12:3a–4b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3a
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;

3b and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

4a Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed;

4b
he wept and sought His favor;

Lines 3a and 3b may be a figure of speech that indicates completeness. Here it describes Jacob’s entire life. He struggled to overcome others from infancy to adulthood. Lines 4a and 4b give more details about Jacob’s behavior.

12:3a

In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel: In this clause, Hosea refers to Genesis 25:26, which describes the birth of Jacob and his twin brother Esau. Esau came out first, then Jacob. Jacob was holding Esau’s heel when he was born.

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “he grasped…heel” looks and sounds like the name “Jacob.” Genesis 25:26 indicates that he was named “Jacob” for this reason.

This Hebrew word has two main meanings. It can mean “he took by the heel.” It can also mean “he attacked/supplanted.” Hosea may be using the Hebrew word as a pun or wordplay on Jacob’s name in which both meanings are intended. Either of the following translation options is acceptable:

• Make the first meaning explicit. For example:

In the womb he took his brother by the heel (English Standard Version)

• Make the second meaning explicit. For example:

In the womb he tried to supplant his brother (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
In the womb he attacked his brother (NET Bible)

The meaning lines in the Display will each give one of these options.

12:3b

and in his vigor he wrestled with God: In 3b and 4a, Hosea refers to Genesis 32:28. That verse says that Jacob has struggled with God and with men and has overcome.

and in his vigor: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and in his vigor means “physical power” in this context. Here this word implies both age and strength. Most versions make Jacob’s adult age explicit in some way but leave “strength” implicit. Here are some examples:

in maturity he wrestled against God (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
in his manhood he strove with God (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
when Jacob grew up, he fought against God (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the meaning “strength” explicit. For example:

When he became a man, he used his strength to strive with God

he wrestled with God: The Hebrew word for he wrestled means “to strive, contend.” The same word is repeated in 12:4 as “struggled,” where it refers to the same event. See also Genesis 32:28. See the previous comment for examples of other ways to translate this clause.

God: In this clause the Hebrew word for God is elohim and not Yahweh. Some versions translate elohim as God instead of “LORD.” Use your general term for God here.

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