CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hosea 2:21 "On that day I will respond--" declares the LORD--"I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/2-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/28_Hos_02_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 2:21 - God's Mercy to Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="On that day I will respond-- declares the LORD--I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/hosea/2-21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/hosea/2-21.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/hosea/">Hosea</a> > <a href="/hosea/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 21</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hosea/2-20.htm" title="Hosea 2:20">◄</a> Hosea 2:21 <a href="/hosea/2-22.htm" title="Hosea 2:22">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/hosea/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/hosea/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220In that day I will respond,&#8221 declares the LORD— &#8220I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/hosea/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/hosea/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“And in that day I will answer, declares the LORD, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/hosea/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“On that day I will respond—” declares the LORD—“I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/hosea/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/hosea/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“It shall come to pass in that day <i>That</i> I will answer,” says the LORD; “I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/hosea/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/hosea/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220It will come about in that day that I will respond,&#8221 declares the LORD. &#8220I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/hosea/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And it will come about in that day that I will respond,” declares the LORD. “I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/hosea/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“And it will be in that day, <i>that</i> I will answer,” declares Yahweh. “I will answer the heavens, and they will answer the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/hosea/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“It will come about in that day that I will respond,” says the LORD. “I will respond to the heavens [which ask for rain to pour on the earth], and they will respond to the earth [which begs for the rain],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/hosea/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will respond — this is the LORD’s declaration. I will respond to the sky, and it will respond to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/hosea/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will respond— this is the LORD&#8217s declaration. I will respond to the sky, and it will respond to the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/hosea/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass in that day, I will answer, saith Jehovah, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/hosea/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I will command the sky to send rain on the earth, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/hosea/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass in that day, I will answer, saith the LORD, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/hosea/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"On that day I will answer your [prayers]," declares the LORD. "I will speak to the sky, it will speak to the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/hosea/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"It will come about at that time that I will respond," declares the LORD, "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/hosea/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?On that day I will respond?? declares the LORD??I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/hosea/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"At that time, I will willingly respond," declares the LORD. "I will respond to the sky, and the sky will respond to the ground; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/hosea/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It will happen in that day, I will respond," says the LORD, "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/hosea/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/hosea/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />It will happen in that day, that I will respond,” says Yahweh. “I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/hosea/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it has come to pass in that day, I answer,” "" A declaration of YHWH, "" “I answer the heavens, and they answer the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/hosea/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it hath come to pass in that day, I answer -- an affirmation of Jehovah, I answer the heavens, and they answer the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/hosea/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it was in that day, I will answer, says Jehovah, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/hosea/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />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. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/hosea/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And this will happen in that day: I will listen closely,” says the Lord. “I will hear the heavens, and they will hear the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/hosea/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />On that day I will respond—oracle of the LORD— I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/hosea/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />On that day I will answer, says the LORD, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/hosea/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass on that day, says the LORD, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/hosea/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And it will be in that day, says LORD JEHOVAH, I shall answer the Heavens and they shall answer the Earth<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/hosea/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass in that day, I will respond, saith the LORD, I will respond to the heavens, And they shall respond to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/hosea/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, I will hearken to the heaven, and it shall hearken to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/hosea/2-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=363" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/hosea/2.htm">God's Mercy to Israel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">20</span>And I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will know the LORD.” <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">“</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hū (Art:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">On that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bay·yō·wm (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: ’e·‘ĕ·neh (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To answer, respond.">I will respond—”</a> <a href="/hebrew/5002.htm" title="5002: nə·’um- (N-msc) -- Utterance. From na'am; an oracle.">declares</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD—</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: ’e·‘ĕ·neh (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To answer, respond.">“I will respond</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: haš·šā·mā·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">to the heavens,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: wə·hêm (Conj-w:: Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">and they</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: ya·‘ă·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To answer, respond.">will respond</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">to the earth.