Hosea 14:8

‘Ephraim (will say), “What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him. I am like a green fir-tree, from me is your fruit found.”

The bare word ‘Ephraim' (it is not ‘O Ephraim') probably indicates that at least the first phrase is spoken by Ephraim, with ‘Ephraim' signifying the whole of Israel. But recognising that in the whole of the Old Testament YHWH is never likened to a tree, and certainly not to a green tree, a description which could have resulted in dangerous misinterpretation because ‘green trees' were notoriously regularly connected with idolatrous worship (‘under every green tree' - Deuteronomy 12:2; Isaiah 57:5; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:6; Jeremiah 3:13; Jeremiah 17:2; etc), we are probably to see the whole of the verse as spoken by Ephraim. In it Ephraim rejects idolatry once and for all, and declares that, having ceased to regard idols he has rather ‘answered' YHWH (responded to Him, compare Hosea 2:15), and will from now on ‘regard' Him (by obeying the covenant and following the procedures in Hosea 14:2). He has thus now become like a green fir tree (the evergreen element indicating permanent loyalty) from whom Israel's people can ‘find fruit' (compare Hosea 14:7 for the similar differentiation in context between Israel as a nation and the people), a fruit which being from a fir tree will itself grow into strong trees. The picture can be compared with that of Israel as the blossoming lily and the beautiful olive tree (Hosea 14:5). Here Israel is now a green fir tree. This interpretation suitably caps off the prophecy with a declaration by Ephraim/Israel that they are once more the covenant community through whom permanent and self-sustaining life is offered to all. It is therefore a declaration of the triumph of YHWH.

The majority of commentators, however, rather see the reference to the ‘green fir-tree' as (uniquely) a reference to YHWH, with the implication being that from now on their fruit will be found from Him and not from Baal (even though fir-tree fruit was not one of Baal's specialities. His supposed expertise was the grain and the oil and the wine).

Final Conclusion.