Hosea 12:3-13

3 Their ancestor Jacob struggled with his twin brother Esau while the two of them were still in their mother's womb; when Jacob grew up, he fought against God - ¹

4 he fought against an angel and won. He wept and asked for a blessing. And at Bethel God came to our ancestor Jacob and spoke with him. ²

5 This was the Lord God Almighty - the Lord is the name by which he is to be worshiped.

6 So now, descendants of Jacob, trust in your God and return to him. Be loyal and just, and wait patiently for your God to act.

7 The Lord says, "The people of Israel are as dishonest as the Canaanites; they love to cheat their customers with false scales.

8 "We are rich,' they say. "We've made a fortune. And no one can accuse us of getting rich dishonestly.'

9 But I, the Lord your God who led you out of Egypt, I will make you live in tents again, as you did when I came to you in the desert. ³

10 "I spoke to the prophets and gave them many visions, and through the prophets I gave my people warnings.

11 Yet idols are worshiped in Gilead, and those who worship them will die. Bulls are sacrificed in Gilgal, and the altars there will become piles of stone in the open fields."

12 Our ancestor Jacob had to flee to Mesopotamia, where, in order to get a wife, he worked for another man and took care of his sheep. ⁴

13 The Lord sent a prophet to rescue the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and to take care of them. ⁵

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.

Cross References

• 1. 12.3Genesis 25.26.+O+N12.3, 4Genesis 32.24-26.
• 2. 12.4Genesis 28.10-22.
• 3. 12.9Leviticus 23.42, 43.
• 4. 12.12Genesis 29.1-20.
• 5. 12.13Exodus 12.50, 51.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Some ancient translations] him; [Hebrew] us.