</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-12.htm">Deuteronomy 28:12</a></span><br />The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/8-12.htm">Zechariah 8:12</a></span><br />“For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-19.htm">Joel 2:19</a></span><br />And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-23.htm">Joel 2:23</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-10.htm">Isaiah 55:10</a></span><br />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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-12.htm">Jeremiah 31:12</a></span><br />They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/34-26.htm">Ezekiel 34:26</a></span><br />I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/65-9.htm">Psalm 65:9-13</a></span><br />You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth. / You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth. / You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/85-12.htm">Psalm 85:12</a></span><br />The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-4.htm">Leviticus 26:4</a></span><br />I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/5-18.htm">James 5:18</a></span><br />Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-30.htm">Matthew 6:30-33</a></span><br />If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? / Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Acts 14:17</a></span><br />Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-19.htm">Romans 8:19-22</a></span><br />The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/9-10.htm">2 Corinthians 9:10</a></span><br />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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, said the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;</p><p class="hdg">I will hear, saith.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/65-24.htm">Isaiah 65:24</a></b></br> And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/8-12.htm">Zechariah 8:12</a></b></br> For the seed <i>shall be</i> 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 <i>things</i>.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/13-9.htm">Zechariah 13:9</a></b></br> And 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 <i>is</i> my people: and they shall say, The LORD <i>is</i> my God.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hosea/2-16.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/hosea/2-16.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/hosea/2-18.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/daniel/10-9.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/daniel/12-3.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/hosea/2-15.htm">Respond</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-9.htm">Skies</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/11-11.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/hosea/11-11.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/hosea/2-22.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/hosea/2-22.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/joel/2-10.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/hosea/2-22.htm">Respond</a> <a href="/nahum/3-16.htm">Skies</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/2-1.htm">The idolatry of the people.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/2-6.htm">God's judgments against them.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/hosea/2-14.htm">His promises of reconciliation with them.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hosea/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>On that day I will respond—</b><br>This phrase indicates a specific time in the future when God will act decisively. The "day" often refers to a time of divine intervention or fulfillment of prophecy. In the context of Hosea, it points to a future restoration of Israel after a period of judgment. This echoes the "Day of the Lord" found in other prophetic books, which signifies both judgment and salvation.<p><b>declares the LORD—</b><br>The use of "declares the LORD" emphasizes the authority and certainty of the message. It is a common prophetic formula that assures the reader of the divine origin of the prophecy. This underscores the reliability of God's promises and His sovereign control over history.<p><b>I will respond to the heavens,</b><br>This phrase suggests a divine interaction with the natural order. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the heavens were often seen as the realm of the divine. God's response to the heavens implies His control over creation, aligning with passages like <a href="/psalms/19.htm">Psalm 19:1</a>, which speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God. It also suggests a reversal of the judgment seen earlier in Hosea, where the heavens were closed as a sign of God's displeasure.<p><b>and they will respond to the earth.</b><br>The response of the heavens to the earth indicates a restoration of harmony in creation. This reflects the covenantal blessings promised in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, where obedience leads to agricultural abundance. It also foreshadows the eschatological hope found in <a href="/revelation/21.htm">Revelation 21:1</a>, where a new heaven and a new earth are established. The interconnectedness of heaven and earth here points to the holistic nature of God's redemption plan, affecting both the spiritual and physical realms.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a></b><br>A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, whose life and message were a demonstration of God's steadfast love and faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks through Hosea, promising restoration and renewal.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/heavens_and_earth.htm">Heavens and Earth</a></b><br>Symbolic of the natural order and creation, which are depicted as responsive to God's command and part of His redemptive plan.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The Northern Kingdom, often depicted as unfaithful, yet the recipient of God's promise of restoration.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_day_of_the_lord.htm">The Day of the LORD</a></b><br>A prophetic term often used to describe a future time of God's intervention, judgment, and ultimate restoration.