Hosea 12 · ESV Study Bible

HOSEA 12 [†] Ephraim feeds on the wind

and pursues z the east wind all day long;

they multiply y falsehood and violence;

a they make a covenant with Assyria,

and b oil is carried to Egypt.

2[^][†] c The LORD has an indictment against Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways;

he will repay him according to his deeds.

3[†] d In the womb he took his brother by the heel,

and in his manhood he strove with God.

4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor.

e He met God [1] at Bethel,

and there God spoke with us—

5[†] the LORD, the God of hosts,

f the LORD is his memorial name:

6 “So you, g by the help of your God, return,

h hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God.”

7 A merchant, in whose hands are i false balances,

he loves j to oppress.

8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but k I am rich;

I have found wealth for myself;

in all my labors l they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”

9 m I am the LORD your God

from the land of Egypt;

I will again make you n dwell in tents,

as in the days of the appointed feast.

10[†] o I spoke to the prophets;

it was I who multiplied p visions,

and through the prophets gave parables.

11 q If there is iniquity in Gilead,

they shall surely come to nothing:

r in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;

s their altars also are like stone heaps

t on the furrows of the field.

12[†] u Jacob fled to the land of Aram;

there Israel v served for a wife,

and for a wife he guarded sheep.

13 By w a prophet x the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt,

and by a prophet he was guarded.

14 y Ephraim has given bitter provocation;

so his Lord z will leave his bloodguilt on him

a and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

HOSEA—NOTE ON 12:5–8 The specific mention of the LORD by his fuller name is joined with the prevailing of Jacob. (For the memorial name, cf. Ex. 3:15.) The prophet once again calls his people to their divine calling and election, ratified by promises to the patriarchs (see note on Hos. 2:8; cf. Rom. 9:10–13). God’s election was the origin of Israel’s calling and the very reason that Israel can now be restored: by grace, Israel can return and exhibit the qualities of love and justice (Hos. 12:6). But Israel’s deeds and words (vv. 7–8) show they refuse to hold fast and wait continually for their God (v. 6). A merchant, in whose hands are false balances. Their cruel and deceptive business practices oppress while they think of themselves as innocent.

HOSEA—NOTE ON 12:3–4 The references are to events in Jacob’s life where he excelled. Jacob took his brother by the heel at birth (Gen. 25:26). He strove with the angel and prevailed (Hos. 12:4) at Peniel (Gen. 32:24–31). There the angel touched Jacob’s hip socket and put it out of joint. That divine wounding of Jacob made him into a new man, Israel. Jacob met God at Bethel (Hos. 12:4) when he complied with God’s command, and God reassured Jacob of his former promises (Gen. 35:9–15).

HOSEA—NOTE ON 12:12–14 The mention again of Jacob emphasizes God’s grace in preserving his fugitive so that he would father the 12 tribes of Israel. Aram is Paddan-Aram (Gen. 28:2, 5). The prophet was Moses, who led the nation out of Egypt (Deut. 18:15; 34:10). In the face of God’s gracious deliverance and preservation of his people, Ephraim has given bitter provocation.

HOSEA—NOTE ON 12:1 Ephraim feeds on the wind. Ephraim depends on what is elusive and unprofitable (for wind used as an image this way, cf. Job 6:26; 8:2; 15:2; Ps. 78:39; Eccles. 1:14; 2:11; Isa. 26:18; 41:16). “Wind” graphically describes the duplicity of both Israel and Judah’s covenant making. Oil … to Egypt could refer to an inducement offered to Egypt for relief when Israel was paying tribute to Assyria.