Hosea 13:3
New International Version
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.

New Living Translation
Therefore, they will disappear like the morning mist, like dew in the morning sun, like chaff blown by the wind, like smoke from a chimney.

English Standard Version
Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.

King James Bible
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

New King James Version
Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud And like the early dew that passes away, Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor And like smoke from a chimney.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore they will be like the morning cloud And like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor, And like smoke from a chimney.

NASB 1995
Therefore they will be like the morning cloud And like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor And like smoke from a chimney.

NASB 1977
Therefore, they will be like the morning cloud, And like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor, And like smoke from a chimney.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore they will be like the morning cloud And like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor And like smoke from a chimney.

Amplified Bible
Therefore they will be [swiftly dissipated] like the morning cloud Or like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which swirls with the whirlwind from the threshing floor, And like smoke from the chimney or through the window [worthless and without substance —they will vanish].

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, or like smoke from a window.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, or like smoke from a window.

American Standard Version
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Contemporary English Version
And so, all of you will vanish like the mist or the dew of early morning, or husks of grain in the wind or smoke from a chimney.

English Revised Version
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That is why they will be like fog in the morning and like morning dew that disappears quickly. They will be like straw blown away from threshing floors. They will be like smoke rising from chimneys.

Good News Translation
And so these people will disappear like morning mist, like the dew that vanishes early in the day. They will be like chaff which the wind blows from the threshing place, like smoke from a chimney.

International Standard Version
Therefore they will be like morning clouds, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff blown away from the threshing floor, or like smoke from a chimney."

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.

NET Bible
Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind from the floor, and as the smoke from the chimney.

World English Bible
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore they are as a cloud of the morning, "" And as dew, rising early, going away, "" As chaff tossed about out of a floor, "" And as smoke out of a window.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore they are as a cloud of the morning, And as dew, rising early, going away, As chaff tossed about out of a floor, And as smoke out of a window.

Smith's Literal Translation
For this they shall be as the cloud of the morning, and as the early dew going way; as the chaff will be driven from the threshing-floor on the wind, and as the smoke from the chimney.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore they shall be as a morning aloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the dust that is driven with a whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For this reason, they will be like the morning clouds, and like the morning dew that passes away, just like the dust that is driven by a whirlwind away from the threshing floor, and like the smoke from a chimney.

New American Bible
Therefore, they will be like a morning cloud or like the dew that vanishes with the dawn, Like chaff storm-driven from the threshing floor or like smoke out of the window.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes away early, like chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passes away, as the chaff that is driven with the wind out of the threshing floor and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, they shall be as a cloud of the morning and like dew that is early, and it passed by and like a straw that flies from the granary and like smoke from a window
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, And as the dew that early passeth away, As the chaff that is driven with the wind out of the threshing-floor, And as the smoke out of the window.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore shall they be as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passes away, as chaff blown away from the threshing-floor, and as a vapor from tears.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ephraim's Glory Vanishes
2Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!” 3Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.

Cross References
James 4:14
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Psalm 1:4
Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

Job 21:18
Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?

Isaiah 17:13
The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.

Psalm 68:2
As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

Isaiah 40:24
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.

Psalm 103:15-16
As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.

Isaiah 41:2
Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.

Psalm 37:20
But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.

Isaiah 29:5
But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,

Matthew 7:26-27
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

1 Peter 1:24
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Psalm 35:5
May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passes away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

as the morning.

Hosea 6:4
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

as the chaff.

Psalm 1:4
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psalm 68:2
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Psalm 83:12-17
Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession…

Jump to Previous
Blown Chaff Cloud Crushing-Floor Dew Disappears Driven Driving Dust Early Escaping Fireplace Floor Goes Mist Morning Passes Passeth Rising Smoke Soon Swirling Threshing Threshing-Floor Whirlwind Wind Window
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Blown Chaff Cloud Crushing-Floor Dew Disappears Driven Driving Dust Early Escaping Fireplace Floor Goes Mist Morning Passes Passeth Rising Smoke Soon Swirling Threshing Threshing-Floor Whirlwind Wind Window
Hosea 13
1. Ephraim's glory vanishes.
4. God's anger.
9. God's mercy.
15. The judgment of Samaria.














