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Hosea 12 BSB Audio Bible

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1 Ephraim 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.
2 The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there —
5 the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.
6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God.
7 A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.
8 And 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.”
9 But 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.
10 I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.
11 Is 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.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife — for a wife he tended sheep.
13 But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.

Listen to Hosea 12 with verse-by-verse audio highlighting — Audio: Bob Souer narration (public domain) · Text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain).

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Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Hosea 12. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.

Hosea 12 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 28 cross-references, 2 Early-Church citations.

Cross-references in Hosea 12 (28)

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Hebrew interlinear — Hosea 12:1–14 (145 words)
1
  1. אֶפְרַ֜יִםʾeprayimEphrayim: double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of JosephH669
  2. רֹעֶ֥הrōʿera`ah: to tend a flock i.e. pasture it; (intransitively, literally or figuratively) to grazeH7462
  3. ר֙וּחַ֙rûḥaruwach: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalationH7307
  4. וְרֹדֵ֣ףwĕrōdēpradaph: to run after (usually with hostile intentH7291
  5. קָדִ֔יםqādîmqadiym: the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)H6921
  6. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  7. הַיּ֕וֹםhayyômyowm: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or...H3117
  8. כָּזָ֥בkāzābkazab: falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)H3577
  9. וָשֹׁ֖דwāšōdshod: violence, ravageH7701
  10. יַרְבֶּ֑הyarberabah: to increase (in whatever respect)H7235
  11. וּבְרִית֙ûbĕrîtbriyth: a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)H1285
  12. עִםʿim`im: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applicationsH5973
  13. אַשּׁ֣וּרʾaššûrAshshuwr: Ashshur, the second son of ShemH804
  14. יִכְרֹ֔תוּyikrōtûkarath: to cut (off, down or asunder); (by implication) to destroy or consumeH3772
  15. וְשֶׁ֖מֶןwĕšemenshemen: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed)H8081
  16. לְמִצְרַ֥יִםlĕmiṣrayimMitsrayim: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower EgyptH4714
  17. יוּבָֽל׃yûbālyabal: (properly) to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)H2986
2
  1. וְרִ֥יבwĕrîbriyb: a contest (personal or legal)H7379
  2. לַֽיהוָ֖הlayhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  3. עִםʿim`im: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applicationsH5973
  4. יְהוּדָ֑הyĕhûdâYhuwdah: celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five IsraelitesH3063
  5. וְלִפְקֹ֤דwĕlipqōdpaqad: to visit (with friendly or hostile intent)H6485
  6. עַֽלʿal`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  7. יַעֲקֹב֙yaʿăqōbYa`aqob: heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarchH3290
  8. כִּדְרָכָ֔יוkidrākāywderek: a road (as trodden); (figuratively) a course of life or mode of action, often adverbH1870
  9. כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יוkĕmaʿălālāywma`alal: an act (good or bad)H4611
  10. יָשִׁ֥יבyāšîbshuwb: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the...H7725
3
  1. בַּבֶּ֖טֶןbabbeṭenbeten: the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anythingH990
  2. עָקַ֣בʿāqab`aqab: (properly) to swell out or up; used only as denominative from H6119, to seize by the heelH6117
  3. אֶתʾeteth: (properly) self; (generally) used to point out the object of a verb (or preposition) more definitelyH853
  4. אָחִ֑יוʾāḥîwach: a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like H0001))H251
  5. וּבְאוֹנ֖וֹûbĕʾônôown: ability, power, (figuratively) wealthH202
  6. שָׂרָ֥הśārâsarah: to prevailH8280
  7. אֶתʾeteth: (properly) nearness; (used only as a preposition or an adverb) nearH854
  8. אֱלֹהִֽים׃ʾĕlōhîmelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
4
  1. וָיָּ֤שַׂרwoyyāśarsuwr: (properly) to vanquish; (by implication) to ruleH7786
  2. אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  3. מַלְאָךְ֙malʾokmal'ak: a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)H4397
  4. וַיֻּכָ֔לwayyukālyakol: to be able; (literally) can, couldH3201
  5. בָּכָ֖הbākâbakah: to weep; (generally) to bemoanH1058
  6. וַיִּתְחַנֶּןwayyitḥannenchanan: (properly) to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferiorH2603
  7. ל֑וֹlô
  8. בֵּֽיתbêt
  9. אֵל֙ʾēlBeyth-'El: house of God; Beth-El, a place in IsraelH1008
  10. יִמְצָאֶ֔נּוּyimṣāʾennûmatsa': (properly) to come forth to, i.e. appear or existH4672
  11. וְשָׁ֖םwĕšāmsham: there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thenceH8033
  12. יְדַבֵּ֥רyĕdabbērdabar: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speakH1696
  13. עִמָּֽנוּ׃ʿimmānû`im: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applicationsH5973
5
  1. וַֽיהוָ֖הwayhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  2. אֱלֹהֵ֣יʾĕlōhêelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
  3. הַצְּבָא֑וֹתhaṣṣĕbāʾôttsaba': a mass of persons; (figuratively) a mass of thingsH6635
  4. יְהוָ֖הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  5. זִכְרֽוֹ׃zikrôzeker: a memento, abstr. recollection (rarely if ever)H2143
6
  1. וְאַתָּ֖הwĕʾattâattah: thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youH859
  2. בֵּאלֹהֶ֣יךָbēʾlōhêkāelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
  3. תָשׁ֑וּבtāšûbshuwb: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the...H7725
  4. חֶ֤סֶדḥesedcheced: kindness; (by implication, towards God) pietyH2617
  5. וּמִשְׁפָּט֙ûmišpāṭmishpat: (properly) a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree...H4941
  6. שְׁמֹ֔רšĕmōrshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
  7. וְקַוֵּ֥הwĕqawwēqavah: to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collectH6960
  8. אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  9. אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָʾĕlōhêkāelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
  10. תָּמִֽיד׃tāmîdtamiyd: (properly) continuance (as indefinite extension)H8548
