Hosea 12:3
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
American King James Version (AKJV)
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
American Standard Version (ASV)
In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;
Webster's Revision
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
World English Bible
In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.
English Revised Version (ERV)
In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:
Clarke's Hosea 12:3 Bible Commentary
He took his brother by the heel - See on Genesis 25:26 (note); Genesis 32:24 (note), etc.
Barnes's Hosea 12:3 Bible Commentary
He took his brother by the heel in the womb - Whether or no the act of Jacob was beyond the strength, ordinarily given to infants in the womb, the meaning of the act was beyond man's wisdom to declare. Whence the Jews paraphrased , "Was it not predicted of your lather Jacob, before he was born, that he should become greater than his brother?" Yet this was not fulfilled until more than 500 years afterward, nor completely until the time of David. These gifts were promised to Jacob out of the free mercy of God, antecedent to all deserts. But Jacob, thus chosen without desert, showed forth the power of faith; "By his strength he had power with God." : "The strength by which he did this, was God's strength, as well as that by which God contended with him; yet it is well called his, as being by God given to him. "Yet he had power with God," God so ordering it, that the strength which was in Jacob, should put itself forth with greater force, than that in the assumed body, whereby He so dealt with Jacob. God, as it were, bore the office of two persons, showing in Jacob more strength than He put forth in the Angel." "By virtue of that faith in Jacob, it is related that God "could" not prevail against him. He could not because he would not overthrow his faith and constancy. By the touch in the hollow of his thigh, He but added strength to his faith, showing him who it was who wrestled with him, and that He willed to bless him." For thereon Jacob said those words which have become a proverb of earnest supplication, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me, and, I have seen God, face to face, and my life is preserved" Genesis 32:26, Genesis 32:30. : "He was strengthened by the blessing of Him whom he overcame."
Wesley's Hosea 12:3 Bible Commentary
12:3 He - Jacob. Took his brother - The design of mentioning this is to mind them of that goodness which God shewed them in their father Jacob. His strength - This strength was not of nature, but of grace.Strength received of God was well employed betimes; in it he wrestled for and obtained the blessing.
