HOS 14:7 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Those who live in Yisrael’s shadow will return.
⇔ They will revive like the grain
⇔ and blossom like the grapevine.
⇔ His fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Πορεύσονται οἱ κλάδοι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἐλαία κατάκαρπος, καὶ ἡ ὀσφρασία αὐτοῦ ὡς Λιβάνου.
(Poreusontai hoi kladoi autou, kai estai hōs elaia katakarpos, kai haʸ osfrasia autou hōs Libanou. )

BrTr His branches shall spread, and he shall be as a fruitful olive, and his smell shall be as the smell of Libanus.

ULT Those who live in his shadow will return;
⇔ they will revive like the grain
⇔ and blossom like the vine.
⇔ His fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

UST They will return and live under the protection that Israel has from me;
⇔ I will protect them from hardship.
⇔ They will be successful like a field of grain that grows well, like grapevines that are growing well.
⇔ They will become as famous as the wine that people produce in the land of Lebanon.

BSB They will return and dwell in his shade;
⇔ they will grow grain and blossom like the vine.
⇔ His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

OEB ⇔ People will return and dwell in my shade,
⇔ they will bring life to new grain.
⇔ They will sprout like the vine,
⇔ and their renown will be like that of the wine of Lebanon.

WEBBE Men will dwell in his shade.
⇔ They will revive like the grain,
⇔ and blossom like the vine.
⇔ Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET People will reside again in his shade;
⇔ they will plant and harvest grain in abundance.
⇔ They will blossom like a vine,
⇔ and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.

LSV The dwellers return under his shadow,
They revive [as] grain, and flourish as a vine,
His memorial [is] as wine of Lebanon.

FBV Those who live under their shade shall return, they will flourish like grain, they will blossom like the vine, and they will be as famous as the wine of Lebanon.

T4T People will come to them to be protected
⇔ like people are protected from the hot sun by being [MET] in the shade of a tree.
⇔ They will ◄flourish/be strong► like [SIM] grain that grows well.
⇔ They will be successful like a vineyard in which grapes grow abundantly.
⇔ They will become as famous/well-known as [SIM] the wines from Lebanon.

LEB • They will again dwell[fn] in my[fn] shadow; they will grow grain
• and they will blossom like the plant vine;
• his fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

14:1 Literally “They shall return, they shall dwell”

14:1 Hebrew “his”

BBE They will come back and have rest in his shade; their life will be made new like the grain, and they will put out flowers like the vine; his name will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Moff Once more shall they live underneath my shadow,
⇔ well-watered like a garden,
⇔ flourishing like a vine,
⇔ and fragrant as Lebânon’s wine.

JPS (14-8) They that dwell under his shadow shall again make corn to grow, and shall blossom as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

ASV They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

DRA His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive tree: and his smell as that of Libanus.

YLT Return do the dwellers under his shadow, They revive [as] corn, and flourish as a vine, His memorial [is] as wine of Lebanon.

Drby They shall return and sit under his shadow; they shall revive [as] corn, and blossom as the vine: the renown thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

RV They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

SLT They sitting in his shadow shall turn back; they shall live upon the grain, and they shall blossom as the vine: his remembrance as the wine of Lebanon.

Wbstr They that dwell under his shade shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent of it shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

KJB-1769 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.[fn][fn]

14.7 grow: or, blossom

14.7 scent: or, memorial

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]They that dwell vnder his shadow shall returne: they shall reuiue as the corne, & grow as the vine, the sent thereof shalbe as the wine of Lebanon.
(They that dwell under his shadow shall return: they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, the sent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.)

14:7 Or, blossom.

14:7 Or, memoriall.

Bshps They that dwell vnder his shadowe, shall returne & growe vp as the corne, and florishe as the vine: he shall haue as good a name as the wine of Libanus.
(They that dwell under his shadow, shall return and grow up as the corn, and flourish as the vine: he shall have as good a name as the wine of Libanus.)

Gnva His branches shall spread, and his beautie shalbe as the oliue tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
(His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. )

Cvdl They that dwel vnder his shadowe, shulde come agayne, & growe vp as the corne, & florish as the vyne: he shulde haue as good a name, as the wyne of Libanus.
(They that dwell under his shadow, should come again, and grow up as the corn, and flourish as the vine: he should have as good a name, as the wine of Libanus.)

Wycl the braunchis therof schulen go. And the glorye therof schal be as an olyue tree, and the odour therof schal be as of the Liban.
(the branches thereof should go. And the glory thereof shall be as an olive tree, and the odour thereof shall be as of the Liban.)

Luth und seine Zweige sich ausbreiten, daß er sei so schön als ein Ölbaum; und soll so guten Ruch geben wie Libanon.
(and his branches(n) itself/yourself/themselves spread, that he be so beautiful as a olive_tree; and should so good Ruch give as/like Lebanon.)

ClVg Ibunt rami ejus, et erit quasi oliva gloria ejus, et odor ejus ut Libani.
(They_will_go branches his, and will_be as_if olive glory his, and smell his as Libani. )

SOTN SIL Open Translation 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.

14:7a

They will return and dwell in his shade;

My people will again live in Israel’s shade.
They will return and live again in peace and prosperity under Israel’s protective shade.

They will return and dwell in his shade: There are textual and interpretation issues in this clause. The first textual issue concerns the relationship of the subject and predicate. The issue of his/my shade will be discussed separately.

The LXX has “they will return and they will sit under his shelter.” With this option, the subject “they” will do two things: return and dwell. Some versions imply return by the phrase “dwell again.” The word dwell functions as a verb. For example:
People will reside again in his shade (NET) (BSB, ESV, GNT, GW, NAB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)
The Masoretic Text has “they will return [those who] dwell in its/his shade.”This option regards the word “dwell” to be a participial noun. It is favored by Andersen and Freedman, Keil, Garrett, Macintosh, and Wood. With this option, those who return are identified as those who dwell in his shade. The word dwell functions as the participial noun “dwellers.” For example:
They that dwell under his shadow shall return (KJV) (KJV, NJPSThe NJPS has “They who sit in his shade shall be revived.” It translates the Hebrew verb “return” as “be revived.” It is an unusual translation of “return” that lacks support from commentaries and other versions.)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.The vast majority of versions more closely resemble the LXX/Peshitta than the Masoretic Text for this clause.

There are two main interpretations of the word that the BSB translates as return:

The word means “again.”HALOT (electronic edition, page 1430) 5. followed by a second verb: “to do again, be again.” Here the word is interpreted to be an auxiliary verb followed by the main verb, “dwell.” This view is preferred by Carroll (page 303). Davies (page 307) also mentions the NIV (“dwell again”) as an alternate translation. For example:
Again they shall dwell in his shade (NAB) (GNT, GW, NAB, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, REB)
The word means return.HALOT (electronic edition, page 1429) 1. “to turn back, return.” This may refer to the future return of the exiles to Israel. This view is preferred by Davies (page 307), McComiskey (page 233), Stuart (page 216), and Garrett (pages 275–278) (who cites rabbinic scholar ibn Ezra). For example:
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow (ESV) (BSB, ESV, NJB, RSV)

You may follow either interpretation. Interpretation (1) is supported by most versions. Interpretation (2) is supported by more commentaries. Each interpretation implies the other one. The Display will follow interpretation (1) but will include return in the 2nd ML as implied information.

dwell: This word means to inhabit or reside somewhere. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

live (GW)

reside (NET)

in his shade: There is a textual issue in this phrase regarding the referent of the pronoun his:

The pronoun refers to “Israel.”See Keil (page 108), Andersen and Freedman (page 647), Garrett (pages 275–278), Dearman (page 342), Davies (page 307), and Wood (page 224). For example:
People will reside again in his shade. (NET) (BSB, NET, NIV, NLT96)
The pronoun refers to God.Some scholars suggest that the Hebrew text should be changed from “in his shade” to “in my shade.” Other explanations that do not require a change to the Hebrew text are possible. For example, the LORD may refer to himself in the third person, as “his.” Or if Hosea is now the speaker, then “his” could refer to God. This interpretation is followed by many modern versions. However, it has weak support. The MT, the LXX, and the Peshitta all have “his.” A main objection to this interpretation is that it goes against the context of the plant similes in 14:5–7 that describe the nation of Israel. Garrett (pages 275–278), Stuart (page 216), Macintosh (page 573) and Dearman (page 342) speak against this interpretation. For example:
My people will again live under my shade. (NLT) (CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NCV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It has good support from commentaries as well as the LXX and the Peshitta. Verses 5 and 6 describe the nation of Israel figuratively as a cedar tree. It is reasonable to assume that this verse continues this figurative description.

The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as shade means “shadow, shade, as protection from sun.”BDB (#6738). Here the meaning is figurative. It refers to the figurative shade/shadow of the tree, which is Israel in the future.

Here are some implications of this figure of speech:

The shade describes the protection offered by the restored state of Israel.Macintosh (page 574). The Hebrew word has a secondary meaning of “protection.”
The shade describes the means for the people to flourish.Keil (page 108).
The shade describes Israel’s security and fruitfulness.Dearman (page 342).
The shade describes Israel’s covenant with God.Those who dwell in his shade are those who live under the umbrella or “shade” of the national covenant. Stuart (page 216).

