The Meaning of Hosea 12:2 Explained

Hosea 12:2

KJV: The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

YLT: And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

Darby: Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and he will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

ASV: Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  hath also a controversy  with Judah,  and will punish  Jacob  according to his ways;  according to his doings  will he recompense  him. 

What does Hosea 12:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord also had a charge (Heb. rib, cf. Hosea 2:2) to bring against Judah and promised to punish Jacob in harmony with his sins. "Jacob" may represent the Northern Kingdom here in contrast to Judah, the Southern Kingdom, or "Jacob" may represent both kingdoms since both descended from him (cf. Hosea 10:11).
"Israel is not a "chip off the old block" but a nation unlike its eponymous ancestor, in that it refuses to acknowledge Yahweh as its sole God." [1]

Context Summary

Hosea 12:1-14 - Turn To God, Not To Selfish Gain
Though Judah still ruled with God, Hosea 11:12, yet there was grave fault in him, and, like Ephraim, which had been engaging the prophet's thought, he also must come under the rod. But throughout this paragraph there lingers the sweet music of the previous chapter, and especially the reminiscence of Israel's early days, when he had power with the Angel and prevailed. The angel-haunted ideals and resolves of Beth-el could not be forgotten. Tears and weakness are the best arguments with God. He yields to us when we are weak; He yields to our despair. The soul that has been shut up to God and then casts itself at His feet can have what it will. Only beware lest after such an interview with the Angel, you deteriorate into a deceitful trafficker, and allow your God-given power to be reduced to making gain.
Notwithstanding all, God was still willing to call His people to the Feast of Tabernacles, the gladdest of all the feasts in the Hebrew year. But even divine love was thwarted by their inveterate sinning. How wonderfully these ancient prophets conceived of the love of God! The spirit of revelation led them to make declarations that the Cross has more than realized! [source]

Chapter Summary: Hosea 12

1  A reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob
3  By former favors he exhorts to repentance
7  Ephraim's sins provoke God

What do the individual words in Hosea 12:2 mean?

And a charge Yahweh [brings] against Judah and will punish on Jacob according to his ways According to his deeds He will recompense him
וְרִ֥יב לַֽיהוָ֖ה עִם־ יְהוּדָ֑ה וְלִפְקֹ֤ד עַֽל־ יַעֲקֹב֙ כִּדְרָכָ֔יו כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו יָשִׁ֥יב לֽוֹ

וְרִ֥יב  And  a  charge 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
לַֽיהוָ֖ה  Yahweh  [brings] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
עִם־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
יְהוּדָ֑ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וְלִפְקֹ֤ד  and  will  punish 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
יַעֲקֹב֙  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
כִּדְרָכָ֔יו  according  to  his  ways 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
כְּמַעֲלָלָ֖יו  According  to  his  deeds 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲלִיל 
Sense: deed, practice.
יָשִׁ֥יב  He  will  recompense 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.