Hosea 12

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Ephraim pursues falsehood, forms alliances with Assyria, and sends tribute to Egypt while boasting of his wealth. The Lord brings a charge against Judah and announces punishment for Jacob according to his deeds. The text recalls Jacob's history, noting how he grasped his brother's heel, wrestled with God at Bethel, fled to Aram, and tended sheep for a wife. The Lord reminds Israel of His actions since the land of Egypt, including speaking through prophets and bringing Israel out of Egypt by a prophet. However, Gilead and Gilgal face destruction because of their iniquity and sacrifices. Finally, Ephraim provokes bitter anger, leading the Lord to leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay his contempt.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. ²The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. ³In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God. ⁴Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there — ⁵the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown. ⁶But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God. ⁷A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands. ⁸And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.” ⁹But 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 spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets. ¹¹Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field. ¹²Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep. ¹³But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. ¹⁴Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.