Setting

Who:

• Author: Hosea
• Audience: Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim)
• Characters and People Groups:
  • Hosea
  • Ephraim (Northern Kingdom of Israel)
  • Judah
  • Jacob
  • Canaanites
• Symbolic Roles:
  • Deceiver: Jacob (v. 3)
  • Deceived: Ephraim (v. 8)
  • Savior: YHWH (v. 9)

What:

• Main Storyline: YHWH rebukes Ephraim for deceit, idolatry, and injustice, recalling Jacob’s history and calling for repentance and righteousness.

When:

• Date Authored: ~750–725 BCE
• Date Takes Place: Reflects events of 8th century BCE, with historical references to Jacob’s time.

Where:

• Bethel, Gilgal (v. 11): Places of worship in Israel, modern-day Beitin and Jiljilya (West Bank, Israel).
• Canaan (v. 7): Land of Israel, modern-day Israel/Palestine.
• Egypt (v. 9): Egypt, modern-day Egypt.

Connections

• Repeated Words:
  • God (5)
  • Lord (7)
• Numbers Mentioned:
  • None explicitly mentioned in Hosea 12.
• Other Related Scriptures:
  • Genesis 25:26 (Jacob’s birth)
  • Genesis 28:10–22 (Jacob at Bethel)
  • Genesis 32:24–30 (Jacob wrestling with God)
  • Deuteronomy 26:5 (Jacob in Egypt)
  • Micah 6:8 (Righteousness and justice)

Hosea 12

← Hosea 11 | Hosea | Hosea 13 →

v1

Ephraim feeds on wind^[1], and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. ^[2]

v2

Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish^[3] Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.

v3

In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.

v4

Indeed, he //Jacob// struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he //Jacob// wept, and made supplication to him//angel// . He //Jacob// found him //Yah// at Bethel, and there he //Yah// spoke with us, //Northern Kingdom, House of Israel//

v5

even Yahweh, the God of Armies; Yahweh is his name of renown!

v6

Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. ^[4]

v7

A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand^[5]. He loves to defraud. ^[6]

v8

Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."

v9

"But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt.^[7] I will yet again make you dwell in tents^[8], as in the days of the solemn feast. ^[9]

v10

I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

v11

If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field. ^[10]

v12

Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.

v13

By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.

v14

Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.

← Hosea 11 | Hosea | Hosea 13 →