Hosea 12:6-14

6 People of Jacob, you must return to your God. You must hold on to love and do what is fair. You must trust in your God always.

7 You are like a trader who uses dishonest scales. You love to cheat others.

8 People of Ephraim, you brag, "We are very rich. We've become wealthy. And no one can prove we sinned to gain all of this wealth."

9 The LORD says, "I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. But I will make you live in tents again. That is what you did when you celebrated the Feast of Booths in the desert.

10 I spoke to the prophets. They saw many visions. I gave you warnings through them."

11 The people of Gilead are evil! They aren't worth anything! Gilgal's people sacrifice bulls to other gods. Their altars will become like piles of stones on a plowed field.

12 Jacob ran away to the country of Aram. There Israel served Laban to get a wife. He took care of sheep to pay for her.

13 The prophet Moses brought Israel up from Egypt. The LORD used him to take care of them.

14 But Ephraim's people have made the LORD very angry. Their Lord will hold them accountable for the blood they've spilled. He'll pay them back for the shameful things they've done.

Hosea 12:6-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 12

This chapter contains complaints and charges both against Israel and Judah, and threatens them with punishment in case they repent not, which they are exhorted to: and first Ephraim is charged with idolatry, vain confidence in, and alliances with, foreign nations, Ho 12:1; and then the Lord declares he has a controversy with Judah, and will punish the inhabitants of it for their sins, Ho 12:2; which are aggravated by their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob, who got the advantage of his elder brother, had much power with God, and received favours from him, and they also, Ho 12:3-5; and therefore are exhorted to turn to God, wait on him, and do that which is right and good, Ho 12:6. Ephraim is again in his turn charged with fraudulent dealing in trade, and with oppression, and the love of it; and yet pretended he got riches by his own labour, without wronging any, Ho 12:7,8; nevertheless, the Lord promises them public ordinances of worship, and joy in them, and the ministry of his prophets, Ho 12:9,10; though for the present they were guilty of gross idolatry, Ho 12:11; which is aggravated by the raising of Jacob their progenitor from a low estate, and the wonderful preservation of him, and the bringing of them out of Egypt, Ho 12:12,13; and the chapter is closed with observing Ephraim's bitter provocation of God, for which his reproach should return unto him, and his blood be left upon him, Ho 12:14.