7
  1. כְּנַ֗עַןkĕnaʿanKna`an: humiliated; Kenaan, a son a HamH3667
  2. בְּיָד֛וֹbĕyādôyad: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one)H3027
  3. מֹאזְנֵ֥יmōʾzĕnêmo'zen: (only in the dual) a pair of scalesH3976
  4. מִרְמָ֖הmirmâmirmah: fraudH4820
  5. לַעֲשֹׁ֥קlaʿăšōq`ashaq: to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflowH6231
  6. אָהֵֽב׃ʾāhēbahab: to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)H157
8
  1. וַיֹּ֣אמֶרwayyōʾmeramar: to say (used with great latitude)H559
  2. אֶפְרַ֔יִםʾeprayimEphrayim: double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of JosephH669
  3. אַ֣ךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
  4. עָשַׁ֔רְתִּיʿāšartî`ashar: (properly) to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) richH6238
  5. מָצָ֥אתִיmāṣāʾtîmatsa': (properly) to come forth to, i.e. appear or existH4672
  6. א֖וֹןʾônown: ability, power, (figuratively) wealthH202
  7. לִ֑יlî
  8. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  9. יְגִיעַ֕יyĕgîʿayygiya`: toil; (hence) a work, produce, property (as the result of labor)H3018
  10. לֹ֥אlōʾlo': (the simple or absolute negation) not; (by implication) noH3808
  11. יִמְצְאוּyimṣĕʾûmatsa': (properly) to come forth to, i.e. appear or existH4672
  12. לִ֖יlî
  13. עָוֹ֥ןʿāwōn`avon: perversity, i.e. (moral) evilH5771
  14. אֲשֶׁרʾăšeraher: who, which, what, that; (as adverb) when, where, howH834
  15. חֵֽטְא׃ḥēṭĕʾchet': a crime or its penaltyH2399
9
  1. וְאָנֹכִ֛יwĕʾānōkîanokiy: IH595
  2. יְהוָ֥הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  3. אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָʾĕlōhêkāelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
  4. מֵאֶ֣רֶץmēʾereṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  5. מִצְרָ֑יִםmiṣrāyimMitsrayim: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower EgyptH4714
  6. עֹ֛דʿōd`owd: (properly) iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly...H5750
  7. אוֹשִֽׁיבְךָ֥ʾôšîbĕkāyashab: (properly) to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet)H3427
  8. בָאֳהָלִ֖יםbāʾŏhālîmohel: a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)H168
  9. כִּימֵ֥יkîmêyowm: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or...H3117
  10. מוֹעֵֽד׃môʿēdmow`ed: (properly) an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or seasonH4150
10
  1. וְדִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙wĕdibbartiydabar: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speakH1696
  2. עַלʿal`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  3. הַנְּבִיאִ֔יםhannĕbîʾîmnabiy': a prophet; (generally) inspired manH5030
  4. וְאָנֹכִ֖יwĕʾānōkîanokiy: IH595
  5. חָז֣וֹןḥāzônchazown: a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracleH2377
  6. הִרְבֵּ֑יתִיhirbêtîrabah: to increase (in whatever respect)H7235
  7. וּבְיַ֥דûbĕyadyad: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one)H3027
  8. הַנְּבִיאִ֖יםhannĕbîʾîmnabiy': a prophet; (generally) inspired manH5030
  9. אֲדַמֶּֽה׃ʾădammedamah: to compare; (by implication) to resemble, liken, considerH1819
11
  1. אִםʾimim: (used very widely as demonstrative) lo!; (interrogatively) whether?H518
  2. גִּלְעָ֥דgilʿādGil`ad: Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three IsraelitesH1568
  3. אָ֙וֶן֙ʾāwenaven: (strictly) nothingness; (also) trouble, vanity, wickednessH205
  4. אַךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
  5. שָׁ֣וְאšāwĕʾshav': evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile)H7723
  6. הָי֔וּhāyûhayah: to exist; to be or becomeH1961
  7. בַּגִּלְגָּ֖לbaggilgālGilgal: Gilgal, the name of three places in IsraelH1537
  8. שְׁוָרִ֣יםšĕwārîmshowr: a bullock (as a traveller)H7794
  9. זִבֵּ֑חוּzibbēḥûzabach: to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)H2076
  10. גַּ֤םgamgam: (properly) assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, thoughH1571
  11. מִזְבְּחוֹתָם֙mizbĕḥôtāmmizbeach: an altarH4196
  12. כְּגַלִּ֔יםkĕgallîmgal: something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)H1530
  13. עַ֖לʿal`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  14. תַּלְמֵ֥יtalmêtelem: a bank or terraceH8525
  15. שָׂדָֽי׃śādāysadeh: a field (as flat)H7704
12
  1. וַיִּבְרַ֥חwayyibraḥbarach: to bolt; (figuratively) to flee suddenlyH1272
  2. יַעֲקֹ֖בyaʿăqōbYa`aqob: heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarchH3290
  3. שְׂדֵ֣הśĕdēsadeh: a field (as flat)H7704
  4. אֲרָ֑םʾărāmAram: the highland; Aram or Syria, and its inhabitantsH758
  5. וַיַּעֲבֹ֤דwayyaʿăbōd`abad: to work (in any sense); (by implication) to serve, tillH5647
  6. יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiśrāʾēlYisra'el: he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobH3478
  7. בְּאִשָּׁ֔הbĕʾiššâishshah: irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H0582)H802
  8. וּבְאִשָּׁ֖הûbĕʾiššâishshah: irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H0582)H802
  9. שָׁמָֽר׃šāmārshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
13
  1. וּבְנָבִ֕יאûbĕnābîʾnabiy': a prophet; (generally) inspired manH5030
  2. הֶעֱלָ֧הheʿĕlâ`alah: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount)H5927
  3. יְהוָ֛הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  4. אֶתʾeteth: (properly) self; (generally) used to point out the object of a verb (or preposition) more definitelyH853
  5. יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiśrāʾēlYisra'el: he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobH3478
  6. מִמִּצְרָ֑יִםmimmiṣrāyimMitsrayim: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower EgyptH4714
  7. וּבְנָבִ֖יאûbĕnābîʾnabiy': a prophet; (generally) inspired manH5030
  8. נִשְׁמָֽר׃nišmārshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
14
  1. הִכְעִ֥יסhikʿîska`ac: to trouble; (by implication) to grieve, rage, be indignantH3707
  2. אֶפְרַ֖יִםʾeprayimEphrayim: double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of JosephH669
  3. תַּמְרוּרִ֑יםtamrûrîmtamruwr: bitterness (plural as collective)H8563
  4. וְדָמָיו֙wĕdāmāywdam: blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animalH1818
  5. עָלָ֣יוʿālāyw`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  6. יִטּ֔וֹשׁyiṭṭôšnatash: (properly) to pound, i.e. smite; (by implication) (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperseH5203
  7. וְחֶ֨רְפָּת֔וֹwĕḥerpātôcherpah: contumely, disgrace, the pudendaH2781
  8. יָשִׁ֥יבyāšîbshuwb: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the...H7725
  9. ל֖וֹlô
  10. אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ʾădōnāywAdonay: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)H136