14:7b

they will grow grain

They will farm/produce fields of grain
They will plant and harvest grain in abundance. (NET)

they will grow grain: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “they will cause grain to live.” There are two main interpretations of this Hebrew clause:

It means that the people of Israel will grow grain.This interpretation is favored by Macintosh (page 573), McComiskey (page 233) and Keil (Page 108). It fits the standard meaning of the verb in Piel, “cause (something) to live” (although its use with grain is not typical). For example:
they will plant and harvest grain in abundance (NET) (BSB, CEV, GNT, NAB, NASB, NET, NJB, NJPS)
It means that the people will flourish like grain.This interpretation is favored by Andersen and Freedman (page 647), Wood (page 224), Garrett (pages 275–278), and Davies (page 307). A difficulty is that the Hebrew text does not explicitly indicate comparison here. This interpretation requires significant changes to the syntax of the line. It changes the grammatical subject/agent from “they” (the people) to an unstated subject (presumably God). It also changes the grammatical object of the Hebrew verb “cause to live” from “grain” to “people.” These changes are not supported by the MT syntax. For example:
They shall flourish like the grain. (ESV) (ESV, GW, KJV, NCV, NIV, NLT, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It makes good sense without any changes to the grammar of the Hebrew text.

grain: There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word for grain:

The word is grain.Note that some versions use “corn” or “wheat” as a generic equivalent of grain. For example:
They shall bring to life new grain. (NJPS) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NJB, NJPS, NLT, REB)
Some scholars think that the original word was “garden.” For example:
They shall flourish as a garden. (NRSV) (NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. It makes good sense without any changes to the Hebrew text.Garrett (pages 275–278) and Davies (page 307) state that the emendation to “garden” is unsupported and improbable.

14:7c

and blossom like the vine.

and they will blossom like a vine.
They will blossom like grape vines,

blossom like the vine: There are two main interpretations of this clause:

The clause is a simile that compares Israel to a vine. Israel will blossom in a way similar to a vine. For example:
And they will blossom like the vine. (NASB) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, REB)
The clause means that the people of Israel will make vines grow. For example:
They will make the vine flourish (NJB) (NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

The word blossom is the same as in 14:5b “he will blossom like the lily.” See the note there for more information on blossom.

The Hebrew word for vine indicates grape vines as a collective. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They will blossom like grapevines (GW)

and be fruitful like a vineyard (GNT)

14:7d

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

They will be famous like the wine from Lebanon.
and people will esteem/praise Israel as they esteem/praise the wine of Lebanon.

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon: This clause is more literally “its memorial [will be] like the wine of Lebanon.” There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word for “memorial” that the BSB translates here as renown:

The word means “memorial.” A memorial is something that people remember about a thing or a place.BDB (#2143) 2. “memorial, by which one is remembered b. renown (of Israel).” For example:
They will be as famous as the wine of Lebanon. (GNT) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, REB)
The word means “fragrance.”This meaning was originally suggested by rabbinic scholars ibn Janah, Kimchi and Ezra as parallel to the last line of verse 6, “his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.” See Macintosh (page 574). However, Davies (page 307) regards this meaning to be a mistranslation. For example:
their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon (NRSV) (KJV, NASB, NLT, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions. It fits the standard meaning of the Hebrew word. The word “fragrance” is not an actual meaning of the Hebrew word in this clause.

This clause is a simile that compares people’s memory of Israel to people’s memory of the wine of Lebanon. Many people knew about the wine of Lebanon and had a high opinion of it. Likewise, many people will know about Israel and have a high opinion of it.

General Comment on 14:7

Many scholars regard the plural Hebrew forms in this verse to refer to the people of Israel and the singular forms to refer to the nation of Israel. Some versions follow the same singular and plural forms as in Hebrew. For example:

People will reside again in his shade;

They will plant and harvest grain in abundance.

They will blossom like a vine,

And his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. (NET)

Some other versions change the singular or plural forms, perhaps to make the translation easier to read.

Some versions translate most Hebrew singular and plural forms as singular “he/his.” For example:

Men will dwell again in his shade.

He will flourish like the grain.

He will blossom like a vine,

And his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. (NIV)

Some other versions translate most singular and plural forms as plural “they.” For example:

They will live again in God’s shadow.

They will grow like grain.

They will blossom like grapevines.

They will be as famous as the wines from Lebanon. (GW)

The NIV and the GW translations lose some of the distinctions between the nation of Israel (singular forms) and the people of Israel (plural forms). Translate these forms in a natural way in your language.

Parallel HOS 14:7