“O Ephraim!
What have I to do
With idols?
It is I who answer!
I look after you.
I am
Like an evergreen cypress!
Your faithfulness
Comes from me.”
In a final nod to the territory of Ephraim, Yahweh reminded them that they should not be dealing with idols. Yahweh would take care of them. He was going to be like an evergreen cypress tree. Notice the number of allusions to trees. All their faithfulness came from Yahweh himself.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 