Section 11:12–12:14
Israel is deceitful and refuses to return to the LORD
In this section, the LORD accuses both Israel and Judah of wrongdoing, but then focuses on the wicked behavior of Israel (11:12–12:1). Hosea continues to describe Israel, giving examples from the life of their ancestor Jacob to show that Israel followed his bad behavior (12:2–8). The LORD then reminded the people how they had responded wickedly when he led them in the past (12:9–11). Hosea concludes this section by comparing Jacob’s care of sheep in Aram with the LORD’s care of his people through a prophet or prophets.
Here are some other examples of section headings:
Israel’s Sin (New International Version)
-or-
Israel and Judah Are Condemned (Good News Translation)
Paragraph 11:12–12:1
In this paragraph, the LORD brings charges against both Israel and Judah. The statements here are similar to opening remarks made by a prosecutor in a court case. Some versions use headings that correspond to such a context.
Here are some examples of other headings:
God’s Lawsuit against Israel: Breach of Covenant (NET Bible)
-or-
Charges against Israel and Judah (New Living Translation (2004))
In the Masoretic Text, the first verse of Hosea chapter 12 begins here. The Notes and Display will follow the majority of English versions that regard this verse as Hosea 11:12.
11:12
This verse has similarities to 11:9c–d. Both verses use a less common Hebrew term for God and both refer to God as “Holy One.” 11:9c–d describes the holy God in the midst of people. 11:12 uses a similar description. It is not a happy picture of a father surrounded by his loving children. Rather it is a picture of someone encircled by hostile enemies, who attack him with lies and deception.
11:12a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
12a
Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,
12b
the house of Israel with deceit;
There is an ellipsis in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from the first line. For example:
12b
the house of Israel ⌊surrounds me ⌋ with deceit.
These lines are metaphors that compare the people of Israel to an enemy army that surrounds a person or a city. The lies and deceit of the people are like the weapons of the enemy.
Ephraim…house of Israel: Both of these terms refer to the people of Israel. (See 4:17a “Ephraim” and 1:6c “the house of Israel”). See the General Comment on 11:12a–b for translation options.
surrounds Me: This figurative phrase was probably well known to Hosea’s audience because of Psalms that use it in a similar way. Here, the pronoun Me refers to the LORD.
lies…deceit: In Hebrew, these two words have similar meanings. The word for lies means “evasion of truth.” The word for deceit means “deceive,” “mislead.” It describes speech and behavior that intends to mislead, such as a merchant using inaccurate scales.
General Comment on 11:12a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine some of the parallel parts. For example:
Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit (New Living Translation (2004))
11:12c–d
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
12c but Judah still walks with God
12d and is faithful to the Holy One.
In Hebrew, these lines are more literally “and/but Judah still it has roamed with God and with [the] holy [one(s)] faithful.” There are two main interpretations of this verse part:
(1) These lines say that Judah remains faithful to God. The meaning of the word “roamed” is “follow.” The people of Judah continue to follow God. The word “faithful” refers to Judah. For example:
But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One. (NET Bible)
(2) These lines say that Judah wanders from God who is faithful. The meaning of the word “roamed” is “wander restlessly.” The word “faithful” refers to God. For example:
and the people of Judah are still rebelling against me, the faithful and holy God. (Good News Translation)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). At the time of Hosea, Judah was not yet as rebellious against God as Israel.
11:12c
but Judah still walks with God: This line and 11:12d contrast the people of the southern kingdom of Judah with those of the northern kingdom of Israel. The people of Israel surrounded God with lies and deceit, but Judah continued to follow God.
still: The word still refers to something that continues. Here it indicates the continuation of a past or present event.
walks: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as walks, means “to roam about freely” or “to wander.” The meaning can be positive or negative. Here the word is used in a positive way. See the interpretations above.
with: The Hebrew word has meanings such as with, “beside,” “by,” or “accompanying.” It is commonly used of a close relationship.
God: Here the Hebrew word for God is el and not YHWH. This is the same word as in 11:9c. Some versions translate el as God instead of “LORD.” Use your general term for God here.
11:12d
faithful: The Hebrew word means “to prove to be firm, reliable, faithful.” The word commonly applies to trust in God.
the Holy One: This term is more literally “and with holy [ones].” The term Holy One is also in 11:9. See 11:9d “the Holy One among you.” In 11:9 the word is singular. Here it is plural. It is probably an honorific plural, also called a plural of majesty. The term refers to God in both verses.
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