Hosea12
New King James Version
1“Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt.
2“The Lord also brings a charge against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; According to his deeds He will recompense him.
3He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God.
4Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us—
5That is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name.
6So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.
7“A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress.
8And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’
9“But I am the Lord your God, Ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, As in the days of the appointed feast.
10I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.”
11Though Gilead has idols— Surely they are vanity— Though they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal, Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field.
12Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep.
13By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved.
14Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, And return his reproach upon him.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hosea 12.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Judah and Israel reminded of the Divine favours. (1-6). The provocations of Israel. (7-14).
vv1-6
Ephraim feeds himself with vain hopes of help from man, when he is at enmity with God. The Jews vainly thought to secure the Egyptians by a present of the produce of their country. Judah is contended with also. God sees the sin of his own people, and will reckon with them for it. They are put in mind of what Jacob did, and what God did for him. When his faith upon the Divine promise prevailed above his fears, then by his strength he had power with God. He is Jehovah, the same that was, and is, and is to come. What was a revelation of God to one, is his memorial to many, to all generations. Then let those who have gone from God, be turned to him. Turn thou to the Lord, by repentance and faith, as thy God. Let those that are converted to him, walk with him in all holy conversation and godliness. Let us wrestle with Him for promised blessings, determined not to give over till we prevail; and let us seek Him in his ordinances.
vv7-14
Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies a Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles, covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, and falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shall have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a mighty prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and folly the worse, if we put any slight upon that word. We had better follow the hardest labour in poverty, than grow rich by sin. We may form a judgment of our own conduct, by comparing it with that of ancient believers in the like circumstances. Whoever despises the message of God, will perish. May we all hear his word with humble, obedient faith.
Key Words
אֶפְרַיִם: Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
רָעָה: to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
רוּחַ: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
רָדַף: to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)
קָדִים: the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
רָבָה: to increase (in whatever respect)
כָּזָב: falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)
שֹׁד: violence, ravage
Cross References
Hosea 12Direct historical record of Jacob taking his brother Esau by the heel in the womb.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The primary historical account of Jacob wrestling with God and receiving the name Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical account of God finding and speaking with Jacob at Bethel.
Supported by JFB
The divine source for the term 'memorial' as God's name forever to all generations.
Supported by JFB
Parallel prophetic language where the Lord summons His people to a formal covenant 'controversy'.
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal parallel regarding God's name 'Jehovah' and His 'memorial' throughout all generations.
Supported by JFB
Perfect ethical parallel summarizing true covenant obedience: doing justice, loving mercy, walking with God.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the Mosaic law concerning dwelling in tabernacles during the solemn feast of booths.
Supported by thematic
The liturgical confession identifying the nation's father Jacob as a 'Syrian ready to perish'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the foolishness of feeding on wind with the empty pursuit of idolatry.
Supported by JFB
Verbal link showing Jacob's weeping and making supplication: 'I will not let thee go'.
Supported by JFB
Contrast of merchant deception with God's demand for honest, just balances.
Supported by John Calvin
A direct parallel to Ephraim's self-deceived boast of rich, self-made substance.
Supported by JFB
Contextual link concerning Ephraim's character of deceit, lies, and unfaithfulness to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic parallel condemning the wicked merchants who use falsified balances of deceit.
Supported by John Calvin