Commentary on Hosea John Calvin (continued)
Hosea 10
Chapter 10
Hosea 10:1
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.
1. Vites spoliata Israel, fructum ponet sibi: secundum multitudinem fructus sui multiplicavit altaria (in altaribus multiplicavit;) secundum bonitatem (hoc est, proventum fertilem) terrae suae benefecerunt in statuis (alii, bonas fecerunt statuas; sed prior versio mihi magis probatur.)
Interpreters explain this verse in various ways. Those who think {,}בוקקbukok, here applied to the vine, means ``empty,'' are mistaken; for the Prophet means rather, that Israel was like a vine, which is robbed after the ingathering is come: for the word {,}בקקbekok, means properly to pillage, or to plunder. But the Prophet compares the gathering of grapes to robbing; and this view best suits the place. He says, then, that Israel is like a robbed vine; for it was stripped of its fruit; and then he adds, He will make fruit for himself The verb {,}שוהshue, means to equal; and many render it thus, --- He will equalize fruit to himself, or, ``fruit has been squalled to him.'' But this rendering brings out no clear sense. I rather follow those who render it, ``to lay up.'' This verb means also sometimes ``to lie;'' at least some thus render the clause, ``Fruit will lie to him:'' and though, in the sense of lying, it has a different final letter, {,}שוהshue, it is yet said to be derived from this root, so that there is a change of {`` }אalef'' into {`` }הhe'', as grammarians think: and yet it does not seem probable that {,}שואshua means to lie. But they elicit this sense, ``Israel is a plundered vine; therefore fruit will lie to him;'' that is, it will bring no produce, for that will happen to it which is wont to be, when robbers have laid waste fields and vineyards. But as I have said already, some more correctly render it, ``to lay up;'' He will lay up fruit for himself Some, however, read the sentence as a question, --- ``Will