:1 and Hosea 6:2. Notice here from the King James version:

Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Hos 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight [presence].

Now, we must remember that these verses were translated into English from the original ancient Hebrew text. And it is common knowledge among theologians that this is not an easy, straight-forward task.

Here is an example of the translation challenges from the internet:

"Ancient Hebrew poses translation challenges due to its vocabulary, homographs, and lack of vowels, requiring contextual and cultural understanding. Cultural differences also impact translation, necessitating awareness of ancient customs and idiomatic expressions."

And if I may add, according to the working of Jesus the Christ, necessitating having one's understanding opened to the Scriptures (Luk 24:45).

So, with these things in mind, let us have a closer look at Hos 6:1 and Hos 6:2 along with the Strong's Dictionary References. We will start with Hos 6:1:

Hos 6:1 Come,H1980 and let us returnH7725 untoH413 the LORD:H3068 forH3588 heH1931 hath torn,H2963 and he will healH7495 us; he hath smitten,H5221 and he will bind us up.H2280

Let Us Return Unto the LORD

The first sentence is translated well and describes Hosea's plea for the house of Israel to return unto the LORD who they had forsaken through disobedience to His word (Deu 30: 1-3; Isa 55:7; Jer 3:12; Hos 7:10). However, in the next phrase we see that the word "hath" was added with "torn" which means to pull to pieces.

Jesus' Flesh Was Torn

At this time we will look at just how horribly the Lord Jesus Christ did suffer at the hands of the Romans while receiving stripes or lashes (scourging) from the Roman whip called "The Roman Flagrum". From the internet: "The Roman Flagrum was designed to quickly remove the flesh from a body of a victim. The Romans would, according to custom, scourge a condemned criminal before he was put to death."

Christ is not a criminal. But He is an example for all who suffer in the truth His name represents - the truth of God (Joh 7:16; 17:17). The Roman flagrum would literally leave a person's flesh torn from the body (Isaiah 52:14; Psalm 129:3; 1Pe 2:24). Peter's writings will help walk us through Hosea 6:1:

1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

Now, we will replace the added word "hath" with was:

Hos 6:1 Come,H1980 and let us returnH7725 untoH413 the LORD:H3068 forH3588 heH1931 hath [was] torn,H2963 and he will healH7495 us; he hath smitten,H5221 and he will bind us up.H2280

He Will Heal Us

The next phrase "and he will heal us" is recognized by Peter as having been fulfilled by Christ:

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.

And there are more examples of recognition of Christ's healing sacrifice:

Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah 53:4] the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled

Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Col 1:23 If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister [servant];

See the teaching The Kingdom of God - The True Gospel

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Rev 1:6 And has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

He Was Smitten

Hos 6:1 Come,H1980 and let us returnH7725 untoH413 the LORD:H3068 forH3588 heH1931 hath [was] torn,H2963 and he will healH7495 us; he hath [was] smitten,H5221 and he will bind us up.H2280

The next phrase has the words "he hath" added to the word "smitten" which means stricken or given stripes. Jesus endured both. Again, we will replace the added word "hath" with "was" smitten:

Job 16:10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

Job, Hosea, Isaiah, and the Gospels all converge in a single prophetic pattern: the righteous Servant is torn, smitten, surrounded by hostile men, yet ultimately healed and vindicated by God. Job speaks of being torn and smitten by an unnamed “they” (Job 16:9,10), a deliberate ambiguity that anticipates the same “they” who struck, mocked, and abused Christ in His Passion (Matt 26:67; Mark 15:19; John 19:3; Luke 22:64).

Hosea declares, “He has torn… He has smitten… He will heal us," a pattern fulfilled when Christ was wounded for our transgressions and healed us by His stripes (Isa 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24). Isaiah’s Suffering Servant is pierced, crushed, and led like a lamb to slaughter (Isa 53:4-7), and the Gospels record these very blows falling upon Jesus as the righteous One suffers at the hands of sinful men under God’s sovereign purpose. Job is the shadow, Hosea is the pattern, Isaiah is the prophecy, and the Gospels are the fulfillment: the Smitten Servant suffers by the will of God and at the hands of men so that through His wounds the people of God may be healed and walk in His presence.

Wrapped Firmly

Hos 6:1 Come,H1980 and let us returnH7725 untoH413 the LORD:H3068 forH3588 heH1931 hath [was] torn,H2963 and he will healH7495 us; he hath [was] smitten,H5221 and he will bind us up.H2280

The next part of the sentence has a long phrase added with the word "bind" which means to wrap firmly. Keeping in mind the torn flesh, consider the condition that the Lord Jesus Christ's body would have been in when removed from the cross . Now consider the following verses:

Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

The Hebrew verb used in the Hosea 6:1 phrase (“He will bind us up”) is ḥābash, which always means to bind up wounds, wrap torn flesh, or dress injuries. It never means “gather.” Therefore, the phrase aligns far more naturally with the image of Christ’s body being wrapped after being torn by scourging than with the idea of believers being gathered in a rapture. Hosea’s language in 6:1 is medical‑restorative, matching the smitten‑and‑healed pattern fulfilled in the suffering of Christ.

