Hosea 12:2-6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:6

Therefore turn thou to thy God - Because he is the same, and cannot change. Seek him as faithfully and as fervently as Jacob did, and you will find him the same merciful and compassionate Being. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:2

Verse 2 It may seem strange that the Prophet should now say, that God had a controversy with Judah; for he had before said, that Judah stood faithful with the saints. It seems indeed inconsistent, that God should litigate with the Jews, and yet declare them to be upright and separate them from the perfidious and ungodly. What then does this mean? The Prophet, as we have said, spake comparatively of the tribe of Judah, when he said that they remained faithful with the saints: for he did not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:3

Verse 3 In all this discourse the Prophet condemns the ingratitude of the people; and then he shows how shamefully they had departed from the example of their father, in whose name they yet took pride. This is the substance. Their ingratitude is showed in this, that they did not acknowledge that they had been anticipated, (84) in the person of their father Jacob, by the gratuitous mercy of God. The first history is indeed referred to for this end, that the posterity of Jacob might understand... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:4

Verse 4 And since this was especially worthy of being remembered, he repeats, that he had power with the angel, and prevailed. But we have already said how Jacob prevailed not indeed of himself, but because God had so distributed his power, that the greater part was in Jacob himself. I am therefore wont, when I speak of the wrestling and of the daily contests with which God exercises the godly, to adduce this similitude, — That God fights with us with his left hand, and defends us with his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:6

Verse 6 The Prophet is now here urgent on the people. Having referred to the example of the patriarch, he shows how unlike him were his posterity, with whom God could avail nothing by sound teaching, though he was constantly solicitous for their salvation, and stirred up his Prophets to bring back the lost and scattered to the way of safety. Since then it was so, the Prophet accuses them of ingratitude. But he speaks first of repentance; and then he shows that he and other ministers of God had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:1-6

Reproof, retrospect, and exhortation. Ephraim is reproved for the pursuit of empty and vain courses, and courses detrimental to their best and real interests. Judah is included in the threatening which follows. They are exhorted to follow the example of the patriarch which is proposed for their imitation, with implied promise of similar success. The unchangeableness of God, who not only accepted Jacob, but blessed and prospered him, is held out to the descendants of Jacob as a guarantee of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:2

The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah; and will punish (margin, visit upon ) Jacob according to his ways . God here presents himself at once as plaintiff and judge, widening the range of his pleadings. The controversy with Israel takes a wider sweep, and comprehends Judah culpable, though apparently in a less degree. But though Judah comes in for a share of punishment, that punishment shall be proportionate to their delinquencies—those like Judah that sinned less shall suffer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:3

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power (margin, was a prince, or, behaved himself princely ) with God. In this verse and the following the prophet looks away back into the far-distant past; and this retrospect, which is suggested by the names Jacob and Israel, reminds him of two well-known events in the life of the patriarch-The meaning and intention of this reminiscence are differently interpreted. The two leading views are the following: (a) ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:3

Power with God. The prophet here introduced a reference to Jacob, one of the ancestors of the chosen people, in order to encourage his descendants to apply for mercy to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. The Eternal and Unchangeable remained the same; and what God had done for the ancient saints he was willing to do for their posterity. The expression used with regard to Jacob deserves attention: "In his strength he put forth power [or, 'prowess'] with God." I. WHENCE POWER ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:3-6

Power with God. The people are incited to repentance by the example of their progenitor Jacob. His wrestling for the blessing sets their unfaithfulness in darker contrast. I. GOD 'S ELECTION DOES NOT SUPERSEDE MAN 'S EFFORT . Before Jacob was born God had said, "The elder shall serve the younger" ( Genesis 25:23 ). Yet the blessing had to be striven for, and won from God by wrestling and supplication. 1. Jacob had from the first an impulse to realize his destiny . ... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:3-6

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