Hosea 12:13 kjv
And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
Hosea 12:13 nkjv
By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved.
Hosea 12:13 niv
The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.
Hosea 12:13 esv
By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded.
Hosea 12:13 nlt
Then by a prophet
the LORD brought Jacob's descendants out of Egypt;
and by that prophet
they were protected.
Hosea 12 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hos 12:12 | And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. | |
| Gen 28:5 | And Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, his mother, the mother of Jacob and Esau. | Parental direction leading to the journey |
| Gen 29:18 | And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. | Specific commitment for marriage |
| Gen 29:20 | And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days for the love he had to her. | The depth of his affection |
| Gen 30:25-31 | And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. And Laban said unto him, If I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by divination that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. | His request to leave after fulfilling service |
| Gen 31:38-41 | This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young; and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. For my services in thy house I have served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. | Detailing his extensive service and hardships |
| Psa 105:17-22 | He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he entered into prison; Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him: even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord also of his house, and ruler of all his possessions: To chastise his princes at his pleasure, and teach his senators wisdom. | Joseph's servitude mirroring Jacob's journey |
| Gal 6:7 | Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping through service |
| 1 Cor 7:20-24 | Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. | God's sovereignty over calling and service |
| Heb 11:9 | By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: | Jacob as an heir of faith and promise |
| John 1:17 | For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. | Contrast between labor for salvation and grace |
| Rom 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. | Believers offering themselves in service |
| Acts 20:34-35 | Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. | Paul's example of diligent labor and support |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | Christ's perfect example of servanthood |
| Col 3:22-24 | Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as pleasing men; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. | Motive for service in Christian life |
| Heb 13:15-16 | By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. | Offering acceptable sacrifices through praise and good deeds |
| Prov 11:29 | He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. | Consequences of poor household management |
| Deut 24:14 | Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of the strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: | Ethical considerations in hiring and service |
| Mal 3:14-16 | Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. | Those who serve God are remembered |
Hosea 12 verses
Hosea 12 13 Meaning
The verse states that Jacob served for a wife and for a wife he kept sheep. This highlights Jacob's dedication and labor in securing his family and livelihood. It emphasizes his reliance on God during a period of significant personal trial and development. His faithfulness and service, though difficult, were foundational to the lineage of Israel.
Hosea 12 13 Context
Hosea chapter 12 contrasts Israel's historical faithfulness with Jacob's cunning and eventual struggle with God. The prophecy occurs during a time of impending Assyrian threat, when the Northern Kingdom of Israel was deeply entrenched in syncretistic worship and moral decay, often turning to foreign alliances rather than to God. Hosea uses the narrative of Jacob’s life to highlight how even Jacob, the patriarch from whom they descended, was imperfect yet found redemption through wrestling with God and acknowledging Him. Verse 13, in this context, serves to remind Israel of the hard work and dedication, exemplified by Jacob's service, that God desires. It precedes a severe denunciation of their present iniquities. Jacob’s service for his wives was a period of dependency and striving, which ultimately led to God’s blessing. The verse is meant to encourage Israel to remember their foundational reliance on God and the honest labor that should characterize their lives, rather than their current reliance on idols and deceit.
Hosea 12 13 Word Analysis
- "And" (וְ): Conjunction linking this verse to the preceding narrative about Jacob.
- "Jacob" (יַעֲקֹב): Refers to the patriarch Jacob, emphasizing his life as a case study.
- "served" (עָבַד): A common verb meaning "to serve," "to work," "to till," or "to worship." Here it signifies diligent labor and dedication, often in a state of subjection.
- "for a wife" (לְאִשָּׁה): The object of his service; seeking a spouse was the primary motivation for his work.
- "and" (וְ): Connects the two instances of service.
- "for a wife" (לְאִשָּׁה): Repetition emphasizes the singular, core purpose of his extended servitude. It indicates the significant value placed on marriage and lineage.
- "he kept sheep" (רָעָה צֹאן): Literally "he pastured sheep/flocks." This was his specific labor. Keeping sheep was often strenuous, requiring constant vigilance and nomadic movement, indicative of a life of humble toil and dependency.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Jacob served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep": This phrase encapsulates Jacob's dedication and prolonged effort. The service wasn't merely a transaction but a significant period of his life devoted to establishing a family through challenging labor, under difficult circumstances (his uncle Laban). It underscores the foundational importance of lineage and progeny in the Old Testament. This dedicated service, though in a foreign land and under hardship, was overseen by God.
Hosea 12 13 Bonus Section
The imagery of keeping sheep connects Jacob to a lineage of shepherds, including David and eventually Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jacob’s story here is presented by Hosea not as a model of perfect character but as a narrative of someone who, despite his flaws, engaged in prolonged, faithful effort and ultimately experienced God’s redemptive work. This serves as a message of hope: even for a people as wayward as Israel, a return to sincere devotion and diligent, God-honoring labor could lead to restoration. The chapter as a whole positions Jacob’s wrestling at Peniel as a turning point where God imposed Himself on Jacob, and in this verse, that disciplined striving is linked to Jacob's subsequent prosperity and the lineage of Israel.
Hosea 12 13 Commentary
Jacob’s extended period of servitude for Rachel and Leah, as detailed in Genesis, illustrates a life built on patient endurance and hard work for the sake of family. Hosea uses this to contrast with Israel's current unfaithfulness. Israel had a patriarchal example of honest, albeit difficult, service and reliance on God. They, however, had abandoned this reliance for idolatry and deceit. The verse emphasizes that God observes and counts this type of diligent labor, especially when it’s directed towards righteous purposes like establishing a family, a cornerstone of the covenant. It calls Israel back to a similar dedication and trust in God’s provision, rather than their superficial adherence to ritual or reliance on political schemes. This serves as a reminder that faithfulness involves diligent action rooted in trust.