HOS 14:6 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 14:4–8: The LORD promises to forgive and restore the Israelites

The LORD is the speaker in this section. In Hosea 14:4–7, the LORD gives his response to the people’s prayer of repentance in the form of a poem. In 14:8, he reminds the people that he will not tolerate idols. He also promises to care for the people and bless them. Here are other examples of section headings:

The Lord Promises to Forgive (CEV)

The Lord Promises New Life for Israel (NJB)

Paragraph 14:4–7

This paragraph is a poem with thirteen lines. In Hebrew, verses 4–6 each have three lines. Verse 7 has four lines.

^4a I will heal their apostasy;

^4b I will freely love them,

^4cfor My anger has turned away from them.

^5a I will be like the dew to Israel;

^5b he will blossom like a lily

^5cand take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

^6a His shoots will sprout,

^6band his splendor will be like the olive tree,

^6c his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

^7a They will return and dwell in his shade;

^7b they will grow grain

^7cand blossom like the vine.

^7d His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

The poem has two main parts. In 14:4, the LORD gives his response to Israel’s prayer in direct, nonfigurative words. He promises them healing, love and forgiveness.

In 14:5–7, the LORD describes aspects of his healing, love and forgiveness more fully. Each line in this part of the poem is a figure of speech (simile or metaphor) that compares the LORD or Israel to something from nature that was familiar to people in that part of the world.

Verses 5–7 each end with the name “Lebanon.” “Lebanon” refers to the mountainous area of northern Galilee and modern-day Lebanon. It is a fertile and fragrant region.Dearman (page 341) suggests that the reference to Lebanon provides the source for the metaphors used in these verses.

14:6a

His shoots will sprout,

His new shoots/branches will spread out.
They will be like cedar trees that grow/produce many branches.
They will become numerous and strong.

His shoots will sprout: This clause continues the agricultural metaphors of 5b (“lily”) and 5c (“cedar”). The pronoun His refers to the nation of Israel. There are three main ways to interpret the reference of this clause:

The clause refers backward to the cedar in 14:5c.Davies (page 306) states that this clause forms a single poetic line with the previous clause. Also Wood (page 224). Most versions do not repeat the word “cedar” in this clause, but that would be the most natural referent. For example:
(6c …like the Lebanon cedar,) and put forth his shoots (NAB)
(6c…like the forests of Lebanon.) His shoots shall spread out (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, KJV, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV)
The clause refers in general to shoots or new branches of any kind of tree. For example:
They will be alive with new growth (GNT)
They will be like growing branches. (GW) (GNT, GW, NCV)
The clause refers forward to shoots of olive treesPatterson and Hill (page 87). in 14:6b. For example:
Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees (NLT) (CEV, NLT)

You may follow either of the first two interpretations. Most versions that are listed under interpretation (2) could also refer to cedar branches because of the preceding context. The Display will follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions.

shoots: In Hebrew, this phrase refers to the new growth of branches.BDB (#3127), Macintosh (page 572). The Hebrew word for “sprout” means to “grow out” or “spread.”BDB (#1980), Macintosh (page 572).

Here are some implications of this metaphor:

Israel will have many young shoots.With reference to Israel, this phrase may refer to the increase in the number of Israel’s children. See Macintosh (page 571), Keil (page 166), and Garrett (page 274).
Israel’s young shoots will spread widely.The shoots may indicate the expansion of Israel’s territory, as in Psalm 80:11 and Ezekiel 17:4. See Davies (page 306).
Israel’s young shoots will have good growth and health.The shoots are a sign of flourishing and growth. See Dearman (pages 341–342) and Garrett (page 274).

Here are some ways to translate this metaphor:

Use a metaphor. Make the similarity explicit if it will be helpful. For example:
Israel will grow branches that are numerous and strong.
Use a simile. Make the similarity or topic explicit if it will be helpful. For example:
Israel is like a tree that sends out many shoots.
They will be like spreading branches. (NCV)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
The people of Israel will increase in number and become strong.

14:6b

and his splendor will be like the olive tree,

His/Israel’s glory will be like an olive tree,
They will be beautiful like an olive tree

his splendor will be like the olive tree: This clause is a simile that compares Israel’s splendor to that of an olive tree.

Olive trees grow to an old age and produce valuable oil.Macintosh (page 572). The Hebrew word for splendor can also mean “majesty,” “vigor” or “glory.”TWOT (#482a). According to Davies (page 306), the word “normally refers to the splendor or majesty of a king or of God himself.” Also Keil (pages 107–108) and Dearman (pages 341–342).

This comparison implies several things:

Israel will be beautiful like an olive tree.Keil (pages 107–108) says “beauty and glory.” Stuart (pages 215–216) says “visibility and beauty.”
Israel will have value like an olive tree.For “wealth and well-being,” See Garrett (page 274) and Patterson and Hill (page 87).
Israel will be fruitful like an olive tree.According to Macintosh (page 572) the word refers here to “perennial fruitfulness, rich abundance of its fresh branches and crisp foliage as well as its strong trunk.” This simile may refer to the multiplication of Israel’s sons and daughters.

Many versions translate this word as “beauty/beautiful.” For example:

he will have the beauty of the olive tree (NJB)

14:6c

his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

and his fragrance will be like a cedar of Lebanon.
and have a delightful aroma like a cedar forest in Lebanon.

his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon: This clause is a simile that compares the fragrance of Israel to that of the cedars of Lebanon.Israel would no longer be diseased or dying as described in Hosea 5:11–13. Instead Israel will have a scent of life. Garrett (page 274). (See the note on paragraph 14:4–7 for the ellipsis in this verse.)

cedars of Lebanon: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as cedars of Lebanon is more literally “like the Lebanon.” As in 14:5c, there are at least two acceptable ways to translate this expression. They are listed here in order of more specific to less specific:

Make explicit that this expression probably refers to “cedar” trees that were famous in Lebanon at that time.McComiskey (page 233). Cedar trees have a very pleasant aroma. For example:
and the sweet-smelling cedars in Lebanon (NCV)
Make explicit that this expression may refer to the forests of Lebanon.Carroll (page 303). For example:
and with the aroma of Lebanon Forest (CEV)

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.