Hosea 12:4 kjv
Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
Hosea 12:4 nkjv
Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us?
Hosea 12:4 niv
He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there?
Hosea 12:4 esv
He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us ?
Hosea 12:4 nlt
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.
He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.
There at Bethel he met God face to face,
and God spoke to him ?
Hosea 12 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 12:4 | He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and sought his favor. | Hosea 12:4 (Primary) |
| Genesis 32:24 | Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. | Gen 32:24 (Contextual Event) |
| Genesis 32:25 | When the man saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the hollow of his thigh. | Gen 32:25 (Struggle Intensifies) |
| Genesis 32:26 | Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” | Gen 32:26 (Jacob's Plea) |
| Genesis 32:28 | Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” | Gen 32:28 (New Name Given) |
| Genesis 32:29 | Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. | Gen 32:29 (Blessing Received) |
| Isaiah 49:15 | Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. | Isa 49:15 (God's Steadfast Love) |
| Jeremiah 31:7 | “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob; cry aloud for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel!’ | Jer 31:7 (Blessings on Jacob) |
| Romans 8:28 | We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. | Rom 8:28 (Sovereign Good) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. | 1 Cor 10:13 (Overcoming Trials) |
| Galatians 6:9 | Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. | Gal 6:9 (Perseverance) |
| Hebrews 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Heb 4:15 (Sympathetic High Priest) |
| Hebrews 12:4 | In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. | Heb 12:4 (Struggle against sin) |
| Genesis 48:16 | the angel who redeemed me from all harm, saying, ‘Bless these boys, and let my name be called upon them, and the names of their fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude on the earth.’ | Gen 48:16 (Angel's redemptive role) |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | John 1:14 (The Incarnate Word) |
| Revelation 19:10 | Then I fell down at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” | Rev 19:10 (Proper Worship) |
| Genesis 28:12 | And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! | Gen 28:12 (Jacob's Ladder) |
| John 3:13 | No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. | John 3:13 (Christ's Ascent/Descent) |
| Revelation 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” | Rev 1:8 (Christ's Eternity) |
| Hosea 2:15 | And there I will give her her vineyards, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. And there she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as on the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. | Hos 2:15 (Achor's significance) |
| Revelation 13:14 | and the second beast commanded the inhabitants of the earth to make an image to the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. | Rev 13:14 (False worship) |
| Romans 11:4 | But what is the answer of God to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” | Rom 11:4 (Remnant Theology) |
Hosea 12 verses
Hosea 12 4 Meaning
The verse signifies Jacob's wrestling with the angel of God, demonstrating his tenacious faith and his eventual overcoming. It highlights the spiritual struggle, God's gracious victory given to Jacob, and the consequence of this encounter in terms of leadership and blessings. The angelic encounter represents a pivotal moment where Jacob, in his persistent struggle, prevails and receives a new name and a blessing.
Hosea 12 4 Context
Hosea 12 centers on God's accusation against Israel for their persistent unfaithfulness, characterized by deceit and reliance on human strength rather than divine. The chapter contrasts Jacob's past integrity with Israel's present corruption. Verse 4 serves as a reminder of Jacob's profound spiritual encounter with God, emphasizing his struggle and eventual success in securing God's blessing. This personal triumph of Jacob is presented as a precedent and a point of shame for a nation that has forgotten its covenantal beginnings and relies on apostasy and idol worship. Historically, Israel was wrestling with its identity and its relationship with Yahweh amidst surrounding nations and their idolatrous practices.
Hosea 12 4 Word analysis
הוא (hu'): Pronoun, "he." Refers to Jacob.
היאבק (he'evak): Verb, "struggled," "wrestled." Niphal stem of "abak" (to wrestle). Highlights a strenuous, determined struggle. This verb uniquely describes a physical and spiritual contest.
בַּמַּלְאָךְ (bammal'akh): Preposition "be-" (with, in) + "ha-" (the) + "mal'akh" (angel). The definite article "ha-" emphasizes a specific, significant angel. The struggle was with a divine messenger, representing God's power.
וַיּוּכַל (vayuchal): Conjunction "wa-" (and) + verb "yuchal" (he prevailed, he could). Niphal of "yakal" (to be able). Indicates success and overcoming.
לוֹ (lo'): Preposition "el-" (to) + pronoun suffix "-o" (him). Means "to him" or "against him," indicating the direction of Jacob's success was achieved towards the angel, gaining favor.
בָּכָה (bachah): Verb, "he wept." Implies intense emotion, earnest petition, and supplication.
וַיִּתְחַנַּן (vayitchannan): Conjunction "wa-" (and) + verb "yitchannan." Hitpael of "chanan" (to show favor, to be gracious). Denotes Jacob actively seeking favor and grace from the angel.
Jacob's struggle with the angel: The Hebrew word "he'evak" vividly portrays a strenuous, personal combat. This wasn't just a passive encounter but an active wrestling.
The nature of the angel: The use of "bammal'akh" with the definite article points to a singular, divinely appointed angelic being, representative of God Himself.
Jacob's perseverance and prevailing: "Vayuchal" signifies that Jacob not only struggled but emerged victorious, securing God's intervention and blessing through his earnest effort.
Jacob's supplication and seeking favor: The dual actions of weeping ("bachah") and pleading for favor ("vayitchannan") reveal the deep spiritual longing and desperation for divine validation.
Hosea 12 4 Bonus section
The concept of "prevailing" or "overcoming" in spiritual struggles is echoed throughout Scripture. It suggests that while God sovereignly works, human response characterized by faith and perseverance is essential. Jacob’s experience exemplifies that wrestling with God isn't about defeating God, but about yielding to His ultimate purpose and receiving His blessings through submission and dependence, not human might. This theme of contending with God for blessing is seen in prayers like Jabez's (1 Chron 4:10). The angelic being Jacob wrestled with is often identified by theologians and within Jewish tradition as either the angel of God's presence or even a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ, reinforcing the theological depth of the encounter. The reference to Jacob seeking favor "lo" (to him) can be interpreted as seeking it from the angelic representative as directly from God himself, showcasing a profound faith in the mediator.
Hosea 12 4 Commentary
Hosea 12:4 illustrates the profound spiritual conflict experienced by Jacob, a precursor to his transformation. This wrestling match, as detailed in Genesis 32, was not merely a physical altercation but a spiritual battle against a divine being representing God's power and will. Jacob's persistent struggle, his weeping, and his determined plea for a blessing underscore the value he placed on God's favor and covenant. The verse highlights that through intense personal effort, earnest supplication, and an unwavering desire for God, one can prevail and receive divine empowerment and a renewed identity, symbolized by the name "Israel." This narrative serves as a foundational story for the nation of Israel, reminding them of their ancestor's faith and their own need to earnestly seek God.