Therefore they will be
The word "therefore" indicates a conclusion drawn from previous statements, emphasizing the consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and rebellion against God. The phrase "they will be" suggests a definitive outcome, underscoring the certainty of God's judgment. In the Hebrew text, the verb form implies an inevitable transformation, highlighting the seriousness of Israel's spiritual condition.

like the morning mist
The "morning mist" is a transient phenomenon, appearing briefly at dawn and quickly dissipating with the rising sun. In the Hebrew context, this imagery conveys the fleeting nature of Israel's existence due to their unfaithfulness. The mist symbolizes the lack of substance and permanence in their spiritual life, serving as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God.

like the early dew that vanishes
"Dew" in the ancient Near East was a vital source of moisture, especially in arid regions. However, "early dew" that "vanishes" signifies something that is temporary and unreliable. This metaphor illustrates the ephemeral nature of Israel's prosperity and security when they forsake the Lord. The Hebrew word for "vanishes" suggests a sudden disappearance, reinforcing the idea of impermanence.

like chaff blown from a threshing floor
"Chaff" refers to the husks separated from grain during the threshing process. It is lightweight and easily carried away by the wind. This imagery is used throughout Scripture to depict worthlessness and judgment (e.g., Psalm 1:4). The "threshing floor" was a place of separation and purification, and the blowing away of chaff symbolizes God's judgment removing the unfaithful from His presence.

or like smoke escaping through a window
"Smoke" is insubstantial and quickly dissipates, much like the other images in this verse. The phrase "escaping through a window" suggests an uncontrolled and rapid disappearance. In the Hebrew context, smoke often symbolizes destruction or divine wrath (e.g., Psalm 37:20). This imagery underscores the swift and inevitable nature of the judgment awaiting Israel due to their idolatry.

(3) Early dew . . .--Better, dew that early passeth away, like chaff that flies in a whirlwind from the threshing-floor, and like smoke from the window (i.e., the lattice beneath the roof through which it vanished).

Verse 3. - Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind cut of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. The illative particle with which the verse begins has reference to the sins of Israel, so great and multiplied that punishment could not be long delayed. Their irrational and God-dishonoring conduct was bringing on them sure and swift destruction. The prophet employs four figures to exhibit their political extinction. Two of these, the morning cloud and early dew, or rather the dew early passing away, have already been employed by him to characterize the transient nature of Israel's goodness; here they denote the evanescent nature of their national existence. The other two are the chaff and the smoke; the former whirled away by the storm-wind from the threshing-floor, the latter dissipated and speedily vanishing as soon as it escapes from the chimney or lattice. Such shall be the utter extermination of Israel. The senselessness of their idolatry had been treated with derision in the preceding verse; the punishment of their sin is sternly denounced in this. Kimchi comments concisely and correctly thus: "Therefore they shall go to destruction, and shall be as the morning cloud, or as the dew speedily disappearing in the morning, width vanishes when the heat of the sun has touched it; so they shall go away speedily. So also shall they be as chaff - it is the fine particles of straw, which the wind whirls away from the threshing-floor; thus shall they be whirled away from their land. Or as a pillar of smoke which goes forth out of the lattice, which shall speedily disperse and cease." Instead of אֲרֻבָּה lattice, from ארב, to knit or twist, the Septuagint, according to Jerome, read אַרְבֶּה locusts, as may be inferred from their rendering ἀτμὶς ἀπὸ ἀκρίδων in the Complete-Man edition of the LXX., erroneously written in some copies δακρύων, that is, vapor from locusts or from tears.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore
לָכֵ֗ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

they will be
יִֽהְיוּ֙ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like the morning
בֹּ֔קֶר (bō·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

mist,
כַּעֲנַן־ (ka·‘ă·nan-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud

like the early
מַשְׁכִּ֣ים (maš·kîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7925: To load up, to start early in the morning

dew
וְכַטַּ֖ל (wə·ḵaṭ·ṭal)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew

that vanishes,
הֹלֵ֑ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

like chaff
כְּמֹץ֙ (kə·mōṣ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4671: Chaff, threshed loose)

blown
יְסֹעֵ֣ר (yə·sō·‘êr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5590: To rush upon, to toss

from a threshing floor,
מִגֹּ֔רֶן (mig·gō·ren)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1637: A threshing-floor, open area

and like smoke
וּכְעָשָׁ֖ן (ū·ḵə·‘ā·šān)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6227: Smoke

through an open window.
מֵאֲרֻבָּֽה׃ (mê·’ă·rub·bāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 699: A lattice, a window, dovecot, chimney, sluice


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OT Prophets: Hosea 13:3 Therefore they will be like the morning (Ho Hs Hos.)
Hosea 13:2
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