And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;
Parallel translations
- WEB It will happen in that day, I will respond,” says Yahweh, “I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth;
- BSB “On that day I will respond—” declares the LORD—“I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth.
- NKJV “It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer,” says the Lord; “I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth.
- NASB ¶“And it will come about on that day that I will respond,” declares the Lord. “I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,
- NLT “In that day, I will answer,” says the Lord. “I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds. And the sky will answer the earth with rain.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God describes a harmonious chain of provision in which the heavens respond to His word and the earth in turn is blessed. Restored fellowship brings restored fruitfulness.
Overview
This poetic sequence pictures all creation cooperating to supply Israel's needs once she is reconciled to God. Where earlier God withdrew grain and wine, now He commands the heavens and earth to yield abundance again. The verse shows that blessing flows from a right relationship with the Creator, and it hints at the renewal of all things that accompanies God's saving work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Zech 8:12For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
- Isa 65:24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- Rom 8:32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- Matt 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Isa 55:10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
- 1 Cor 3:21–23Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- Zech 13:9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's relentless love for an unfaithful bride dramatizes the gospel: 'Out of Egypt I called my son' is fulfilled in Jesus, who redeems an adulterous people at his own cost.
How Hosea 2:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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