Now, keeping all the original Hebrew words, let us unfold the prophecy of Christ's suffering:

Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He was torn, and He will heal us; He was smitten, and He will be bound firmly.

I do not claim accuracy of this translation. Yet, the details of a prophecy that Jesus, the disciples, and Paul confirmed appear to be more than a coincidence.

Rising the Third Day From a Hot Space

On to Hos 6:2 for the prophecy of rising the third day:

Hos 6:2 After two daysH4480 H3117 will he reviveH2421 us: in the thirdH7992 dayH3117 he will raise us up,H6965 and we shall liveH2421 in his sight.H6440

In the first sentence, H4480 is for the word "After" which can mean a variety of prepositions such as "after" or "from" or "in". Our focus will be on the word "in". The word "two" has no specific connection to H4480 or H3117, and therefore was added. H3117 is from an unused root meaning "to be hot". It can also be used to describe a period of time such as a day or days in a specific place or space. We will use the phrase "In a hot space".

The next part of the first sentence has H2421 which means "to live". We will use the phrase "will he live". The word "us" was added and therefore will be left out. In the next sentence, "third" and "day" are properly translated and accurately fit the context of Jesus Christ rising the third day. However, the next phrase in the sentence "he will raise us up" has only one Hebrew word which means "to rise". We will use the phrase "he will rise up". And the last part "and we shall live in his sight" ( presence) is translated correctly based on Scriptures which I will provide later on.

Again, keeping all the original Hebrew words, let us unfold the prophecy of rising the third day from a hot space:

Hos 6:2 In a hot space will he live: in the third day he will rise up, and we shall live in his presence.

Again, no claim to complete accuracy. However, let's look at the contexts. "In a hot space will He live" speaking of where His Spirit would be after being released at His death:

Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished [prophecy fulfilled]: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost [Spirit].

Now, consider this verse from the Lord Jesus Christ on where His Spirit would be after His crucifixion until the third day rising:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The Greek word for "heart" means middle or center of the earth - a very hot space. And that would not be the first time He was in a hot space in the Spirit. Notice from the book of Daniel:

Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

And We Will Live in His Presence

Hos 6:2 After two daysH4480 H3117 will he reviveH2421 us: in the thirdH7992 dayH3117 he will raise us up,H6965 and we shall liveH2421 in his sight.H6440

The "we", from Hos 6:2 "we shall live in his sight", is referring to the called, baptised, believing followers of the body of Christ. And "shall live in His sight" refers to living in His presence which amounts to living in God's presence.

Now, here are Scriptures related to the called being in His presence:

Psa 31:20 You shall hide them in the secret of your presence from the pride of man: You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Psa 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto your name: the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Zep 1:7 Hold your peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has bid his guests.

Hosea 6:2 contains the clearest Old Testament prophecy of Christ’s third‑day resurrection, once the Hebrew is allowed to speak with its own imagery. The verse literally reads: “In a hot space will He live; on the third day He will rise up, and we shall live in His presence.” The preposition min (“in/from”) and the root of yom (“heat”) allow the phrase “in a hot space,” matching Jesus’ own description of His Spirit in “the heart of the earth” for three days (Matt 12:40). The verb chayah (“live”) and qum (“rise”) are singular, referring first to Him, not “us,” and the added English plurals obscure the prophecy’s Christ‑centered focus. Hosea’s sequence - He lives in the hot place, He rises on the third day, and then we live in His presence - perfectly matches the gospel pattern: Christ descends into the depths, rises the third day, and through Him brings the called out ones into the presence of God. This is the prophecy Jesus declared “written” concerning His resurrection on the third day (Luke 24:46), now unveiled in its original Hebrew clarity.

Let us conclude with Paul:

1Co 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1Co 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in His presence.

Glory Be to God

Jesus declared that His suffering and resurrection on the third day were written beforehand in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (Luke 24:44–46). The only prophetic text that explicitly contains this pattern is Hosea 6:1-2. In Hebrew, Hosea speaks of One who is torn, smitten, and bound, who then lives in a hot place, and who rises on the third day to reside over a people called into His presence. After the resurrection, the disciples understood that this section of Scripture was fulfilled in Christ (John 2:22; 1 Cor 15:4). Those who belong to Him now live in His presence, just as Hosea foretold.

