Hosea 14:5
New International Version
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;

New Living Translation
I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon.

English Standard Version
I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;

Berean Standard Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

King James Bible
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

New King James Version
I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.

New American Standard Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

NASB 1995
I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

NASB 1977
I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; He will flourish like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Amplified Bible
I shall be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Christian Standard Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

American Standard Version
I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

Contemporary English Version
I will be like the dew--then you will blossom like lilies and have roots like a tree.

English Revised Version
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will be like dew to the people of Israel. They will blossom like flowers. They will be firmly rooted like cedars from Lebanon.

Good News Translation
I will be to the people of Israel like rain in a dry land. They will blossom like flowers; they will be firmly rooted like the trees of Lebanon.

International Standard Version
I will be like the dew to Israel; Israel will blossom like a lily, growing roots like the cedars of Lebanon.

Majority Standard Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

NET Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily, he will send down his roots like a cedar of Lebanon.

New Heart English Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall grow as the lily and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

World English Bible
I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I am as dew to Israel, he flourishes as a lily, "" And he strikes forth his roots as Lebanon.

Young's Literal Translation
I am as dew to Israel, he flourisheth as a lily, And he striketh forth his roots as Lebanon.

Smith's Literal Translation
I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall blossom as the lily and strike his roots as Lebanon.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will be as the dew, Israel shall spring as the lily, and his root shall shoot forth as that of Libanus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will be like the dew; Israel will spring forth like the lily, and his root will spread out like that of the cedars of Lebanon.

New American Bible
I will be like the dew for Israel: he will blossom like the lily; He will strike root like the Lebanon cedar,

New Revised Standard Version
I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall spring up as the lily, and cast forth his roots as cedars of Lebanon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall be like dew to Israel and he will bud as a lily, and he shall put out his roots like those of Lebanon
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will be as the dew unto Israel; He shall blossom as the lily, And cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will be as dew to Israel: he shall bloom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Libanus.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Promise of God's Blessing
4I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them. 5I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. 6His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.…

Cross References
Isaiah 55:10-13
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. / You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. ...

Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Ezekiel 34:26
I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing.

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. / Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. / In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,

Isaiah 61:11
For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Zechariah 10:1
Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.

Deuteronomy 32:2
Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants.

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Isaiah 44:3-4
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. / They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

John 15:5
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

as the dew.

Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

2 Samuel 23:4
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Job 29:19
My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

he shall.

Song of Solomon 2:1,2,16
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys…

Song of Solomon 4:5
Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.

Matthew 6:28
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

grow.

2 Kings 19:30
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

Psalm 72:16
There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

Isaiah 27:6
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

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Blossom Cast Cedar Cedars Dew Flourisheth Flowers Forth Grow Israel Lily Poplar Root Roots Strike Striketh
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Blossom Cast Cedar Cedars Dew Flourisheth Flowers Forth Grow Israel Lily Poplar Root Roots Strike Striketh
Hosea 14
1. An exhortation to repentance.
4. A promise of God's blessing.














I will be like the dew to Israel
The imagery of "dew" in the Hebrew context is rich with meaning. Dew in the ancient Near East was a vital source of moisture, especially in the arid climate of Israel. It symbolizes God's grace and blessing, which are essential for spiritual growth and renewal. The Hebrew word for dew, "tal," suggests a gentle, life-giving presence. In this verse, God promises to be a refreshing and sustaining force for Israel, indicating His commitment to restore and nurture His people despite their previous unfaithfulness. This reflects the conservative Christian understanding of God's unwavering grace and mercy.

he will blossom like the lily
The "lily" is a symbol of beauty and purity. In the Hebrew language, the word "shushan" refers to a lily, which was known for its delicate and attractive appearance. This phrase suggests that Israel, once restored by God's grace, will flourish in beauty and righteousness. The lily's ability to thrive in various conditions also implies resilience and the potential for spiritual renewal. From a conservative Christian perspective, this blossoming represents the transformative power of God's love, leading believers to a life of holiness and grace.

and take root like the cedars of Lebanon
The "cedars of Lebanon" were renowned for their strength, durability, and majestic stature. In Hebrew, "erez" refers to these mighty trees, which were often used in the construction of temples and palaces due to their quality and endurance. This phrase indicates that Israel will not only flourish but also establish deep, enduring roots in their faith and relationship with God. The cedars' strength symbolizes stability and permanence, suggesting that Israel's restoration will be profound and lasting. For conservative Christians, this imagery underscores the importance of a firm foundation in faith, rooted in God's truth and promises.

(5, 6) As the Dew.--For this imagery see Psalm 130:3. Properly it is "a copious mist, shedding small invisible rain, that comes in rich abundance every night in the hot weather, when west or north-west winds blow, and which brings intense refreshment to all organised life" (Neil's Palestine Explored, p. 136). The lily, which carpets the fields of Palestine (Matthew 6:29), has slender roots, which might easily be uptorn, but under God's protection, even these are to strike downward like the roots of the cedars.[13] Branches are to grow like the banyan-tree, until one tree becomes a forest, and the beauty of the olive in its dancing radiance is to cover all, while the fragrance shall go abroad like the breezes from the forest of Lebanon.

[13] The lily of the Bible is identified by some with the Lilium chalcedonicum, or Scarlet Martagon, which grows profusely in the Levant, and is said to abound in Galilee in the months of April and May. Wetzstein, on the other hand, identifies it with a beautiful dark violet lily which grows in the large plain south-east of the Hauran range of mountains, and is called susan. The opinion of the Chaldee paraphrast and of Rabbinical writers, that the rose was really meant by the Hebrew, may safely be rejected.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will be
אֶהְיֶ֤ה (’eh·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like the dew
כַטַּל֙ (ḵaṭ·ṭal)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew

to Israel;
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (lə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

he will blossom
יִפְרַ֖ח (yip̄·raḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6524: To break forth as a, bud, bloom, to spread, to fly, to flourish

like the lily
כַּשּֽׁוֹשַׁנָּ֑ה (kaš·šō·wō·šan·nāh)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7799: A lily, as a, flower of architectural ornament, a, trumpet

and take
וְיַ֥ךְ (wə·yaḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

root
שָׁרָשָׁ֖יו (šā·rā·šāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8328: A root

like the cedars of Lebanon.
כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ (kal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3844: Lebanon -- a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel


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OT Prophets: Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew (Ho Hs Hos.)
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