The Meaning of Hosea 12:14 Explained

Hosea 12:14

KJV: Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

YLT: Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!

Darby: Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly; and his Lord shall leave his blood upon him, and recompense unto him his reproach.

ASV: Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ephraim  provoked [him] to anger  most bitterly:  therefore shall he leave  his blood  upon him, and his reproach  shall his Lord  return  unto him. 

What does Hosea 12:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In spite of these mercies the Israelites had provoked the Lord to bitter anger with their idolatry (cf. Deuteronomy 4:25; Deuteronomy 9:18; Deuteronomy 31:29; Deuteronomy 32:16; Deuteronomy 32:21; Judges 2:12; 1 Kings 14:9; 1 Kings 14:15). Consequently He would not remove the guilt of their sins by forgiving them but would pay them back with punishment and shame. This was the sentence of their divine judge.

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 12:14 mean?

Provoked [Him] to anger Ephraim most bitterly therefore the [guilt] of his bloodshed upon him will leave and his reproach return upon him his Lord
הִכְעִ֥יס אֶפְרַ֖יִם תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים וְדָמָיו֙ עָלָ֣יו יִטּ֔וֹשׁ וְחֶ֨רְפָּת֔וֹ יָשִׁ֥יב ל֖וֹ אֲדֹנָֽיו

הִכְעִ֥יס  Provoked  [Him]  to  anger 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּעַס  
Sense: to be angry, be vexed, be indignant, be wroth, be grieved, provoke to anger and wrath.
אֶפְרַ֖יִם  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים  most  bitterly 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: תַּמְרוּרִים  
Sense: bitterness.
וְדָמָיו֙  therefore  the  [guilt]  of  his  bloodshed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
עָלָ֣יו  upon  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יִטּ֔וֹשׁ  will  leave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטַשׁ  
Sense: to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw.
וְחֶ֨רְפָּת֔וֹ  and  his  reproach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
יָשִׁ֥יב  return 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
ל֖וֹ  upon  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אֲדֹנָֽיו  his  Lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.