Jacob and the Angel
Hosea 12
The Lord brings a charge against Ephraim and Judah for falsehood and covenants made with Assyria and Egypt, recalling how their ancestor Jacob strove with his brother in the womb and had power with God and an angel. Israel is called to return to God, keep mercy and judgment, and remember that it was the Lord who brought them up out of Egypt by a prophet.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonEphraim encompassed Me with a lie, and the house of Israel and Juda, with impieties. Now God had acknowledged them, and they were to be called the holy people of God.—
BrentonEphraim has compassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel and Juda with ungodliness: but now God knows them, and they shall be called God's holy people.
GreekἘκύκλωσέ με ἐν ψεύδει Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ ἐν ἀσεβείαις οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ Ἰούδα· νῦν ἔγνω αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ὁ λαὸς ἅγιος κεκλήσεται Θεοῦ.
KJVEphraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
JPSEphraim compasseth Me about with lies, And the house of Israel with deceit; And Judah is yet wayward towards God, And towards the Holy One who is faithful.
2
ThomsonBUT this Ephraim is an evil spirit, he pursued a blasting wind the whole day. He multiplied emptiness and vanity. Though he made a covenant with the Assyrians, yet oil went continually to Egypt.
BrentonBut Ephraim is an evil spirit, he has chased the east wind all the day: he has multiplied empty and vain things, and made a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil has gone in the way of traffic into Egypt.
GreekὉ δὲ Ἐφραὶμ πονηρὸν πνεῦμα, ἐδίωξε καύσωνα ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν· κενὰ καὶ μάταια ἐπλήθυνε, καὶ διαθήκην μετὰ Ἀσσυρίων διέθετο, καὶ ἔλαιον εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐνεπορεύετο.
KJVEphraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
JPSEphraim striveth after wind, and followeth after the east wind; All the day he multiplieth lies and desolation; And they make a covenant with Assyria, And oil is carried into Egypt.
3
ThomsonWith Juda also the Lord hath a controversy. To vindicate Jacob, He will retribute to him, according to his ways, and according to his devices.
BrentonAnd the Lord has a controversy with Juda, in order to punish Jacob: according to his ways and according to his practices will he recompense him.
GreekΚαὶ κρίσις τῷ Κυρίῳ πρὸς Ἰούδαν, τοῦ ἐκδικῆσαι τὸν Ἰακώβ· κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ.
KJVThe LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
JPSThe LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings will He recompense him.
4
ThomsonIn the womb Jacob kicked his brother, but in his troubles he wrestled with God.
BrentonHe took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his labours he had power with God.
GreekἘν τῇ κοιλίᾳ ἐπτέρνισε τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν κόποις αὐτοῦ ἐνίσχυσε πρὸς Θεόν.
KJVHe took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
JPSIn the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he strove with a godlike being;
5
ThomsonHe indeed wrestled with an angel and prevailed. Have they wept or have they supplicated Me? Have they found Me in the house of On? Or have they been spoken to there?
BrentonAnd he prevailed with the angel and was strong: they wept, and intreated me: they found me in the house of On, and there a word was spoken to them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνίσχυσε μετὰ ἀγγέλου, καὶ ἠδυνάσθη· ἔκλαυσαν, καὶ ἐδεήθησάν μου· ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Ὦν εὕροσάν με, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς.
KJVYea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
JPSSo he strove with an angel, and prevailed; He wept, and made supplication unto him; At Beth-el he would find him, And there he would speak with us;
6
ThomsonThe Lord God Almighty was to be his memorial:
BrentonBut the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.
GreekὉ δὲ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ ἔσται μνημόσυνον αὐτοῦ.
KJVEven the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
JPSBut the LORD, the God of hosts, The LORD is His name.
7
ThomsonTo thy God therefore thou art to return. Keep mercy and judgment and draw near to thy God continually.
BrentonThou therefore shalt return to thy God: keep thou mercy and judgment, and draw nigh to thy God continually.
GreekΚαὶ σὺ ἐν Θεῷ σου ἐπιστρέψεις, ἔλεον καὶ κρίμα φυλάσσου, καὶ ἔγγιζε πρὸς τὸν Θεόν σου διαπαντός.
KJVTherefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
JPSTherefore turn thou to thy God; Keep mercy and justice, And wait for thy God continually.
8
ThomsonAs for Chanaan, in his hand is a deceitful balance. He loved to tyrannise.
BrentonAs for Chanaan, in his hand is a balance of unrighteousness: he has loved to tyrannise.
GreekΧαναὰν, ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ζυγὸς ἀδικίας, καταδυναστεύειν ἠγάπησε.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonEphraim indeed said, But I am rich, I have found a rest for myself. Because of the iniquities which he hath committed, none of his labours shall turn to account.
BrentonAnd Ephraim said, Nevertheless I am rich, I have found refreshment to myself. None of his labours shall be found available to him, by reason of the sins which he has committed.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἐφραὶμ, πλὴν πεπλούτηκα, εὕρηκα ἀναψυχὴν ἐμαυτῷ· πάντες οἱ πόνοι αὐτοῦ οὐχ εὑρεθήσονται αὐτῷ, διʼ ἀδικίας ἃς ἥμαρτεν.
KJVAnd Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
JPSAnd Ephraim said: ‘Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth; In all my labours they shall find in me No iniquity that were sin.’
10
ThomsonI the Lord am thy God. I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, I will yet cause thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of a festival.
BrentonBut I the Lord thy God brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: I will yet cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, according to the days of the feast.
GreekἘγὼ δὲ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἀνήγαγόν σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἔτι κατοικιῶ σε ἐν σκηναῖς, καθὼς ἡμέραι ἑορτῆς.
KJVAnd I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
JPSBut I am the LORD thy God From the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, As in the days of the appointed season.
11
ThomsonShall I speak to prophets? Though I have multiplied visions, and by the ministry of prophets made comparisons,
BrentonAnd I will speak to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by the means of the prophets I was represented.
GreekΚαὶ λαλήσω πρὸς προφήτας, καὶ ἐγὼ ὁράσεις ἐπλήθυνα, καὶ ἐν χερσὶ προφητῶν ὡμοιώθην.
KJVI have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
JPSI have also spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied visions; And by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.
12
Thomsonwas it only because of Galaad? There were liars indeed at Galaad— chiefs sacrificing; but their altars were like heaps in an uncultivated field.
BrentonIf Galaad exists not, then the chiefs in Galaad when they sacrificed were false, and their altars were as heaps on the ground of the field.
GreekΕἰ μὴ Γαλαάδ ἐστιν, ἄρα ψευδεῖς ἦσαν ἐν Γαλαὰδ ἄρχοντες θυσιάζοντες, καὶ τὰ θυσιαστήρια αὐτῶν, ὡς χελῶναι ἐπὶ χέρσον ἀγροῦ.
KJV—
JPS—
13
ThomsonThough Jacob fled to the plain of Syria, and Israel made himself a slave for a wife, and for a wife kept watch,
BrentonAnd Jacob retreated into the plain of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and waited for a wife.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνεχώρησεν Ἰακὼβ εἰς πεδίον Συρίας, καὶ ἐδούλευσεν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν γυναικὶ, καὶ γυναικὶ ἐφυλάξατο.
KJVAnd Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
JPSAnd Jacob fled into the field of Aram, And Israel served for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep.
14
Thomsonyet by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of the land of Egypt and by a prophet he was preserved.
BrentonAnd the Lord brought Israel out of the land of Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet was he preserved.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν προφήτῃ ἀνήγαγεν Κύριος τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐν προφήτῃ διεφυλάχθη.
KJVAnd by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
JPSAnd by a prophet the LORD brought Israel up out of Egypt, And by a prophet was he kept.
15
ThomsonEphraim hath kindled indignation and provoked to wrath; his blood therefore shall be poured out on him, and the Lord will retribute to him his reproach.
BrentonEphraim was angry and excited, therefore his blood shall be poured out upon him, and the Lord shall recompense to him his reproach.
GreekἘθύμωσεν Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ παρώργισε, καὶ τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐκχυθήσεται, καὶ τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἀνταποδώσει Κύριος αὐτῷ.
KJVEphraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his LORD return unto him.
JPSEphraim hath provoked most bitterly; Therefore shall his blood be cast upon him, And his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.