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Creation</a></b><br>God is in control of the natural order, and His promises include the restoration of all creation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_interconnectedness_of_creation.htm">The Interconnectedness of Creation</a></b><br>The heavens and the earth are depicted as responsive to God, illustrating the interconnectedness of all creation under God's command.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/promise_of_restoration.htm">Promise of Restoration</a></b><br>Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God promises a future day of restoration, emphasizing His grace and mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_faithfulness.htm">Covenant Faithfulness</a></b><br>God's response to the heavens and the earth is a reminder of His faithfulness to His covenant promises, encouraging believers to trust in His word.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_future_intervention.htm">Hope in God's Future Intervention</a></b><br>The "day" mentioned is a future hope for believers, pointing to God's ultimate plan of redemption and restoration.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_jesus_know_his_return_date.htm">Did Jesus know His return date?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_john_the_baptist_elijah.htm">Was John the Baptist Elijah? (Matthew 11:14 vs. John 1:21)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_jesus_know_all_things.htm">Did Jesus know everything? (John 21:17 vs. Mark 13:32)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_second_coming.htm">What is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hosea/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21-23) <span class= "bld">Will hear.</span>--More correctly, <span class= "ital">I will answer</span> (the prayer of) <span class= "ital">the heavens.</span> A sublime personification! Heaven pleads with Jehovah, the earth pleads with heaven, and the products of the soil plead with the earth. To all these prayers an answer is vouchsafed. Jehovah answers the heavens with the gifts of dew and rain, wherewith the heavens answer the cravings of the earth, and the earth the cravings of the corn, wine, and oil. And these last, in their turn, answer the wants of Jezreel, a name which, like Achor, is to be invested with brighter meanings. It is to represent a Divine seed--the people whom the Lord hath blessed. (See Stanley, <span class= "ital">Lectures on the Jewish Church,</span> II. Series, Lecture 32 <span class= "ital">ad fin.,</span> where this idea is eloquently set forth.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 21-23.</span> - The eighteenth verse pictures a scene of peace for Israel's future; the verses following warrant the expectation of its perpetuity, owing to the higher and holier relationship; the verses before us are a vivid description of unlimited prosperity. The corn and wine and oil appeal, by a graphic personification, to mother earth; earth appeals to the over-canopying heavens; and the heavens appeal to him whose throne is in the heavens, but whom the heavens and heaven of heavens cannot contain. Soon the floating cloud is seen and the falling rain is heard; the parched earth drinks in the moisture; and its products, being nourished and refreshed, supply to the utmost the wants and wishes of Jezreel. Kimchi comments on this picture as follows: "He says that then, in the season of salvation, the heavens shall give their dew, and the earth shall give her increase. And he says, 'I will tear the heavens which were shut up when they were in the land, as in the days of Ahab; on their return to the land at the time of salvation they shall no more be shut.' And he says, 'I will answer,' as if the heavens asked that they might give rain according to their manner, and I will answer; [as if] their earth [asked] that they [the heavens] might give rain after their manner, even showers of blessing. And this ' I will answer' denotes that my favor shall be on them [the heavens]. 'And they shall answer the earth,' as if the earth asked rain and longed for it. 'And the earth shall hear when it shall give its increase, and the tree of the field shall give its fruit...' 'And they shall hear Jezreel,' for in the multiplying of good things the eaters thereof multiply, for the steppes shall be full of the sheep of Israel. In the punishments he called the name of Israel Jezreel, because they were scattered among the nations. In the time of salvation he likewise calls them Jezreel, because they were sown in their land; accordingly, he says afterwards, 'I will sow them to me in the land.'" Such is the prophet's pictorial representation of a prosperity including food in abundance, refreshment limited by moderation, and even luxuries without stint. Old things are passed away; sinful things have ceased; there is a complete reversal of the sorrowful circumstances into which sin had plunged Israel. God's scattering has now become God's sowing. "I sow her" is the remark of Aben Ezra, "that they may multiply and be fruitful as the seed of the earth." The unpitied one has found mercy; the rejected one is received with rejoicing. <span class="cmt_word">"I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God."</span> <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/hosea/2-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“On that</span><br /><span class="heb">הַה֗וּא</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">day</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּיּ֣וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(bay·yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will respond—”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶֽעֱנֶה֙</span> <span class="translit">(’e·‘ĕ·neh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">declares</span><br /><span class="heb">נְאֻם־</span> <span class="translit">(nə·’um-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5002.htm">Strong's 5002: </a> </span><span class="str2">An oracle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD—</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“I will respond</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶעֱנֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(’e·‘ĕ·neh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the heavens,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šā·mā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and they</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהֵ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will respond</span><br /><span class="heb">יַעֲנ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(ya·‘ă·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the earth.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָֽרֶץ׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/hosea/2-21.htm">Hosea 2:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/hosea/2-21.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 2:21 It will happen in that day (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/2-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 2:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 2:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/2-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 2:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 2:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>