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

1 Ephraim 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Original words

Ephraim אֶפְרַ֜יִם H669 Noun - proper - masculine singular feeds on רֹעֶ֥ה H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the wind ר֙וּחַ֙ H7307 Noun - common singular and pursues וְרֹדֵ֣ף H7291 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the east wind קָדִ֔ים H6921 Noun - masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct day long הַיּ֕וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular he multiplies יַרְבֶּ֑ה H7235 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular lies כָּזָ֥ב H3577 Noun - masculine singular and violence וָשֹׁ֖ד H7701 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular he makes יִכְרֹ֔תוּ H3772 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural a covenant וּבְרִית֙ H1285 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition Assyria אַשּׁ֣וּר H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular and sends יוּבָֽל׃ H2986 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular olive oil וְשֶׁ֖מֶן H8081 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular to Egypt לְמִצְרַ֥יִם H4714 Preposition-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 6:2 Classic cross-references Amos 2:4 Classic cross-references Hosea 4:1 Classic cross-references Isaiah 10:6 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 7:4 Classic cross-references James 4:8 OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7 OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13 OliveGrove study links

Original words

The LORD לַֽיהוָ֖ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular has a charge to bring וְרִ֥יב H7379 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular against עִם־ H5973 Preposition Judah יְהוּדָ֑ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular He will punish וְלִפְקֹ֤ד H6485 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . עַֽל־ H5921 Preposition Jacob יַעֲקֹב֙ H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular according to his ways כִּדְרָכָ֔יו H1870 Preposition-k | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular and repay יָשִׁ֥יב H7725 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular him לֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular according to his deeds כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו H4611 Preposition-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 32:24 Classic cross-references James 5:16 Classic cross-references Genesis 32:28 Classic cross-references Philippians 2:6 Classic cross-references Genesis 25:26 Classic cross-references James 4:8 OliveGrove study links Matthew 5:7 OliveGrove study links Romans 9:10-13 OliveGrove study links

Original words

In the womb בַּבֶּ֖טֶן H990 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular he grasped his brother’s אָחִ֑יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular heel עָקַ֣ב H6117 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and in his vigor וּבְאוֹנ֖וֹ H202 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular he wrestled שָׂרָ֥ה H8280 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular with אֶת־ H854 Preposition God אֱלֹהִֽים׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

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

Original words

Yes, he struggled וָיָּ֤שַׂר H7786 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular with אֶל־ H413 Preposition the angel מַלְאָךְ֙ H4397 Noun - masculine singular and prevailed וַיֻּכָ֔ל H3201 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular he wept בָּכָ֖ה H1058 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular and sought His favor וַיִּתְחַנֶּן־ H2603 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular בֵּֽית־ בֵּֽית־ H1008 Preposition he found Him יִמְצָאֶ֔נּוּ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular at Bethel אֵל֙ H1008 Noun - proper - feminine singular and spoke יְדַבֵּ֥ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular with Him עִמָּֽנוּ׃ H5973 Preposition | first person common plural there וְשָׁ֖ם H8033 Conjunctive waw | Adverb

BSB notes

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

Verse 5

Cross-references

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

Original words

the LORD וַֽיהוָ֖ה H3068 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Hosts הַצְּבָא֑וֹת H6635 Article | Noun - common plural the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is His name of renown זִכְרֽוֹ׃ H2143 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

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

Original words

But you וְאַתָּ֖ה H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular must return תָשׁ֑וּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to your God בֵּאלֹהֶ֣יךָ H430 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular maintain שְׁמֹ֔ר H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular love חֶ֤סֶד H2617 Noun - masculine singular and justice וּמִשְׁפָּט֙ H4941 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and always תָּמִֽיד׃ H8548 Adverb wait וְקַוֵּ֥ה H6960 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular on אֶל־ H413 Preposition your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

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