New King James Version
Hosea 12:12
12Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep.
Hosea 12:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
- New International Version (NIV)Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and there he earned a wife by tending sheep.
Context of Hosea 12:12
10I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” 11Though Gilead has idols— Surely they are vanity— Though they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal, Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field. Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep. 13By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved. 14Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, And return his reproach upon him.
Read all of Hosea 12Hosea 12:12 word by word
וַיִּבְרַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב שְׂדֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ד יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבְאִשָּׁ֖ה שָׁמָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- fledבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272
- into the countryשָׂדַיώâdeh ώâday · SirionH7704
- of Syriaאֲרָם'ărâm · AramH758
- and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- servedעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647
- for a wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- he keptשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
Cross-references for Hosea 12:12
- Genesis 27:43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran.
- Genesis 28:1Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
- Deuteronomy 26:5And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God: ‘My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.
- Genesis 32:27So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”
- Genesis 29:18Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
- Genesis 31:41Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Commentaries on Hosea 12:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Served for a wife - Seven years for Rachel. For a wife he kept sheep - Seven years for Leah; having been cheated by Laban, who gave him first Leah, instead of Rachel; and afterwards made him serve seven years more before he would confirm his first engagement. Critics complain of want of connection here. Why is this isolated fact predicted? Thus, in a detached sentence, the prophet speaks of the low estate of their ancestors, and how amply the providence…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And Jacob fled into the country of Syria - Jacob chose poverty and servitude rather than marry an idotatress of Canaan. He knew not from where, except from God‘s bounty and providence, he should have “bread to eat, or raiment to put on” Genesis 28:20; “with his staff alone he passed over Jordan” Genesis 32:10. His voluntary poverty, bearing even unjust losses Genesis 31:39, and “repaying the things which he never took,” reproved their dishonest traffic…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-14Verses 7-14 Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies a Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles, covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, and falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shall have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a mighty prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14Israel has engaged in deception and dishonesty since Jacob's time.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Jacob fled ... served--Though ye pride yourselves on the great name of "Israel," forget not that your progenitor was the same Jacob who was a fugitive, and who served for Rachel fourteen years. He forgot not ME who delivered him when fleeing from Esau, and when oppressed by Laban (Ge 28:5; 29:20, 28; De 26:5). Ye, though delivered from Egypt (Ho 12:13), and loaded with My favors, are yet unwilling to return to Me. country of Syria--the champaign…Read the comment
Topics related to Hosea 12:12
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries