Hosea 12:3

Hosea 12:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
• New International Version (NIV)In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God.

Context of Hosea 12:3

1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and he will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God. 4Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us, 5— even Jehovah, the God of hosts, — Jehovah is his memorial.

Hosea 12:3 word by word

בַּבֶּ֖טֶן עָקַ֣ב אֶת־אָחִ֑יו וּבְאוֹנ֖וֹ שָׂרָ֥ה אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Hosea 12:3

• Genesis 25:26And after that came his brother out; and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
• Romans 9:11[the children] indeed being not yet born, or having done anything good or worthless (that the purpose of God according to election might abide, not of works, but of him that calls),
• Genesis 32:24And Jacob remained alone; and a man wrestled with him until the rising of the dawn.
• James 5:16Confess therefore your offences to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. [The] fervent supplication of the righteous [man] has much power.

Commentaries on Hosea 12:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He took his brother by the heel - See on Genesis 25:26; (note); Genesis 32:24; (note), etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3He took his brother by the heel in the womb - Whether or no the act of Jacob was beyond the strength, ordinarily given to infants in the womb, the meaning of the act was beyond man‘s wisdom to declare. Whence the Jews paraphrased, “Was it not predicted of your lather Jacob, before he was born, that he should become greater than his brother?” Yet this was not fulfilled until more than 500 years afterward, nor completely until the time of David. These gifts…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3he grasped his brother’s heel (literally he supplanted his brother): The Hebrew verb ‘aqab is the root of Jacob's name. Even before birth, Jacob lived up to his name by supplanting his brother Esau (Genesis 25:26). As an adult, Jacob even fought with God (see Genesis 32:22–30) and was renamed “Israel,” meaning “God fights.”Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. He--Jacob, contrasted with his degenerate descendants, called by his name, Jacob (Ho 12:2; compare Mi 2:7). He took Esau by the heel in the womb in order to obtain, if possible, the privileges of the first-born (Ge 25:22-26), whence he took his name, Jacob, meaning "supplanter"; and again, by his strength, prevailed in wrestling with God for a blessing (Ge 32:24-29); whereas ye disregard My promises, putting your confidence in idols and foreign…Read the comment

Topics related to Hosea 12:3

• Israel
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jacob
• Genesis
• Heel
• Hosea
• Jacob (1)
• Jeshurun
• Sarah; Sarai
• Zechariah, Book of

Commentaries on Hosea 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings