King James Version
Hosea 12
14 verses with commentary
The Lord's Charge Against Judah
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
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Feeding on wind: 'Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.' Ephraim רֹעֶה רוּחַ (ro'eh ruach, shepherding/feeding on wind), pursuing קָדִים (qadim, east wind—hot, destructive sirocco). Daily increasing כָּזָב וָשֹׁד (kazav vashod, lies and violence). Making cov...
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XII.
(1) **East wind.**—Comp. Isaiah 27:8 and Job 27:21. On the latter passage Wetzstein remarks:—“This wind is more frequent in winter and early spring, when, if it continues long, the tender vegetation is parched up, and a year of famine follows. Both man and beast feel sickly while it prevails.” Hence, that which is unpleasant and revolting in life is compared by Orientals to the east wind. The...
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**28. ye ... my people, ... I ... your God--**(Eze 11:20; Jr 30:22).
The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. punish: Heb. visit upon
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Controversy with Judah: 'The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.' YHWH has רִיב (riv, lawsuit/controversy) with Judah; will פָּקַד (paqad, visit/punish) Jacob according to ways and doings. This demonstrates God's impartiality: both Israel and Judah face judgment for covenant breach. Neither tribal ide...
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(2) **Jacob** refers to the northern kingdom.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**29. save ... from all ... uncleannesses--**the province of Jesus, according to the signification of His name (Mt 1:21). To be specially exercised in behalf of the Jews in the latter days (Ro 11:26).
**call for ... corn--**as a master "calls for" a servant; all the powers and productions of nature are the servants of Jehovah (Psa 105:16; Mt 8:8, 9). Compare as to the subordination of all the in...
Read full commentary →He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely
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Jacob's struggle: 'He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God.' References Genesis 25:26 (Jacob grasping Esau's עָקֵב, aqev, heel) and Genesis 32:24-28 (wrestling with God). In womb: scheming beginning early; as adult: gaining שָׂרָה (sarah, power/prevailing) with God. This demonstrates Jacob's character: striving from birth, ultimately transformed throu...
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(3, 4) **Had power.—**Should be, *strove.* Prayers and tears were the weapons used in the memorable struggle for pardon, reconciliation, peace in the self-conquest as well as the God-conquest which was achieved. “At Bethel He (Jehovah) found him (Jacob)” not once only, but on repeated occasions (Genesis 28:11; Genesis 35:1),and in the subsequent history of the children of Israel.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**30. no more reproach of famine among the heathen--**to which their taunt (Eze 36:13), "Thou land devourest up men," in part referred.
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;
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Weeping and supplication: '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.' Jacob had power over מַלְאָךְ (malakh, angel/messenger), prevailed through weeping (בָּכָה, bakhah) and supplication (הִתְחַנֶּן, hitchannen). Found him at Bethel, where He spoke with 'us' (collective identity). This demonstrates ...
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**31. remember your ... evil ways--**with shame and loathing. The unexpected grace and love of God, manifested in Christ to Israel, shall melt the people into true repentance, which mere legal fear could not (Eze 16:61, 63; Psa 130:4; Zec 12:10; compare Jr 33:8, 9).
Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
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YHWH of hosts: 'Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.' The declaration: וַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת יְהוָה זִכְרוֹ (vaYHWH Elohei hatsevaot YHWH zikhro—YHWH God of hosts, YHWH His memorial/name). This emphasizes covenant name (YHWH) and sovereign power (hosts). The זֵכֶר (zeker, memorial/name) is YHWH—His character revealed through covenant history. This demonstrates that God's ide...
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(5) **Lord God of hosts.—**See Cheyne’s *Isaiah,* vol. 1, pp. 11, 12, and Nowack’s commentary on this passage. Probably the hosts were the stars which were conceived of as celestial spirits standing upon or above Jehovah’s throne in Micaiah’s vision, on the right hand and on the left (1Kings 22:19). These are to be identified, in all probability, with the sons of God (Genesis 6:2), described in Jo...
Read full commentary →Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
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God's call to covenant renewal: 'Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.' The Hebrew imperatives are direct: 'we-attah be-Eloheka tashuv' (and you, to your God return), 'hesed u-mishpat shemor' (mercy and justice keep), 'qavveh el-Eloheka tamid' (wait on your God continually). The three-fold summons: (1) return/repent (shub—turn back from idolatry t...
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(6) **Therefore** . . .—More correctly, *But do thou return to thy God.* There is an implied contrast between the patriarch and his degenerate descendants in the days of Hosea.
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. a merchant: or, Canaan oppress: or, deceive
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Merchant with false balances: 'He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.' The accusation: כְּנַעַן (Kena'an, Canaanite/merchant—pun on 'Canaan'), holding מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה (mozenei mirmah, balances of deceit). He loves עָשַׁק (ashaq, to oppress/defraud). This demonstrates commercial corruption: dishonest weights, exploitative practices. Deuteronomy forbids fals...
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(7) **He is** **a merchant.—**The vivid and fierce light of the prophet’s words is obscured in the English version. The rendering “he is a merchant” originates from the fact that Canaan (rendered “merchant”) is often used predominantly of Phœnicia, and Canaanites of Phœnicians, the great trading race (Isaiah 23:11; Job 40:30). Translate: *As for Canaan, in his hand are false balances. He loves che...
Read full commentary →And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. in all: or, all my labours suffice me not: he shall have punishment of iniquity in whom is sin that: Heb. which
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Self-deceived prosperity: 'And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find no iniquity in me that were sin.' The boast: עָשַׁרְתִּי (asharti, I have become rich), found אוֹן (on, wealth/substance). The claim: in all עֲמָלַי (amalai, labours) they'll find no עָוֺן (avon, iniquity) that is חֵטְא (chet, sin). This demonstrates self-righteousnes...
