Hosea 14 · Verse 8

Hosea 14:8

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Hosea 14:8, King James Version

Hosea 14:8 in other translations

BSBO Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.
WEBEphraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green cypress tree; from me your fruit is found.”
ASVEphraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found.
YLTO Ephraim, what to Me any more with idols? I--I afflicted, and I cause him to sing: ‘I am as a green fir-tree,' From Me is thy fruit found.
DARBYEphraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? (I answer him, and I will observe him.) I am like a green fir-tree. — From me is thy fruit found.
BBEAs for Ephraim, what has he to do with false gods any longer? I have given an answer and I will keep watch over him; I am like a branching fir-tree, from me comes your fruit.
WebsterEphraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir-tree. From me is thy fruit found.

What does Hosea 14:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. Ephraim shall say--being brought to penitence by God's goodness, and confessing and abhorring his past madness. I have heard ... and observed him--I Jehovah have answered and regarded him with favor; the opposite of God's "hiding His face from" one (De 31:17). It is the experience of God's favor, in contrast to God's wrath heretofore, that leads Ephraim to abhor his past idolatry. Jehovah heard and answered: whereas the idols, as Ephraim now sees, could not hear, much less answer. I am ... a green fir--or cypress; ever green, winter and summer alike; the leaves not falling off in winter. From me is thy fruit found--"From Me," as the root. Thou needest go no farther than Me for the supply of all thy wants; not merely the protection implied by the shadow of the cypress, but that which the cypress has not, namely, fruit, all spiritual and temporal blessings. It may be also implied, that whatever spiritual graces Ephraim seeks for or may have, are not of themselves, but of God (Psa 1:3; Joh 15:4, 5, 8; Jas 1:17). God's promises to us are more our security for mortifying sin than our promises to God (Is 27:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 What have I to do any more with idols? - The conversion of Ephraim is now as complete as if was sincere. God hears and observes this. I am like a green fir tree - Perhaps these words should be joined to the preceding, as Newcome has done, and be a part of God's speech to Ephraim. "I have heard him; and I have seen him as a flourishing fir tree." He is become strong and vigorous; and from his present appearance of healthiness, his future increase and prosperity may be safely anticipated. From me is thy fruit found - All thy goodness springs from the principle of grace which I have planted in thy soul; for as the earth cannot bring forth fruit without the blessing of God, sending the dews and rains, with the genial rays of the sun, so neither can the soul of man, even of the most pious, bear fruit, without a continual influence from the Most High. Without the former, neither grass could grow for cattle, nor corn for the service of man; without the latter, no seeds of righteousness could take root, no stalk of promise could grow, no fruit of grace could be produced. And the unclean spirit, which was cast out, would soon return; and, finding his former house empty, swept, and garnished, would re-enter with seven demons of greater power and worse influence; and the latter end of that man would be worse than the first. Reader, ever consider that all thy good must be derived from God; and all that good must be preserved in thee by his continued influence of light, love, and power upon thy soul.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 14:4-8

Israel seeks God's face, and they shall not seek it in vain. His anger is turned from them. Whom God loves, he loves freely; not because they deserve it, but of his own good pleasure. God will be to them all they need. The graces of the Spirit are the hidden manna, hidden in the dew; the grace thus freely bestowed on them shall not be in vain. They shall grow upward, and be more flourishing; shall grow as the lily…

Read the full comment on Hosea 14:4-8 →

Hosea 14:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֶפְרַ֕יִם'ef.Ra.yimO EphraimH669
מַה\־mah-what?H4100
לִּ֥יlito me
ע֖וֹדodagainH5750
לָֽעֲצַבִּ֑יםla.'a.tza.Bimto <the> idolsH6091
אֲנִ֧י'a.NiIH589
עָנִ֣יתִי'a.Ni.tiI will answerH6030
וַאֲשׁוּרֶ֗נּוּva.'a.shu.Re.nuand I will watch over itH7789
אֲנִי֙'a.NiIH589
כִּבְר֣וֹשׁkiv.Ro.osh[am] like a cypress treeH1265
רַֽעֲנָ֔ןra.'a.NanluxuriantH7488
מִמֶּ֖נִּיmi.Me.nifrom meH4480
פֶּרְיְךָ֥per.ye.Khafruit yourH6529
נִמְצָֽא\׃nim.Tza'it is foundH4672

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 14:8

  • Job 34:32

    That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Isaiah 55:13

    Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

  • Luke 15:20

    And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

  • 1 Peter 4:3-4

    For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

  • Philippians 2:13

    For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  • Isaiah 41:19

    I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

  • John 1:16

    And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

  • Galatians 5:22-23

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

  • 1 Peter 1:14-16

    As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

  • Isaiah 60:13

    The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

  • John 15:1-8

    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
What.
2,3; Job 34:32; Ac 19:18-20; 1Th 1:9; 1Pe 1:14-16; 4:3,4
I have.
Job 33:27; Jer 31:18-20; Lu 15:20; Joh 1:47,48
I am.
Isa 41:19; 55:13; 60:13
From me.
Joh 1:16; 15:1-8; Ga 5:22,23; Eph 5:9; Php 1:11; 2:13; 4:13; Jas 1:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hosea 14:7

    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.

  • Hosea 14:8

    Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

  • Hosea 14:9

    Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Read all of Hosea 14

Hosea 14:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ephraim dirá: ¿Qué más tendré ya con los ídolos? Yo lo oiré, y miraré; yo seré á él como la haya verde: de mí será hallado tu fruto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		ils reviendront s’asseoir sous son ombre, ils feront vivre le froment, et ils fleuriront comme une vigne; leur renommée sera comme le vin du Liban.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ephraim wird sagen: Was habe ich fortan mit den Götzen zu schaffen? -Ich, ich habe ihn erhört und auf ihn geblickt. -Ich bin wie eine grünende Cypresse. -Aus mir wird deine Frucht gefunden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Convertentur sedentes in umbra ejus; vivent tritico, et germinabunt quasi vinea; memoriale ejus sicut vinum Libani.