Read the Bible — American Standard Version · Hosea

Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Ephraim H669 (אֶפְרַיִם) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
  • feedeth H7462 (רָעָה) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
  • on wind H7307 (רוּחַ) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by re…
  • and followeth H7291 (רָדַף) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
  • after the east wind H6921 (קָדִים) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
  • he daily H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
  • increaseth H7235 (רָבָה) — to increase (in whatever respect)
  • lies H3577 (כָּזָב) — falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)
  • and desolation H7701 (שֹׁד) — violence, ravage
  • and they do make H3772 (כָּרַת) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh a…
  • a covenant H1285 (בְּרִית) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
  • with the Assyrians H804 (אַשּׁוּר) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empire
  • and oil H8081 (שֶׁמֶן) — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
  • is carried H2986 (יָבַל) — properly, to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)
  • into Egypt H4714 (מִצְרַיִם) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt

2 Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • hath also a controversy H7379 (רִיב) — a contest (personal or legal)
  • with Judah H3063 (יְהוּדָה) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
  • and will punish H6485 (פָּקַד) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.
  • Jacob H3290 (יַעֲקֹב) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
  • according to his ways H1870 (דֶּרֶךְ) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
  • according to his doings H4611 (מַעֲלָל) — an act (good or bad)
  • will he recompense H7725 (שׁוּב) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally…

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • He took his brother H251 (אָח) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like 1])
  • by the heel H6117 (עָקַב) — to seize by the heel; figuratively, to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to restrain (as if holding by the heel)
  • in the womb H990 (בֶּטֶן) — the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
  • and by his strength H202 (אוֹן) — ability, power, (figuratively) wealth
  • he had power H8280 (שָׂרָה) — to prevail
  • with God H430 (אֱלֹהִים) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference…

4 yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Yea, he had power H7786 (שׂוּר) — properly, to vanquish; by implication, to rule (causatively, crown)
  • over the angel H4397 (מַלְאָךְ) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
  • and prevailed H3201 (יָכֹל) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
  • he wept H1058 (בָּכָה) — to weep; generally to bemoan
  • and made supplication H2603 (חָנַן) — properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)
  • unto him: he found H4672 (מָצָא) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
  • Beth–el H1008 (בֵּית־אֵל) — Beth-El, a place in Palestine
  • and there he spake H1696 (דָבַר) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

5 even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Even Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • God H430 (אֱלֹהִים) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference…
  • of Armies H6635 (צָבָא) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, h…
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • his memorial H2143 (זֵכֶר) — a memento, abstractly recollection (rarely if ever); by implication, commemoration

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Therefore turn H7725 (שׁוּב) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally…
  • thou to thy God H430 (אֱלֹהִים) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference…
  • keep H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
  • mercy H2617 (חֶסֶד) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
  • and judgment H4941 (מִשְׁפָּט) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or…
  • and wait H6960 (קָוָה) — to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect
  • on thy God H430 (אֱלֹהִים) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference…
  • continually H8548 (תָּמִיד) — properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the regular (dai…

7 He is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • a merchant H3667 (כְּנַעַן) — Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him
  • the balances H3976 (מֹאזֵן) — (only in the dual) a pair of scales
  • of deceit H4820 (מִרְמָה) — fraud
  • in his hand H3027 (יָד) — a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of a…
  • he loveth H157 (אָהַב) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
  • to oppress H6231 (עָשַׁק) — to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

8 And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • And Ephraim H669 (אֶפְרַיִם) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
  • said H559 (אָמַר) — to say (used with great latitude)
  • Yet I am become rich H6238 (עָשַׁר) — properly, to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich
  • I have found me out H4672 (מָצָא) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
  • substance H202 (אוֹן) — ability, power, (figuratively) wealth
  • all my labours H3018 (יְגִיעַ) — toil; hence, a work, produce, property (as the result of labor)
  • they shall find H4672 (מָצָא) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
  • none iniquity H5771 (עָוֺן) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil
  • sin H2399 (חֵטְא) — a crime or its penalty

9 But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • thy God H430 (אֱלֹהִים) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference…
  • from the land H776 (אֶרֶץ) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
  • of Egypt H4714 (מִצְרַיִם) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
  • will yet make thee to dwell H3427 (יָשַׁב) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
  • in tabernacles H168 (אֹהֶל) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
  • as in the days H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
  • of the solemn feast H4150 (מוֹעֵד) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite…

10 I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • I have also spoken H1696 (דָבַר) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
  • by the prophets H5030 (נָבִיא) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man
  • and I have multiplied H7235 (רָבָה) — to increase (in whatever respect)
  • visions H2377 (חָזוֹן) — a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle
  • and used similitudes H1819 (דָּמָה) — to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider
  • by the ministry H3027 (יָד) — a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of a…
  • of the prophets H5030 (נָבִיא) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man

11 Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • iniquity H205 (אָוֶן) — strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
  • Gilead H1568 (גִּלְעָד) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites
  • surely they are vanity H7723 (שָׁוְא) — evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also…
  • they sacrifice H2076 (זָבַח) — to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
  • bullocks H7794 (שׁוֹר) — a bullock (as a traveller)
  • in Gilgal H1537 (גִּלְגָּל) — Gilgal, the name of three places in Palestine
  • yea, their altars H4196 (מִזְבֵּחַ) — an altar
  • as heaps H1530 (גַּל) — something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)
  • in the furrows H8525 (תֶּלֶם) — a bank or terrace
  • of the fields H7704 (שָׂדֶה) — a field (as flat)

12 And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • And Jacob H3290 (יַעֲקֹב) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
  • fled H1272 (בָּרַח) — to bolt, i.e. figuratively, to flee suddenly
  • into the country H7704 (שָׂדֶה) — a field (as flat)
  • of Syria H758 (אֲרָם) — Aram or Syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of Shem, a grandson of Nahor, and of an Israelite
  • and Israel H3478 (יִשְׂרָאֵל) — he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
  • served H5647 (עָבַד) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
  • for a wife H802 (אִשָּׁה) — a woman
  • and for a wife H802 (אִשָּׁה) — a woman
  • he kept H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • And by a prophet H5030 (נָבִיא) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man
  • Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
  • brought H5927 (עָלָה) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
  • Israel H3478 (יִשְׂרָאֵל) — he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
  • out of Egypt H4714 (מִצְרַיִם) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
  • was he preserved H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

14 Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Ephraim H669 (אֶפְרַיִם) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
  • to anger H3707 (כַּעַס) — to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
  • most bitterly H8563 (תַּמְרוּר) — bitterness (plural as collective)
  • therefore shall he leave H5203 (נָטַשׁ) — properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusively, reject,…
  • his blood H1818 (דָּם) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. dr…
  • upon him, and his reproach H2781 (חֶרְפָּה) — contumely, disgrace, the pudenda
  • shall his Lord H113 (אָדוֹן) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
  • return H7725 (שׁוּב) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally…