Hosea 14:6

“His branches shall spread, etc.] As the well rooted cedars in Lebanon; (see <042406>Numbers 24:6). This respects the propagation of the church of God, and the interest of Christ in the world, as in the first times of the Gospel, and will be in the latter day; when the Gospel shall be spread everywhere; churches set up in all places; the Jews converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; and these like spreading branches, and fruitful boughs, abounding in grace and good works. The Targum is, “they shall multiply or increase with sons and daughters:” and his beauty shall be as the olive tree; which lies in its being laden with excellent fruit, and being always green; for which reasons…”

“branches--shoots, or suckers. beauty . . . as the olive--which never loses its verdure. One plant is not enough to express the graces of God's elect people. The lily depicts its lovely growth; but as it wants duration and firmness, the deeply rooted cedars of Lebanon are added; these, however, are fruitless, therefore the fruitful, peace-bearing, fragrant, ever green olive is added. smell as Lebanon--which exhaled from it the fragrance of odoriferous trees and flowers. So Israel's name shall be in good savor with all (Gen 27:27; Sol 4:11).”

“His branches - His branches which are new sprung out, shall gather strength, and shall multiply in number. The olive - tree - Which retains its verdure all the winter and is rich in fruit; so the true Israel of God shall flourish not in fruitless beauty, but in lovely fruit, even in winter's of affliction and trouble. As Lebanon - The mountain famous for cedars, where also were the trees that afford the frankincense, and many flowers which perfume the air; such shall the spiritual fragrance of the church be to God and man. Hosea 14:7”

“branches: Psa 80:9-11; Eze 17:5-8, Eze 31:3-10; Dan 4:10-15; Mat 13:31; Joh 15:1; Rom 11:16-24 spread: Heb. go and his beauty: Psa 52:8, Psa 128:3 his smell: Gen 27:27; Sol 4:11-15; Co2 2:14, Co2 2:15; Phi 4:18 Hosea 14:7”