Hosea 12:3-13

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; in the strength of his manhood he fought with God.

4 Yes, he fought with an angel and won; he wept and pleaded with him. Then at Beit-El he found him, and there he would [later] speak with us

5 Adonai ELOHEI-Tzva'ot; ADONAI is his name!

6 So you, return to your God; hold fast to grace and justice; and always put your hope in your God.

7 "A huckster keeps false scales, and he loves to cheat.

8 Efrayim says, 'I have gotten so rich! I have made me a fortune! And in all my profits no one will find anything wrong or sinful.'

9 "But I am ADONAI your God, from the land of Egypt. Again I will make you live in tents, as in the days of the established festival.

10 I have spoken to the prophets; it was I who gave vision after vision; through the prophets I gave examples to show what it would all be like.

11 Is Gil'ad given to iniquity? Yes, they have become worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls; therefore their altars are like piles of stones in a plowed field."

12 Ya'akov fled to the land of Aram. There Isra'el slaved to win a wife; for a wife he tended sheep.

13 By a prophet ADONAI brought Isra'el up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was protected.

Hosea 12:3-13 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.