Hos 2:21 | NET2full | STEP | “At that time , I will willingly respond ,” declares the Lord . “I will respond to the sky , and the sky will respond to the ground ;

‏ Hosea 2:21

Agricultural Fertility Restored to the Repentant Nation

21 “At that time, ^{▼▼tn Heb “And in that day”; cf. NAB, NRSV “On that day.”} I will willingly respond,” ^{▼▼tn The verb עָנָה, (ʿanah) which is used throughout 2:23-24, is related to the root I עָנָה (ʿanah), “to answer, listen attentively, react willingly” (BDB 772 s.v. 1.b; HALOT 852 s.v. ענה 3.b).} declares the Lord.
“I will respond to the sky,
and the sky ^{▼▼tn Heb “and they.” In the Hebrew text the plural pronoun is used because it refers back to the term translated “sky,” which is a dual form in Hebrew. Many English versions (e.g., NAB, NASB, NRSV) use the plural term “heavens” here, which agrees with a plural pronoun (cf. also NIV, NCV “skies”).} will respond to the ground;