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Read the Bible

King James Version

Hosea 10:1

Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Grape;   Hypocrisy;   Unfaithfulness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Faithfulness-Unfaithfulness;   Fruit, Sinful;   Fruitfulness-Unfruitfulness;   Israel;   Israel-The Jews;   Selfishness;   Selfishness-Unselfishness;   Sin;   Sin's;   Sinful;   Social Selfishness;   Unfaithfulness;   Vine;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Vine, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Vine;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ephraim (1);   Vine;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hosea;   Vine;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - High Place, Sanctuary;   Pillar;   Rechab, Rechabites;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abiding;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Vine;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Vine,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Vine;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Altar;   Empty;   Hosea;   Obelisk;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Pillar;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Israel is a lush vine;
Hebrew Names Version
Yisra'el is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
English Standard Version
Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.
New American Standard Bible
Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the memorial stones.
New Century Version
Israel is like a large vine that produced plenty of fruit. As the people became richer, they built more altars for idols. As their land became better, they put up better stone pillars to honor gods.
Amplified Bible
Israel is a luxuriant and prolific vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made [to Baal]; The richer his land, The better he made the [idolatrous] pillars.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Israel is a emptie vine, yet hath it brought foorth fruite vnto it selfe, and according to the multitude of the fruite thereof he hath increased the altars: according to the goodnesse of their lande they haue made faire images.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the sacred pillars.
Legacy Standard Bible
Israel is a luxuriant vine;He produces fruit for himself.The more abundant his fruit,The more altars he abounded;The better his land,The better he made the sacred pillars.
Berean Standard Bible
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
Contemporary English Version
You were a healthy vine covered with grapes. But the more grapes you grew, the more altars you built; the better off you became, the better shrines you set up for pagan gods.
Complete Jewish Bible
Isra'el was a luxuriant vine, freely putting forth fruit. As his fruit increased, he increased his altars; as his land got better, he improved his standing-stones.
Darby Translation
Israel is an unpruned vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly statues.
Easy-to-Read Version
Israel is like a vine that grows plenty of fruit. But as Israel got more and more things, he built more and more altars to honor false gods. His land became better and better, so he put up better and better stones to honor false gods.
George Lamsa Translation
ISRAEL is a vine full of branches that brings forth its fruit; according to the multitude of his fruit he has increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have built shrines.
Good News Translation
The people of Israel were like a grapevine that was full of grapes. The more prosperous they were, the more altars they built. The more productive their land was, the more beautiful they made the sacred stone pillars they worship.
Lexham English Bible
Israel is a luxuriant vine; he yields fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he made numerous altars. The more his land prospered, the more he improved his stone pillars.
Literal Translation
Israel is a luxuriant vine; he bears fruit for himself. According to the plenty of his fruit he has increased the altars. They have made beautiful images according to the goodness of his land.
American Standard Version
Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.
Bible in Basic English
Israel is a branching vine, full of fruit; as his fruit is increased, so the number of his altars is increased; as the land is fair, so they have made fair pillars.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Israel was a luxuriant vine, which put forth fruit freely: as his fruit increased, he increased his altars; the more goodly his land was, the more goodly were his pillars.
King James Version (1611)
Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruite vnto himselfe: according to the multitude of his fruite, he hath increased the altars, according to the goodnesse of his land, they haue made goodly images.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Israel [is] an emptie vine, [yet] hath it brought foorth fruite to it selfe, accordyng to the multitude of the fruite therof he hath encreased alwayes: accordyng to the goodnesse of their lande they haue made them faire images.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Israel is a vine with goodly branches, her fruit is abundant: according to the multitude of her fruits she has multiplied her altars; according to the wealth of his land, he has set up pillars.
English Revised Version
Israel is a luxuriant vine, which putteth forth his fruit: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly pillars.
World English Bible
Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Israel was a vyne ful of bowis, fruyt was maad euene to hym; bi the multitude of his fruyt he multipliede auteris, bi the plente of his lond he was plenteuouse.
Update Bible Version
Israel is a luxuriant vine, that puts forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.
Webster's Bible Translation
Israel [is] an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit to himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
New English Translation
Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.
New King James Version
Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.
New Living Translation
How prosperous Israel is— a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit. But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
New Life Bible
Israel is a spreading vine full of fruit. The more fruit he had, the more altars he made. As his land became richer, he made his pillars for worship better.
New Revised Standard
Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
A luxuriant vine, is Israel, fruit, beseemeth him, - According to the abundance of his fruit, hath he brought abundance to the altars, according to the goodliness of his land, hath he made goodly statues.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Israel a vine full of branches, the fruit is agreeable to it: according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath multiplied altars, according to the plenty of his land he hath abounded with idols.
Revised Standard Version
Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars.
Young's Literal Translation
`An empty vine [is] Israel, Fruit he maketh like to himself, According to the abundance of his fruit, He hath multiplied for the altars, According to the goodness of his land, They have made goodly standing-pillars.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Israel was a goodly vyne, but he hath brought forth vnprofitable frute: yee the more frute he had, the mo aulters he made: ye more good I dyd to their londe, the more frendshipe shewed they to their ymages.
THE MESSAGE
Israel was once a lush vine, bountiful in grapes. The more lavish the harvest, the more promiscuous the worship. The more money they got, the more they squandered on gods-in-their-own-image. Their sweet smiles are sheer lies. They're guilty as sin. God will smash their worship shrines, pulverize their god-images.

