14:7a

They will return and dwell in his shade: There are textual and interpretation issues in this clause. The first textual issue concerns the relationship of the subject and predicate. The issue of his/my shade will be discussed separately.

(1) The LXX has “they will return and they will sit under his shelter.” With this option, the subject “they” will do two things: return and dwell. Some versions imply return by the phrase “dwell again.” The word dwell functions as a verb. For example:

People will reside again in his shade (NET Bible)

(2) The Masoretic Text has “they will return [those who] dwell in its/his shade.” With this option, those who return are identified as those who dwell in his shade. The word dwell functions as the participial noun “dwellers.” For example:

They that dwell under his shadow shall return (King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

There are two main interpretations of the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as return :

(1) The word means “again.” For example:

Again they shall dwell in his shade (New American Bible)

(2) The word means return. For example:

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow (English Standard Version)

You may follow either interpretation. Interpretation (1) is supported by most versions. Interpretation (2) is supported by more commentaries. Each interpretation implies the other one. The Display will follow interpretation (1) but will include return in the 2nd ML as implied information.

dwell: This word means to inhabit or reside somewhere. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

live (God’s Word)
-or-
reside (NET Bible)

in his shade: There is a textual issue in this phrase regarding the referent of the pronoun his :

(1) The pronoun refers to “Israel.” For example:

People will reside again in his shade. (NET Bible)

(2) The pronoun refers to God. For example:

My people will again live under my shade. (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It has good support from commentaries as well as the LXX and the Peshitta. Verses 5 and 6 describe the nation of Israel figuratively as a cedar tree. It is reasonable to assume that this verse continues this figurative description.

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shade means “shadow, shade, as protection from sun.” Here the meaning is figurative. It refers to the figurative shade/shadow of the tree, which is Israel in the future.

Here are some implications of this figure of speech:

(a) The shade describes the protection offered by the restored state of Israel.

(b) The shade describes the means for the people to flourish.

(c) The shade describes Israel’s security and fruitfulness.

(d) The shade describes Israel’s covenant with God.

14:7b

they will grow grain: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “they will cause grain to live.” There are two main interpretations of this Hebrew clause:

(1) It means that the people of Israel will grow grain. For example:

they will plant and harvest grain in abundance (NET Bible)

(2) It means that the people will flourish like grain. For example:

They shall flourish like the grain. (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It makes good sense without any changes to the grammar of the Hebrew text.

grain: There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word for grain:

(1) The word is grain. For example:

They shall bring to life new grain. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) Some scholars think that the original word was “garden.” For example:

They shall flourish as a garden. (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. It makes good sense without any changes to the Hebrew text.

14:7c

blossom like the vine: There are two main interpretations of this clause:

(1) The clause is a simile that compares Israel to a vine. Israel will blossom in a way similar to a vine. For example:

And they will blossom like the vine. (New American Standard Bible)

(2) The clause means that the people of Israel will make vines grow. For example:

They will make the vine flourish (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

The word blossom is the same as in 14:5b “he will blossom like the lily.” See the note there for more information on blossom.

The Hebrew word for vine indicates grape vines as a collective. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They will blossom like grapevines (God’s Word)
-or-
and be fruitful like a vineyard (Good News Translation)

14:7d

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon: This clause is more literally “its memorial [will be] like the wine of Lebanon.” There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word for “memorial” that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as renown :

(1) The word means “memorial.” A memorial is something that people remember about a thing or a place. For example:

They will be as famous as the wine of Lebanon. (Good News Translation)

(2) The word means “fragrance.” For example:

their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions. It fits the standard meaning of the Hebrew word. The word “fragrance” is not an actual meaning of the Hebrew word in this clause.

This clause is a simile that compares people’s memory of Israel to people’s memory of the wine of Lebanon. Many people knew about the wine of Lebanon and had a high opinion of it. Likewise, many people will know about Israel and have a high opinion of it.

General Comment on 14:7

Many scholars regard the plural Hebrew forms in this verse to refer to the people of Israel and the singular forms to refer to the nation of Israel. Some versions follow the same singular and plural forms as in Hebrew. For example:

People will reside again in his shade;

They will plant and harvest grain in abundance.

They will blossom like a vine,

And his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. (NET Bible)

Some other versions change the singular or plural forms, perhaps to make the translation easier to read.

Some versions translate most Hebrew singular and plural forms as singular “he/his.” For example:

Men will dwell again in his shade.

He will flourish like the grain.

He will blossom like a vine,

And his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. (New International Version)

Some other versions translate most singular and plural forms as plural “they.” For example:

They will live again in God’s shadow.

They will grow like grain.

They will blossom like grapevines.

They will be as famous as the wines from Lebanon. (God’s Word)

The New International Version and the God’s Word translations lose some of the distinctions between the nation of Israel (singular forms) and the people of Israel (plural forms). Translate these forms in a natural way in your language.

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