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Strong's words in Hosea 12 (6)
Strong's H3068 — לַֽיהוָ֖ה (layhwâ)
Yhovah (yeh-ho-vaw') n/p. 1. (the) self-Existent or Eternal 2. Jehovah, Jewish national name of God [from H1961] KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Root(s): H1961 Compare: H3050, H3069. Appears 5 times in Hosea 12.
Strong's H430 — אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (ʾĕlōhîm)
elohiym (el-o-heem') n-m. 1. gods in the ordinary sense 2. but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God 3. occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates 4. and sometimes as a superlative [plural of H433] KJV: angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty. Root(s): H433. Appears 5 times in Hosea 12.
Strong's H5030 — הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים (hannĕbîʾîm)
nabiy' (naw-bee') n-m. 1. a prophet 2. (generally) inspired man [from H5012] KJV: prophecy, that prophesy, prophet. Root(s): H5012. Appears 4 times in Hosea 12.
Strong's H4672 — יִמְצָאֶ֔נּוּ (yimṣāʾennû)
matsa' (maw-tsaw') v. 1. (properly) to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist 2. transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire 3. (figuratively) to occur, meet or be present [a primitive root] KJV: + be able, befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.. Appears 3 times in Hosea 12.
Strong's H4714 — לְמִצְרַ֥יִם (lĕmiṣrayim)
Mitsrayim (mits-rah'-yim) adj. 1. Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt [dual of H4693] KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. Root(s): H4693. Appears 3 times in Hosea 12.
Strong's H5973 — עִם (ʿim)
`im (eem) prep. 1. adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications 2. specifically, equally with 3. often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English) [from H6004] KJV: accompanying, against, and, as (X long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to, with(-al). Root(s): H6004. Appears 3 times in Hosea 12.

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“As he also declares through Hosea the prophet, “I,” he says, “have multiplied visions and have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets.” But the apostle further expounded this very passage when he said, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; and the...”

What the Early Church wrote about Hosea 12 (1)

  • “Just this had been foretold by Hosea: “In my house did they find me, and there did I speak with them.””

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