The apostle Paul confirms that Christ’s resurrection on the third day was “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:4). The only prophetic text that explicitly contains the third‑day resurrection pattern is Hosea 6:2, which speaks in Hebrew of One who is torn, smitten, restored to life, and raised on the third day. Paul’s statement seals Hosea 6:2 as the very Scripture Jesus opened to His disciples in Luke 24:44-46.

Isaiah 58:12 describes the work of restoring ancient truth: rebuilding what has been neglected, repairing the breach between the Hebrew text and its translations, and raising up the prophetic foundations that point to Christ. Hosea 6:1-2 is one of those foundations - now restored to clarity in the light of the resurrection.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

Freely, I have received from the word of God; freely, I have given to all who would receive the truth of God.

Farewell,

Servanthood

FAQ - Prophetic Scriptures of Jesus’ Suffering and Resurrection

Q: Did Jesus say His suffering and resurrection were written beforehand? Yes. Jesus told His disciples that His suffering and resurrection on the third day were already written in Scripture (Luke 24:44-46). He also opened their understanding so they could understand prophecies in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning Him (Luke 24:45).

Q: Where in the Old Testament is the third‑day resurrection prophesied? The only prophetic text that explicitly contains the third‑day pattern is Hosea 6:1-2. Jesus said the prophecy existed, the disciples understood it (John 2:19-22), and Paul confirmed it as “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).

Q: How does Hosea 6:1 describe Jesus’ suffering? Hosea speaks of One who is torn, smitten, and bound. Jesus’ flesh was literally torn by Roman scourging, fulfilling the prophetic pattern (see Isaiah 52:14, Psalm 129:3, 1 Peter 2:24). Peter explains that Christ suffered as an example for His followers (1 Peter 2:20,21).

Q: What does “He will heal us” in Hosea 6:1 refer to? Peter directly applies this phrase to Christ’s suffering: “By whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Matthew confirms Isaiah’s prophecy that Christ took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses (Matthew 8:16,17). Through His death, He destroyed the devil’s power and delivered believers from bondage (Hebrews 2:14,15).

Q: What does “He was smitten” mean? The Hebrew word means “stricken” or “given stripes.” Jesus was struck, mocked, and scourged by hostile men, fulfilling the prophetic pattern seen in Job (Job 16:10) and Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:5). The Gospels record these blows falling upon Him (Matthew 26:67, Mark 15:19, John 19:3, Luke 22:64).

Q: What does “He will bind us up” mean? The Hebrew verb means “to wrap torn flesh.” After Jesus’ body was torn by scourging, it was wrapped firmly in linen cloths (Matthew 27:59, John 19:40). Hosea’s language matches the physical reality of Christ’s burial.

Q: How does Hosea 6:2 prophesy the resurrection? Hosea says: “In a hot space will He live; on the third day He will rise up, and we shall live in His presence.” The phrase “hot space” matches Jesus’ own words about being in “the heart of the earth” for three days (Matthew 12:40). The verbs “live” and “rise” are singular in Hebrew, referring to Him, not “us.”

Q: What is the “hot space” mentioned in Hosea 6:2? The Hebrew root for “day” (yom) can mean “heat.” Jesus said His Spirit would be in “the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40), a very hot space. Daniel also shows the Son of God present in fire (Daniel 3:25).

Q: Who are the “we” who live in His presence? The “we” refers to the called, baptized, believing followers of Christ. Scripture teaches that the righteous dwell in God’s presence (Psalm 31:20, Psalm 140:13, Zephaniah 1:7). Hosea’s prophecy matches the New Testament pattern: Christ rises, and His people live in His presence.

Q: Did the disciples understand this prophecy after the resurrection? Yes. After Jesus rose, the disciples remembered His words and believed the Scripture (John 2:22). Paul also declared that Christ rose “the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4), confirming Hosea 6:2 as the prophecy Jesus referenced.

Q: Why is Hosea 6:1,2 important for understanding prophecy? Because Jesus said His suffering and resurrection were written in advance (Luke 24:44-46). Hosea 6:1,2 is the only prophetic text that contains the full pattern: torn, smitten, bound, living in a hot place, rising the third day, and bringing His people into His presence.

Q: How does Paul summarize the meaning of this prophecy? Paul teaches that God chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). The resurrection fulfills God’s plan, humbles human pride, and brings believing followers into His presence.

Q: What is the final meaning of Hosea’s prophecy? Hosea foretells Christ’s suffering, His three days in the heart of the earth, His third‑day resurrection, and the calling of a people who will live in His presence. Jesus declared this prophecy “written,” the disciples understood and believed it, and Paul confirmed it. Hosea 6:1,2 stand as the Old Testament prophecies of Christ's suffering and resurrection.