Focused Passage

Hosea 12:1-6

Israel's Jacob-Like Striving, False Security, and the Call to Return

Hosea 12 moves from Ephraim's empty diplomacy and Judah's exposure, to Jacob's story as a mirror for Israel, to a direct call to return, to indictment of commercial pride and forgetfulness of prophetic deliverance, ending with the certainty that Israel's guilt will be repaid.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

2The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

4Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—

5the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.

6But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

2 Timothy 2:16Classic cross-references Hosea 11:12Classic cross-references Hosea 5:13Classic cross-references Hosea 7:11Classic cross-references Isaiah 44:20Classic cross-references James 4:8OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13OliveGrove study links

Original words

Ephraimאֶפְרַ֜יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularfeeds onרֹעֶ֥הH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe windר֙וּחַ֙H7307Noun - common singularand pursuesוְרֹדֵ֣ףH7291Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe east windקָדִ֔יםH6921Noun - masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructday longהַיּ֕וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularhe multipliesיַרְבֶּ֑הH7235Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularliesכָּזָ֥בH3577Noun - masculine singularand violenceוָשֹׁ֖דH7701Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularhe makesיִכְרֹ֔תוּH3772Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plurala covenantוּבְרִית֙H1285Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularwithעִם־H5973PrepositionAssyriaאַשּׁ֣וּרH804Noun - proper - feminine singularand sendsיוּבָֽל׃H2986Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularolive oilוְשֶׁ֖מֶןH8081Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularto Egyptלְמִצְרַ֥יִםH4714Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 8 and 14

Verse 2

Cross-references

Micah 6:2Classic cross-references Amos 2:4Classic cross-references Hosea 4:1Classic cross-references Isaiah 10:6Classic cross-references Ezekiel 7:4Classic cross-references James 4:8OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13OliveGrove study links

Original words

The LORDלַֽיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularhas a charge to bringוְרִ֥יבH7379Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularagainstעִם־H5973PrepositionJudahיְהוּדָ֑הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularHe will punishוְלִפְקֹ֤דH6485Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .עַֽל־H5921PrepositionJacobיַעֲקֹב֙H3290Noun - proper - masculine singularaccording to his waysכִּדְרָכָ֔יוH1870Preposition-k | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularand repayיָשִׁ֥יבH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhimלֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singularaccording to his deedsכְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יוH4611Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

Verse 3

Cross-references

Genesis 32:24Classic cross-references James 5:16Classic cross-references Genesis 32:28Classic cross-references Philippians 2:6Classic cross-references Genesis 25:26Classic cross-references James 4:8OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13OliveGrove study links

Original words

In the wombבַּבֶּ֖טֶןH990Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularhe grasped his brother’sאָחִ֑יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularheelעָקַ֣בH6117Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand in his vigorוּבְאוֹנ֖וֹH202Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe wrestledשָׂרָ֥הH8280Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularwithאֶת־H854PrepositionGodאֱלֹהִֽים׃H430Noun - masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Genesis 32:26Classic cross-references Ephesians 6:18Classic cross-references Genesis 28:19Classic cross-references Genesis 35:1Classic cross-references Exodus 3:2Classic cross-references James 4:8OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13OliveGrove study links

Original words

Yes, he struggledוָיָּ֤שַׂרH7786Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwithאֶל־H413Prepositionthe angelמַלְאָךְ֙H4397Noun - masculine singularand prevailedוַיֻּכָ֔לH3201Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhe weptבָּכָ֖הH1058Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularand sought His favorוַיִּתְחַנֶּן־H2603Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularבֵּֽית־בֵּֽית־H1008Prepositionhe found Himיִמְצָאֶ֔נּוּH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularat Bethelאֵל֙H1008Noun - proper - feminine singularand spokeיְדַבֵּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwith Himעִמָּֽנוּ׃H5973Preposition | first person common pluralthereוְשָׁ֖םH8033Conjunctive waw | Adverb

BSB notes

Or Angel
LXX and Syriac; MT and there He spoke with us

Verse 5

Cross-references

Exodus 3:15Classic cross-references Isaiah 42:8Classic cross-references Psalms 135:13Classic cross-references James 4:8OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13OliveGrove study links

Original words

the LORDוַֽיהוָ֖הH3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularGodאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Hostsהַצְּבָא֑וֹתH6635Article | Noun - common pluralthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularis His name of renownזִכְרֽוֹ׃H2143Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Micah 6:8Classic cross-references Joel 2:12Classic cross-references Isaiah 8:17Classic cross-references Hosea 14:1Classic cross-references Hosea 10:12Classic cross-references James 4:8OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13OliveGrove study links

Original words

But youוְאַתָּ֖הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularmust returnתָשׁ֑וּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto your Godבֵּאלֹהֶ֣יךָH430Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularmaintainשְׁמֹ֔רH8104Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularloveחֶ֤סֶדH2617Noun - masculine singularand justiceוּמִשְׁפָּט֙H4941Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand alwaysתָּמִֽיד׃H8548Adverbwaitוְקַוֵּ֥הH6960Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularonאֶל־H413Prepositionyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

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