Hosea 12:7 kjv
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
Hosea 12:7 nkjv
"A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress.
Hosea 12:7 niv
The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
Hosea 12:7 esv
A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.
Hosea 12:7 nlt
But no, the people are like crafty merchants
selling from dishonest scales ?
they love to cheat.
Hosea 12 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 12:7 | "He [is] a merchant, the balances of deceit [are] in his hand: he loveth to oppress." | Summary: Greed and deceit. |
| Hosea 4:2 | "By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood." | Falsehood and wrongdoing. |
| Amos 8:5 | "Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances of deceit;" | Economic injustice and deceit. |
| Micah 6:11 | "Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?" | Corrupt practices. |
| Jeremiah 6:13 | "Because from the least of them even unto the greatest of them is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest they deal falsely." | Widespread greed and falsehood. |
| Ezekiel 22:12 | "In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase: thou hast gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD." | Exploitation and forgetting God. |
| Proverbs 11:1 | "A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight." | God's view on dishonest scales. |
| Proverbs 16:11 | "A just weight and balance shall be the LORD's: all the weights of the bag [are] his work." | God's standard of justice. |
| Proverbs 20:23 | "A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD; and a just weight [is] his pleasure." | Reiterates God's abhorrence of deceit. |
| Romans 1:29 | "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers," | Lists covetousness and deceit. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:10 | "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." | Exclusion from the Kingdom. |
| Hebrews 13:5 | "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." | Encouragement against covetousness. |
| Luke 12:15 | "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of allcovetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." | Warning against covetousness. |
| Matthew 6:24 | "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." | Conflict between God and riches. |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." | Danger of loving money. |
| Ephesians 4:19 | "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." | Working uncleanness with greediness. |
| Psalm 52:7 | "Lo, this [is] the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness." | Trust in riches over God. |
| Isaiah 5:8 | "Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!" | Greed for land and possessions. |
| Psalm 10:3 | "For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth." | Boasting in covetousness. |
| Proverbs 21:6 | "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death." | Destructive nature of dishonest gain. |
| 1 Samuel 8:3 | "And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment." | Corrupt sons of Eli. |
| 2 Peter 2:14 | "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:" | Practiced in covetousness. |
Hosea 12 verses
Hosea 12 7 Meaning
Hosea 12:7 describes the heart of Ephraim (representing the northern kingdom of Israel) as deceptive and self-serving, driven by greed and ambition. They are characterized by their love of gain, and they engage in dishonest practices. Their worship is superficial, masking their true nature.
Hosea 12 7 Context
Hosea 12 is part of a broader prophetic indictment against the northern kingdom of Israel, primarily focusing on Ephraim. The chapter highlights Israel's unfaithfulness to God, their reliance on self-made strength and alliances rather than God, and their corrupt practices. The specific verse comes after Hosea's critique of Jacob's wrestling with God (Gen 32), using Jacob as an example of mixed motives and deceptive dealings. This verse pivots to expose the present-day spiritual state of Ephraim, portraying them as merchants driven by gain, unrighteous in their dealings, and thus deserving of divine judgment. The historical context is a period of relative prosperity and political stability for Israel, which ironically bred complacency and increased corruption.
Hosea 12 7 Word analysis
He (hu): Refers to Ephraim, representing the people of Israel as a whole, or perhaps a specific individual representing the nation's character.
[is] a merchant (socher): Indicates someone involved in trade and commerce. The word carries a connotation of seeking profit and gain.
the balances (mozenayim): Plural form of mozen (balance, scale). Refers to the instrument used for weighing goods.
of deceit (mirmāh): Means deceit, fraud, trickery, treachery, or falsehood. It points to an intentional misleading or overreaching.
[are] in his hand (b'yadōw): Literally "in his hand." This phrase signifies possession, control, and the active use of these deceptive tools in his business dealings. It shows that deceit is his method of operation.
he loveth (ahab): A strong verb meaning to love, cherish, desire, or be fond of. It indicates a deep affection and a willing engagement in the activity.
to oppress (lakōššea‘): From the root kāšša‘, meaning to oppress, wrong, or deal harshly with someone, especially financially or through injustice.
Balances of deceit: This is a metaphorical expression for unjust weights and measures used in trade to cheat customers. It signifies a systematic practice of dishonesty in business transactions.
Loveth to oppress: This phrase emphasizes that oppression is not an accidental outcome but a desired activity stemming from a heart that cherishes the act of injustice and the profit it yields.
Hosea 12 7 Bonus section
This verse underscores a crucial biblical principle: economic integrity is intrinsically linked to spiritual fidelity. For Hosea, the perversion of justice in the marketplace reflects a deeper spiritual corruption and a broken covenant relationship with God. The chosen language, "balances of deceit," is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, appearing in proverbs and condemnations by other prophets like Amos, reinforcing the gravity with which God views economic injustice. It implies that dishonesty in small matters like weighing goods reveals a person's or nation's true allegiance – whether to God's righteous standards or to the idols of wealth and personal gain.
Hosea 12 7 Commentary
The verse paints a vivid picture of economic corruption. Ephraim is characterized not merely as a trader but as one whose core business model is built on deception. The "balances of deceit" represent a pervasive system of fraud in their marketplace. The fact that they "love to oppress" highlights the moral bankruptcy; the act of wronging others for personal gain is not a regrettable necessity but a source of perverse pleasure or satisfaction. This captures a society where ethical considerations have been discarded in favor of avarice, directly opposing God’s commands for justice and fairness in all dealings, especially in commerce.