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About this chapterGod has a charge against Ephraim, who feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind, multiplying lies and violence and making treaties with Assyria and oil deals with Egypt. The chapter looks back at Jacob, who grappled with his brother in the womb, wrestled with God, wept and sought his favor at Bethel, and there God spoke with him. From that history comes the call: return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait for your God always. Yet Ephraim is a merchant with dishonest scales who boasts of riches, forgetting that the Lord brought Israel from Egypt by a prophet.

God has a charge against Ephraim, who feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind, multiplying lies and violence and making treaties with Assyria and oil deals with Egypt. The chapter looks back at Jacob, who grappled with his brother in the womb, wrestled with God, wept and sought his favor at Bethel, and there God spoke with him. From that history comes the call: return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait for your God always. Yet Ephraim is a merchant with dishonest scales who boasts of riches, forgetting that the Lord brought Israel from Egypt by a prophet.

Themes

  • Jacob's example
  • Return, love and justice
  • Dishonest trade
  • Wait on God

Key verses

Audio Bible · Hosea 12

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Hosea 12

Berean Standard Bible14 verses · 1 min read

1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. 2The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. 3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God. 4Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there — 5the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown. 6But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God. 7A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands. 8And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.” 9But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast. 10I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets. 11Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field. 12Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep. 13But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 14Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.
Verses in Hosea 12

Chapters of Hosea

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