Hosea 14, A Plush Garden

Hosea finishes his prophetic warnings with a final plea that Israel return to their God. The sign-act of the first three chapters, of marriage, divorce and renaming of children, is echoed in the insistence that Israel return to YHWH. His message ends with a tender promise.

Hosea 14:1-3, Return

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. 

Your sins have been your downfall!

Take words with you and return to the LORD. 

Say to him: "Forgive all our sins 

and receive us graciously, 

that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

Assyria cannot save us; 

we will not mount war-horses. 

We will never again say `Our gods' to what our own hands have made, 

for in you the fatherless find compassion."  

Hosea calls out, "Return!" and invites Israel to confess, repent and rely on YHWH, not on Assyria or its army. The arrogance of 12:8 must be replaced with confession and submission.

Hosea 14:4-7, Love given freely

"I will heal their waywardness 

and love them freely,

 for my anger has turned away from them.

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;

his young shoots will grow. 

His splendor will be like an olive tree, 

his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

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.  

The future healing is described in metaphors of plush gardens, with cool shade, more than a hint of Eden.

Hosea 14:8, Fruitfulness for Ephraim

"O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a green pine tree;

your fruitfulness comes from me."

Everything that Ephraim desires comes from God. There is wordplay here: the Hebrew name Ephraim is derived from parah, which means "to be fruitful." The "fruitful" Ephraim gets its fruitfulness from YHWH.

Hosea 14:9, The righteous ways of YHWH

Who is wise? He will realize these things. 

Who is discerning? He will understand them. 

The ways of the LORD are right;

the righteous walk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.

           
The prophecy ends with a promise of renewal, of future time of flourishing and fruitfulness. Just as Hosea was to speak tenderly to his wayward wife, so too YHWH calls out an invitation to Ephraim.

First published June 21, 2025; updated June 21, 2025