Contextual Overview

1 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. 3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lord ; what then should a king do to us? 4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. 8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cir, am 3264, bc 740, is, Isaiah 5:1-7, Ezekiel 15:1-5, Nahum 2:2, John 15:1-6

an empty vine: or, a vine emptying the fruit which it giveth, unto. Zechariah 7:5, Zechariah 7:6, Romans 14:7, Romans 14:8, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Philippians 2:21

to the multitude: Hosea 2:8, Hosea 8:4, Hosea 8:11, Hosea 12:8, Hosea 12:11, Hosea 13:2, Hosea 13:6, Jeremiah 2:28

images: Heb. statues, or standing images, Leviticus 26:1, 1 Kings 14:23, *marg.

Reciprocal: Isaiah 5:2 - wild grapes Isaiah 17:8 - the work Ezekiel 15:2 - What Ezekiel 16:17 - hast also Luke 12:21 - he Luke 20:11 - and sent

Cross-References

Genesis 2:4
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
Genesis 5:1
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Genesis 6:9
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 9:1
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Genesis 9:7
And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
Genesis 9:19
These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Israel [is] an empty vine,.... The people of Israel are often compared to a vine, and such an one from whence fruit might be expected, being planted in a good soil, and well taken care of; see

Psalms 80:8; but proved an "empty vine", empty of fruit; not of temporal good things, for a multitude of such fruit it is afterwards said to have; but of spiritual fruit, of the fruit of grace, and of good works, being destitute of the Spirit of God, and his grace; and, having no spiritual moisture, was incapable of bringing forth good fruit: or, "an emptying vine" o; that casts its fruit before it is ripe; these people, what fruit they had, they made an ill use of it; even of their temporal good things; they emptied themselves of their wealth and riches, by sending presents, or paying tribute, to foreign princes for their alliance, friendship, and help; or by consuming it on their idols, and in their idolatrous worship. The Targum renders it,

"a spoiled vine p;''

spoiled by their enemies, who robbed them of their wealth and riches, and trampled them under foot. The Septuagint version, and those that follow that, understand it in a sense quite the reverse, rendering it, "a flourishing vine"; putting forth branches, leaves, and fruit; and which the learned Pocock confirms from the use of the word in the Arabic language: but then it follows,

he bringeth forth fruit unto himself; all the good works done by them were not to the praise and glory of God, as fruits of righteousness are, which come by Jesus Christ; but were done to be seen of men, and to gain their applause and esteem, and so were for themselves; and all their temporal good things they abounded with were not made use of in the service of God, and for the promoting of his glory, and of true religion among them; but either consumed on their own lusts, or in the service of idols: or, "the fruit is like unto himself" q; as was the vine, so was its fruit: the vine was empty, and devoid of goodness, and so the fruit it produced. The Targum is,

"the fruit of their works was the cause of their being carried captive:''

according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars: as the Israelites increased in riches and wealth, their land bringing forth in great abundance, they erected the greater number of altars to their idols, and multiplied their sacrifices to them; this was the ill use they made of what fruit they did produce:

according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images; of richer metal, and more ornamented, and more of them, according to the plenty of good things, corn, and wine, and oil, their land produced; thus abusing the providential goodness of God to such vile purposes!

