Hosea 14:4-9

4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;

6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

7 People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine— Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what more have I^[a] to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me.”

9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14:4-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 14

This chapter concludes the book, with gracious promises to repenting sinners, to returning backsliders. It begins with an exhortation to Israel to return to the Lord, seeing he was their God, and they had fallen by sin from prosperity into adversity, temporal and spiritual, Ho 14:1; and they are directed what to say to the Lord, upon their return to him, both by way of petition, and of promise and of resolution how to behave for the future, encouraged by his grace and mercy, Ho 14:2,3; and they are told what the Lord, by way of answer, would say to them, Ho 14:4; and what he would be to them; and what blessings of grace he would bestow on them; and in what flourishing and fruitful circumstances they should be, Ho 14:5-8; and the chapter ends with a character of such that attend to and understand those things; and with a recommendation of the ways of the Lord, which are differently regarded by men, Ho 14:9.

Cross References

• 1. S Isaiah 30:26; S Hosea 6:1
• 2. S Jeremiah 2:19
• 3. S Isaiah 55:1; Jeremiah 31:20; Zephaniah 3:17
• 4. S Job 13:16
• 5. S Genesis 27:28; S Isaiah 18:4
• 6. S Song of Songs 2:1
• 7. Isaiah 35:2
• 8. Job 29:19
• 9. Psalms 52:8; S Jeremiah 11:16
• 10. S Psalms 92:12; S Song of Songs 4:11
• 11. Psalms 91:1-4
• 12. S Genesis 40:10
• 13. S Hosea 2:22
• 14. S Ezekiel 17:23
• 15. S ver 3
• 16. S Isaiah 37:24
• 17. S Psalms 107:43
• 18. S Proverbs 10:29; S Isaiah 1:28; Daniel 12:10
• 19. Psalms 111:7-8; Zephaniah 3:5; Acts 13:10
• 20. Isaiah 26:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Hebrew; Septuagint "What more has Ephraim"