Hosea 12 · Verse 3

Hosea 12:3

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
Hosea 12:3, King James Version

Hosea 12:3 in other translations

BSBIn the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
WEBIn the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended with God.
ASVIn the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:
YLTIn the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,
DARBYHe took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God.
BBEIn the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;
WebsterHe took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

What does Hosea 12:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. 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 alliances. He conquered God, ye are the slaves of idols. Only have Jehovah on your side, and ye are stronger than Edom, or even Assyria. So the spiritual Israel lays hold of the heel of Jesus, "the First-born of many brethren," being born again of the Holy Spirit. Having no right in themselves to the inheritance, they lay hold of the bruised heel, the humanity of Christ crucified, and let not go their hold of Him who is not, as Esau, a curse (He 12:16, 17), but, by becoming a curse for us, is a blessing to us. power with God--referring to his name, "Israel," prince of God, acquired on that occasion (compare Mt 11:12). As the promised Canaan had to be gained forcibly by Israel, so heaven by the faithful (Re 3:21; compare Lu 13:24). "Strive," literally, "as in the agony of a contest." So the Canaanitess (Mt 15:22). his strength--which lay in his conscious weakness, whence, when his thigh was put out of joint by God, he hung upon Him. To seek strength was his object; to grant it, God's. Yet God's mode of procedure was strange. In human form He tries as it were to throw Jacob down. When simple wrestling was not enough, He does what seems to ensure Jacob's fall, dislocating his thigh joint, so that he could no longer stand. Yet it was then that Jacob prevailed. Thus God teaches us the irresistible might of conscious weakness. For when weak in ourselves, we are strong by His strength put in us (Job 23:6; Is 27:5; 2Co 12:9, 10).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 He took his brother by the heel - See on Gen 25:26 (note); Gen 32:24 (note), etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 12:1-6

Judah and Israel reminded of the Divine favours. (Hos. 12:1-6) The provocations of Israel. (Hos. 12:7-14) Verses 1-6 Ephraim feeds himself with vain hopes of help from man, when he is at enmity with God. The Jews vainly thought to secure the Egyptians by a present of the produce of their country. Judah is contended with also. God sees the sin of his own people, and will reckon with them for it. They are put in mind…

Read the full comment on Hosea 12:1-6 →

Hosea 12:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בַּבֶּ֖טֶןba.Be.tenin the wombH990
עָקַ֣ב'a.Kavhe took by [the] heelH6117
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אָחִ֑יו'a.Chivbrother hisH251
וּבְאוֹנ֖וֹu.ve.'o.Noand in manly vigor hisH202
שָׂרָ֥הsa.Rahhe struggledH8280
אֶת\־'et-withH854
אֱלֹהִֽים\׃'E.lo.HimGodH430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 12:3

  • Genesis 25:26

    And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

  • Romans 9:11

    (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

  • James 5:16-18

    Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

  • Genesis 32:24-28

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
took.
Ge 25:26; Ro 9:11
had, etc. Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely.
Ge 32:24-28; Jas 5:16-18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hosea 12:2

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

  • Hosea 12:3

    He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

  • Hosea 12:4

    Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth–el, and there he spake with us;

Read all of Hosea 12

Hosea 12:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pleito tiene Jehová con Judá para visitar á Jacob conforme á sus caminos: pagarále conforme á sus obras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’ Éternel a aussi un débat avec Juda, et il punira Jacob selon ses voies, et il lui rendra selon ses actions.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Auch mit Juda hat Jehova einen Rechtsstreit; und er wird Jakob heimsuchen nach seinen Wegen, nach seinen Handlungen ihm vergelten. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In utero supplantavit fratrem suum, et in fortitudine sua directus est cum angelo.