Hosea 12:5 — Word Study
WLCוַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַצְּבָא֑וֹת יְהוָ֖ה זִכְרֽוֹ׃
BSAto reignsûwr to(wards)ʼêl messengermălʼâk be ableyâkôl to weepbâkâh be graciouschânan BethelBêyth-ʼÊl BethelBêyth-ʼÊl to findmâtsâʼ thereshâm to speakdâbar withʻim
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַֽיהוָ֖ה | and Yahweh | Conjunction, noun proper |
| אֱלֹהֵ֣י | [the] God of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| הַצְּבָא֑וֹת | hosts | Particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| יְהוָ֖ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| זִכְרֽוֹ׃ | [is] memorial his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown. |
| KJV | Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. |
| ASV | even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name. |
| YLT | Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah [is] His memorial. |
| WEB | even Yahweh, the God of Armies. Yahweh is his name of renown! |
| BBE | Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name. |
Where they part company is יְהוָ֖ה — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause establishes the identity of the LORD, supported by phrases that describe His name and reputation.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Hosea 12:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Sovereignty and Renowngenerated
Hosea 12:5 emphasizes the significance of the name of the LORD, who is portrayed as the God of Hosts. This name reflects His authority over the heavenly armies and His enduring reputation. The surrounding verses highlight the need for Israel to return to God, emphasizing love and justice in their relationship with Him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 28:16 | When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” |
| 2 | Genesis 32:30 | So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” |
| 3 | Exodus 3:15 | God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. |
| 4 | Psalm 135:13 | Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your renown, O LORD, through all generations. |
| 5 | Isaiah 42:8 | I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְהוָ֖ה, Yah.wehgenerated
The name יְהוָה (Yahweh) represents the self-existent God, often translated as 'the LORD'. It signifies His eternal nature and is a national name for God in the Jewish faith, used throughout the Old Testament.
This name is deeply connected to God's revelation to Moses and emphasizes His role as the supreme ruler. The parsing indicates it is a proper noun, underscoring its unique significance in the biblical narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יְהוָ֖ה serves as the predicate, establishing the subject as the LORD. This structure emphasizes God's identity as the God of Hosts.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with the main clause stating God's identity and additional phrases providing details about His renown and authority.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יְהוָ֖ה as ἠδυνάσθη, indicating a focus on God's power and capability. This choice highlights the divine nature of the name and its implications in the context of God's sovereignty.
The translation reflects a consistent understanding of God's authority over the heavenly hosts, aligning with the original Hebrew intent.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Hosea 12:5 states that the LORD is the God of Hosts, emphasizing His power and authority over heavenly armies. It also highlights that the name of the LORD is one of renown, signifying His glorious reputation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the LORD commands the heavenly armies and has authority over all spiritual forces.
The name reflects His glorious reputation and the significance of His actions throughout history.
It emphasizes the need for Israel to recognize God's authority and return to Him in love and justice.
Yahweh signifies the self-existent nature of God and is central to the Jewish understanding of His identity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I understand the significance of God's name in my own life?
- In what ways can I recognize God's authority over my circumstances?
- How can I reflect God's character of love and justice in my relationships?
- What does it mean for me to honor the renown of the LORD in my daily actions?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Hosea 12:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleEven the Lord God of hosts,.... The God Jacob had power over, the Angel he prevailed with, to whom he made supplication with weeping, and who spake with him and his in Bethel, is he whose name is
Read John Gill on Hosea 12 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryEven the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Even the Lord God - Yahweh (H3068), a name implying His immutable constancy to His promises.
Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 12 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEven, or and, he that appeared and spake, who promised the blessing, and commanded the reformation at Beth-el, was the Lord, Jehovah, the eternal and unchangeable God, who still promiseth with like commands. God of hosts; who can both perform his promise and execute his threat, who is a most terrible enemy and most desirable friend, all being to us as he is. The Lord, Jehovah, repeated for confirmation, is his memorial; by this he will be known, by this name, by such methods of his sovereignty and grace, .
Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 12 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsHosea 12:5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his memorial.Ver. 5. Even the Lord God of hosts] Lo, he it is who promised, who spake with us at Bethel; even that Jehovah, who is himself unchangeable and Almighty; whose promises are eternal and infallible; who will perform with his hand what he hath spoken with his mouth, to the thousandth generation of those that return unto him. Concerning God’ s name, Jehovah, Concerning his title, God of hosts, Doct. 1. The Lord is his memorial] Jehovah is that nomen maiestativum (as Tertullian hath it), that holy and reverend name of God, Psalms 111:9, whereby he will be known and remembered, Exodus 3:15, which place doth notably illustrate this.…
Read John Trapp on Hosea 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Lord God of hosts.—See Cheyne’s Isaiah, vol. 1, pp. 11, 12, and Nowack’s commentary on this passage. Probably the hosts were the stars which were conceived of as celestial spirits standing upon or above Jehovah’s throne in Micaiah’s vision, on the right hand and on the left (1 Kings 22:19). These are to be identified, in all probability, with the sons of God (Genesis 6:2), described in Job 1:6 as presenting themselves in council before Jehovah. In Psalms 103:21 they are described as God’s ministers; also in Psalms 104:4, quoted in Hebrews 1:7. His memorial—i.e., his name. (See Notes on Exodus 3:15; Exodus 6:3.) Jehovah—i.e., the self-existent One who nevertheless came into personal…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 12 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. The Lord is his memorial.] He is the same God as when Jacob so successfully wrestled with him.
Read AdamClarke on Hosea 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. Even the Lord God of hosts, &c.] The Hebrew runs more abruptly, ‘And Jehovah’ &c., i.e. ‘and the name of Him who spoke with Jacob is Jehovah.’ ‘Jehovah’ to the prophets conveys the ideas of almightiness, unchangeableness, and faithfulness (comp. Isaiah 41:4; Malachi 3:6). ‘God of Hosts’ is a title specially characteristic of the regal period; the hosts were (1) the stars, (2) the armies of Israel (see the commentators on Isaiah 1:24). his memorial] i.e. his name; comp. Exodus 3:15 ‘This is my memorial unto all generations.’
Read Cambridge on Hosea 12 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleEven the Lord God of Hosts, the Lord is His memorial - The word, here as translated and written Lord, is the special and, so to say, the proper Name of God, that which He gave to Himself, and which declares His Being.
Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.
even Yahweh, the God of Armies. Yahweh is his name of renown!
the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.
As for the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is the name by which he is remembered!
Tyndale line
Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name.
even the LORD, the God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
Yea, the Lord God of hostes, the Lord is himselfe his memoriall.
Strictly literal
— even Jehovah, the God of hosts, — Jehovah is his memorial.
Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah [is] His memorial.
Even YHWH, God of the Hosts, YHWH [is] His memorial.
(12:6) And the Lord God of hosts, the Eternal One is his memorial.
This is Yahweh, the God of hosts; “Yahweh” is his name to be called on.
From the Latin
Even the Lord the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.
Simplified
the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his memorable name!
Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording, affirming the identity of the LORD as the God of Hosts. The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, show significant editorial restoration, indicating that while the core message aligns, the textual transmission faced challenges.
וַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַצְּבָא֑וֹת יְהוָ֖ה זִכְרֽוֹ׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[וישר] אל [מלאך] [ויכל] [בכה] [ויתחנן] [ל׳ו] [בית] [אל] [ימצא׳נו] [ושם] [ידבר] [עמ׳נו]
1 word on the leather — 12 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Hosea 12:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
HC/Npt — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npt
אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
pl. in number.
rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
angels
gods
pl. intensive
god or goddess
godlike one
works of God, or things belongng to him
God
הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
אֱלֹהִים = God
base
H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
. angels
. gods
. pl. intensive . god or goddess
. godlike one
. works of God, or things belongng to him
. God
. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
. אֱלֹהִים = God
430 'elohiym el-o-heem'
plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically
used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the
supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to
magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X
exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X
mighty.
see HEBREW for 0433
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.
This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.
Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.
Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word צָבָא (*tsaba'*) primarily means 'army' or 'warfare,' encompassing organized groups for battle, divine hosts, and even celestial bodies. It can also refer to service or duty in a military context. The term appears in various forms, including צְבָאוֹת (*tsaba'ot*), which denotes the 'hosts' of the Lord, particularly in relation to God's role in warfare.
צָבָא 485 n.m. army, war, warfare
army, host
war, warfare, service
service
צְבָאוֹת, in name of י׳ as God of war, prob. first in time of warlike David (some connect with sacred ark, but ark older)
base
H6635a צָבָא army, war, warfare . army, host
. war, warfare, service
. service
H6635b צְבָאוֹת army, war, warfare . army, host
. war, warfare, service
. service
. צְבָאוֹת, in name of י׳ as God of war, prob. first in time of warlike David (some connect with sacred ark, but ark older)
6635 tsaba' tsaw-baw'
or (feminine) tsbadah {tseb-aw-aw'}; from 6633; a mass of
persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized
for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or
figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed
time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers,
waiting upon, war(-fare).
see HEBREW for 06633
צָבָא (tsa.va) — army.
: army
1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host
1a) army, host
1a1) host (of organised army)
1a2) host (of angels)
1a3) of sun, moon, and stars
1a4) of whole creation
1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war
1c) service
צָבָא (tsa.va) — Hosts.
The Hosts (of the Lord)
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
צָבָא (tsa.va) — army: war.
: war
1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host
1a) army, host
1a1) host (of organised army)
1a2) host (of angels)
1a3) of sun, moon, and stars
1a4) of whole creation
1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war
1c) service
צָבָא (tsa.va) — army: duty.
: duty
1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host
1a) army, host
1a1) host (of organised army)
1a2) host (of angels)
1a3) of sun, moon, and stars
1a4) of whole creation
1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war
1c) service
HTd/Ncfpa — Particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHTd/Ncfpa
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
HNpt — Noun properHNpt
זֵ֫כֶר (zeker) refers to concepts of remembrance and memorial. It is derived from the root meaning to remember and encompasses meanings such as memory and commemoration. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts related to memorials and recollections.
זֵ֫כֶר n.m. remembrance, memorial
base
H2143 זֵ֫כֶר remembrance, memorial
2143 zeker zay'-ker
or zeker {zeh'-ker}; from 2142; a memento, abstr.
recollection (rarely if ever); by implication,
commemoration:--memorial, memory, remembrance, scent.
see HEBREW for 02142
זֵ֫כֶר (ze.kher) — memorial.
1) memorial, remembrance
1a) remembrance, memory
1b) memorial
HNcmsc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms