Hosea 12:3

"In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God."

The reference to Jacob in this passage seems to have been with a double purpose: (1) for demonstrating that the cunning, deceit, and guile of the Israel in Hosea's day was in character with that of the old "heel catcher" from whom they had all descended, and (2) in order to emphasize that, with all of Jacob's faults, he did honor the promises of God, struggled with God to receive his blessings, tenaciously fought onward against all obstacles in order to receive the blessing.

"Took his brother by the heel ..." This, of course, is a reference to the Genesis account of Jacob's birth. The most amazing comment encountered on this passage is May's denial that Hosea knew this story as recorded in Genesis![6] The inconsequential difference in details given, such as Jacob's weeping (Hosea 12:4), or his taking his brother by the heel "in the womb" instead of after he came out, are no basis whatever for denying that here we have a solid reference to the Book of Genesis.

"In his manhood he had power with God ..." Some would take this as a negative statement with reference to Jacob, but the fact of God's speaking with Jacob must be understood as desirable and complimentary to Jacob. Furthermore, the context reveals that God's speaking to Jacob was upon behalf of all of his posterity, and not for his benefit only. See under Hosea 12:4, below.

Uniting the twin purposes of the references to Jacob by Hosea in these verses, it is clear that, "The prophet urged the people to return to God as Jacob did after his spree of deception and guile."[7]

"Both nations of the covenant people may have God's mercy, if they would exercise the same zealous faith to obtain it that their progenitor, Jacob, exercised in obtaining the birthright."[8]