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(8) Translate, *And Ephraim saith, Surely I have become wealthy; I have gotten me substance* (*i.e.,* by legitimate means, not robbery): *all my earnings bring me not guilt as would be sin* (*i.e.,* requiring expiation). Such a coarse pursuit of wealth, and such glorying in the innocence of the entire process by which it has been obtained, has its parallel in the moral position of the Laodicean Ch...
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**35. they shall say--**The heathen, who once made Israel's desolation a ground of reproach against the name of Jehovah Himself (Eze 36:20, 21); but now He so vindicates its sanctity (Eze 36:22, 23) that these same heathen are constrained to acknowledge Israel's more than renewed blessedness to be God's own work, and a ground for glorifying His name (Eze 36:36).
**Eden--**as Tyre (the type of th...
Read full commentary →And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
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God from Egypt: 'And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.' YHWH who brought them from Egypt (מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, me'erets Mitsrayim) will make them dwell בָּאֳהָלִים (ba'ohalim, in tents/tabernacles) as in feast of מוֹעֵד (mo'ed, appointed time)—Feast of Tabernacles. This threatens exile: return to tent-dwe...
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(9) **Tabernacles.—**The prophet here speaks of Israel’s moral restoration under the form of a return to “the old ideal of simple agricultural life, in which every good gift is received directly from Jehovah’s hand.” To the true theocratic spirit the condition here spoken of is one of real blessedness, but to the worldly, grasping Canaan or Ephraim it would come as a threat of expulsion, desolatio...
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**36. Lord ... spoken ... do it--**(Nu 23:19).
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. ministry: Heb. hand
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Speaking to prophets: 'I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.' God's continuous revelation: דִּבַּרְתִּי (dibbarti, I spoke) through prophets, multiplied חָזוֹן (chazon, visions), used אֲדַמֶּה (adameh, likened/made similitudes) through prophets. This demonstrates divine initiative in communication: God speaking rep...
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**37. I will yet for this be inquired of--**so as to grant it. On former occasions He had refused to be inquired of by Israel because the inquirers were not in a fit condition of mind to receive a blessing (Eze 14:3; 20:3). But hereafter, as in the restoration from Babylon (Ne 8:1-9:38; Da 9:3-20, 21, 23), God will prepare His people's hearts (Eze 36:26) to pray aright for the blessings which He i...
Read full commentary →Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
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Gilead iniquity, Gilgal sacrifice: 'Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.' Rhetorical question: is there אָוֶן (aven, iniquity) in Gilead? Answer: surely שָׁוְא (shav, vanity/worthlessness). At Gilgal they sacrifice שְׁוָרִים (shevarim, bulls); their altars like גַּלִּים (gallim, heaps) i...
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(11) Translate, *If Gilead be worthless, surely they have become nought. In Gilgal they sacrificed bullocks; their altars also are like heaps upon the field’s furrows,* referring to a past event, the desolating invasion of Gilead by Tiglath-pileser, in 734 B.C. To this military expedition we have undoubted references in the inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser II. But unfortunately they are in a very m...
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**38. As the holy flock--**the great flock of choice animals for sacrifice, brought up to Jerusalem at the three great yearly festivals, the passover, pentecost, and feast of the tabernacles.
And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
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Jacob's flight and service: 'And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.' References Genesis 28:5 (flight to Paddan Aram/Syria) and Genesis 29:18-30 (serving Laban fourteen years for Rachel and Leah). Jacob fled, served, kept sheep for wives. This demonstrates humble beginnings: patriarch fled as fugitive, worked as servant, paid bride-pric...
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(12) **Jacob . . . Israel.**—Resuming the retrospect over early patriarchal history, begun in Hosea 12:4. Notwithstanding the loneliness and humble position of the patriarch, God took care of him, and he won the mighty name of Israel, and gave it to his descendants.
**Country.**—More accurately, *plain.*
And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
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Prophet-led exodus: 'And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.' God used נָבִיא (navi, prophet—Moses) to bring Israel from Egypt and preserve (שָׁמַר, shamar—keep/guard) them. This emphasizes prophetic mediation: God working through chosen messengers. Moses as archetypal prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-18) foreshadows Christ the ultimate Prophet. This dem...
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(13) **A prophet.**—Moses is here referred to, and there is, perhaps, a hint that the Lord would yet again save Israel from worse than Egyptian bondage by the words and warnings of a prophet.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 37 Eze 37:1-28. The Vision of Dry Bones Revivified, Symbolizing Israel's Death and Resurrection.
Three stages in Israel's revival present themselves to the prophet's eye. (1) The new awakening of the people, the resurrection of the dead (Eze 37:1-14). (2) The reunion of the formerly hostile members of the community, whose contentions had affected the whole (Eze 37:15-28). (3) The communi...
Read full commentary →Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him. most: Heb. with bitternesses blood: Heb. bloods
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Ephraim's provocation: 'Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.' Ephraim הִכְעִיס תַּמְרוּרִים (hik'is tamrurim, provoked to bitter anger). Result: leave דָּמָיו (damav, his blood/bloodguilt) upon him, return חֶרְפָּתוֹ (cherpato, his reproach). This demonstrates that persistent provocation exhausts ...
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(14) But the rift in the clouds closes again, and another severe rebuke follows. “Jacob” and “Israel” give place to the proud tribal name of Ephraim. This portion of the whole house of Israel incurs the charge. Read, *Ephraim hath provoked bitter feeling.* The bloodguiltinese of Moloch sacrifices and other iniquity God will not remove. (Comp. Genesis 27:43; Genesis 27:28-29, for the foundation of ...
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**2. dry--**bleached by long exposure to the atmosphere.