The Meaning of Hosea 14:5 Explained

Hosea 14:5

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

YLT: I am as dew to Israel, he flourisheth as a lily, And he striketh forth his roots as Lebanon.

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Hosea 14:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord would descend on Israel with blessing like the dew. Instead of being dry and withered ( Hosea 13:15) Israel would blossom like the prolific spring lily (or crocus, cf. Song of Solomon 2:2). The Israelites would become as beautiful as an olive tree that is not only attractive but the source of beneficial products (cf. Psalm 52:8; Jeremiah 11:16). Israel would take root and grow strong, like a cedar of Lebanon (cf. Song of Solomon 4:11).

Context Summary

Hosea 14:1-9 - "i Will Heal Their Backsliding"
The prophet here ransacks the world of nature for phrases sufficiently expressive of his transports of joy. The whole world seems laid under contribution to set forth the love of God. The gentle dew, the rich raiment of the lily, the far-reaching spurs and roots of the Lebanon range, the spreading branches of the olive, the fragrant breath of the wind which is laden with the perfume of the land, the golden corn ripe for the sickle, the scent of the vines-these are the images with which the inspired imagination of the prophet teems.
But how deeply the chapter appeals to us! The very words that returning prodigals would adopt are set down. As we return, we hear the divine voice assuring us that our backslidings shall be healed, that there is no anger and only love, and that God Himself shall be the sap of our fruit-bearing life. Our Father wants it to be clearly understood that these promises do not belong to Israel only but to all who will accept them. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 14

1  An exhortation to repentance
4  A promise of God's blessing

What do the individual words in Hosea 14:5 mean?

I will be like the dew to Israel He shall grow like the lily and lengthen his roots like Lebanon
אֶהְיֶ֤ה כַטַּל֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִפְרַ֖ח כַּשּֽׁוֹשַׁנָּ֑ה וְיַ֥ךְ שָׁרָשָׁ֖יו כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן

אֶהְיֶ֤ה  I  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כַטַּל֙  like  the  dew 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: טַל  
Sense: dew, night mist.
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  to  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
יִפְרַ֖ח  He  shall  grow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַח 
Sense: to bud, sprout, shoot, bloom.
כַּשּֽׁוֹשַׁנָּ֑ה  like  the  lily 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שׁוּשַׁן  
Sense: lily.
וְיַ֥ךְ  and  lengthen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
שָׁרָשָׁ֖יו  his  roots 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֹׁרֶשׁ  
Sense: root.
כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן  like  Lebanon 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לְבָנׄון  
Sense: a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel.