Hosea 12:2 kjv
The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
Hosea 12:2 nkjv
"The LORD also brings a charge against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; According to his deeds He will recompense him.
Hosea 12:2 niv
The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
Hosea 12:2 esv
The LORD has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds.
Hosea 12:2 nlt
Now the LORD is bringing charges against Judah.
He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways,
and pay him back for all he has done.
Hosea 12 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 12:2 | "The LORD has a dispute with Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay them for what they have done." | Hosea 12:2 |
| Genesis 32:28 | "Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'" | Genesis 32:28 |
| Hosea 4:1 | "Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land." | Hosea 4:1 |
| Jeremiah 12:1 | "Righteous are you, O LORD, that I should plead with you; yet let me argue with you the question of justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?" | Jeremiah 12:1 |
| Psalm 50:4 | "He calls to the heavens above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people:" | Psalm 50:4 |
| Amos 8:4 | "Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and so to do away with the poor of the land," | Amos 8:4 |
| Micah 6:2 | "Hear, O mountains, the controversy of the LORD; listen, O everlasting foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel;" | Micah 6:2 |
| Matthew 23:30-31 | "You say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets.’ But you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets." | Matthew 23:30-31 |
| Romans 2:1 | "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things." | Romans 2:1 |
| Hosea 11:12 | "And Ephraim has hedged me round about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah still remains with God, and is faithful to the Holy One." | Hosea 11:12 |
| Genesis 27:36 | "He said, ‘Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took my birthright, and behold, now he has taken my birthright.’” | Genesis 27:36 |
| Proverbs 10:3 | "The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked." | Proverbs 10:3 |
| Proverbs 20:30 | "Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strikes that are deeply seated go to the inward parts." | Proverbs 20:30 |
| Ezekiel 18:20 | "The one who sins is the one who will die. The son will not bear the punishment of the iniquity of the father, nor will the father bear the punishment of the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." | Ezekiel 18:20 |
| Leviticus 18:30 | "You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, and you shall not commit any of these abominations, neither any of your own nation nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:" | Leviticus 18:30 |
| Deuteronomy 30:16 | "…that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." | Deuteronomy 30:16 |
| Romans 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," | Romans 3:23 |
| John 8:32 | "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”" | John 8:32 |
| Hosea 5:5 | "The pride of Israel testifies against him; Ephraim and Israel stumble in their iniquity; they have also stumbled with Judah." | Hosea 5:5 |
| Galatians 5:17 | "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things that you want to do." | Galatians 5:17 |
Hosea 12 verses
Hosea 12 2 Meaning
The verse describes the people of Israel's relationship with God as a deceptive one. They strive and struggle not with the LORD Almighty, but with their own carnal nature and worldly pursuits, even in their claims to be wrestling with God. Their "wrestling" was not in genuine faith and repentance, but in a self-serving struggle, often involving deceit and cunning, characteristic of the tribe of Ephraim. This verse highlights their hypocrisy and reliance on their own strength and schemes rather than on God's power and guidance.
Hosea 12 2 Context
Hosea 12 occurs within the broader prophetic message of Hosea to the northern kingdom of Israel, also frequently referred to as Ephraim due to Ephraim's prominence. The period is during the reign of various kings in Israel and Judah, leading up to the Assyrian exile of Israel. God, through Hosea, is bringing a severe indictment against Israel for its pervasive unfaithfulness, idolatry, and deviation from the covenant. This chapter, in particular, revisits the origins of Israel's national identity and character, linking their present corrupt practices to the deceitful nature displayed even from their patriarchal ancestor, Jacob. The "dispute" or "controversy" mentioned is God’s legal case against His people for breaking the covenant.
Hosea 12 2 Word Analysis
- Rib (רִיב - riyb): Means a legal dispute, controversy, quarrel, or plea. It signifies God initiating a formal case against His people, like a prosecutor.
- Ephraim (אֶפְרָיִם - 'ephra'im): The dominant tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel. It often symbolizes the entire northern kingdom in prophetic literature. Here it highlights their specific failures.
- Elohim (אֱלֹהִים - 'elo'hiym): The Hebrew word for "God" or "gods." Used here as a plural form to represent the Majesty and Power of the Almighty Creator.
- Yalīn (יָלִין - yalin): Derived from "lin" (לין), meaning to abide, lodge, stay, or pass the night. It can also carry the connotation of continuing or persisting.
- Meonenim (מְעֹנְנִים - me'onenim): Derived from "'anan" ('anana), meaning to practice sorcery or interpret omens, often through clouds or astrology. It refers to those who practice divination and soothsaying. This indicates reliance on forbidden occult practices.
- Bahliyr (בַּהִיר - bahyir): A participle from a verb meaning to be bright or conspicuous, but in certain contexts can mean to reveal, declare, or to struggle and contend. Used here it describes their forceful yet deceitful struggle.
- Yacob (יַעֲקֹב - ya'aqov): Jacob. Refers to the patriarch whose name means "supplanter" or "heel-grabber." His life was marked by cunning and wrestling with God.
- Shaha (שָׁחָה - shaha): To bow down, to stoop, to be humble. Here it is used in a contrary sense – their striving was not to bow down or submit to God, but to assert their own will.
- Kohanym (כֹּהֲנִים - kohanim): Priests. Implies that even religious leaders were part of this deceitful struggle.
- Yizkor (יִזְכֹּר - yizkor): "He will remember." This contrasts God's remembrance of their sins with their lack of remembering His covenant faithfulness.
- Dibbah (דִּבָּה - dibbah): A bad report, whisper, slander, or infamy. Refers to the scandalous, treacherous nature of their actions.
Words Group Analysis:
- "strive with God": Refers to Jacob's struggle at Peniel (Genesis 32:24-28), which was an authentic wrestling of faith. However, Israel’s “striving” here is depicted as an effort to circumvent God’s justice through their deceitful practices, not a true desire for reconciliation.
- "they struggle with the LORD": This phrase emphasizes that their actions were directed against God’s authority and commandments.
- "Ephraim and Israel were brought to ruin": Highlights the consequence of their persistent sin.
- "repay them for their deeds": Indicates divine judgment that is proportionate to their actions.
- "Their father—by their strength they recovered possession of a pasture, and by their force they gained dominion over slaves.": Alludes to the patriarch Jacob’s deceptive tactics, inherited by his descendants, and their continued reliance on earthly strength and cunning for acquisition, rather than God’s provision. This suggests they engaged in practices similar to the supposed gains of "father Jacob."
Hosea 12 2 Bonus Section
The verse draws a stark contrast between a faith that humbly wrestles with God for blessing and one that presumptuously "struggles" in its sin, attempting to manipulate or ignore God's justice. This tendency towards deception and reliance on human strength, rather than divine power and truth, is a recurring theme throughout scripture, both in individual lives and national destinies. The corruption mentioned is not just external; it reflects an internal perversion of worship and relational integrity with God. It suggests a people who profess to know God but live according to their own cunning strategies.
Hosea 12 2 Commentary
This verse underscores a deep spiritual malaise within Israel. God is not only against their sins but against their very methods and the ingrained deceptive nature that characterizes them. Their "wrestling" with God is a perversion of the wrestling Jacob engaged in at Peniel. While Jacob's struggle led to a changed name and a new dependence on God, Israel's struggle is characterized by a defiance that employs cunning and self-reliance, reminiscent of Jacob's early tricks. They are wrestling to maintain their sinful ways and to outmaneuver God's judgment through human schemes rather than genuine repentance and submission. This is why they are being repaid; their continued striving in this manner only entrenches their guilt and hastens their downfall. The divine dispute is initiated because they are trying to appease or outwit God with their wrongdoings, rather than sincerely seeking Him.