o גפן בוקק "vitis evacuans", Drusius, Rivetus, Schmidt; so Stockius, p. 149. p So Calvin. q פרי ישוה לו "fructum aequat sibi", Mercerus; "fracture facit similem sibi", Schmidt.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Israel is an empty vine - Or, in the same sense, “a luxuriant vine;” literally, “one which poureth out,” poureth itself out into leaves, abundant in switches, (as most old versions explain it,) luxuriant in leaves, emptying itself in them, and empty of fruit; like the fig-tree, which our Lord cursed. For the more a fruit tree putteth out its strength in leaves and branches, the less and the worst fruit it beareth. : “The juices which it ought to transmute into wine, it disperseth in the ambitious idle shew of leaves and branches.” The sap in the vine is an emblem of His Holy Spirit, through whom alone we can bear fruit. “His grace which was in me,” says Paul, “was not in vain.” It is in vain to us, when we waste the stirrings of God’s Spirit in feelings, aspirations, longings, transports, “which bloom their hour and fade” . Like the leaves, these feelings aid in maturing fruit; when there are leaves only, the tree is barren and “nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned” Hebrews 6:8.

It bringeth forth fruit for itself - Literally, “setteth fruit to, or on itself.” Luxuriant in leaves, its fruit becomes worthless, and is from itself to itself. It is uncultured; (for Israel refused culture,) pouring itself out, as it willed, in what it willed. It had a rich show of leaves, a show also of fruit, but not for the Lord of the vineyard, since they came to no size or ripeness. Yet to the superficial glance, it was rich, prosperous, healthy, abundant in all things, as was the outward state of Israel under Jehoash and Jeroboam II.

According to the multitude of his fruit - Or more strictly, “as his fruit was multiplied, he multiplied altars; as his land was made good, they made goodly their images.” The more of outward prosperity God bestowed upon them, the more they abused His gifts, referring them to their idols; the more God lavished His mercies on them, the more profuse they were in adoring their idols. The superabundance of God’s goodness became the occasion of the superabundance of their wickedness. They rivaled and competed with and outdid the goodness of God, so that He could bestow upon them no good, which they did not turn to evil. People think this strange. Strange it is, as is all perversion of God’s goodness; yet so it is now. People’s sins are either the abuse of what God gives, or rebellion, because He withholds. In the sins of prosperity, wealth, health, strength, powers of mind, wit, people sin in a way in which they could not sin, unless God continually supplied them with those gifts which they turn to sin. The more God gives, the more opportunity and ability they have to sin, and the more they sin. They are “evil,” not only in despite of God’s goodness, but “because” He is good.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER X

This chapter treats of the same subject, but elegantly varied.

It begins with comparing Israel to a fruitful vine but

corrupted by too much prosperity, 1.

It next reproves and threatens them for their idolatry, 2;

anarchy, 3;

and breach of covenant, 4.

Their idolatry is then enlarged on; and its fatal consequences

declared in terms full of sublimity and pathos, 5-8.

God is now introduced complaining of their excessive guilt; and

threatening them with captivity in terms that bear a manifest

allusion to their favourite idolatry, the worshiping the

similitude of a calf or heifer, 9-11.

Upon which the prophet, in a beautiful allegory suggested by

the preceding metaphors, exhorts them to repentance; and warns

them of the dreadful consequences of their evil courses, if

obstinately persisted in, 12-15.

NOTES ON CHAP. X

Verse Hosea 10:1. Israel is an empty vine — Or, a vine that casteth its grapes.

He bringeth forth fruit — Or, he laid up fruit for himself. He abused the blessings of God to the purposes of idolatry. He was prosperous; but his prosperity corrupted his heart.

According to the multitude of his fruit — He became idolatrous in proportion to his prosperity; and in proportion to their wealth was the costliness of their images, and the expensiveness of their idol worship. True is the homely saying of old Quarles: -

"So God's best gifts, usurp'd by wicked ones,

To poison turn, by their con-ta-gi-ons."


Another poet, of a higher order, but worse school, says: -

Effodiuntur opes, irritamenta malorum. - OVID.

Of which the words of St. Paul are nearly a literal rendering, -

Ῥιζα γαρ πανθων των κακων εστιν ἡ θιλαργυρια.

"For the love of money is the root of all these evils" 1 Timothy 6:10.

Pity that this beautiful metal, on which God has bestowed such a large portion of mineral perfection, and then hid in the earth, should, on its being digged up by man, become the incentive to so many vices, and draw away his heart from the Creator of all things, and the fountain of ineffable perfection and goodness.


 
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