Hosea 12:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The God who met Jacob is the LORD of hosts, whose very name is to be remembered forever.
What Does Hosea 12:5 Mean?
The prophet pauses to name the One Jacob wrestled with. He is the LORD, the God of hosts, commander of all heavenly armies. The LORD is his memorial means this name is the name by which he is to be remembered and called upon in every generation, the same name revealed to Moses.
The God of the patriarch is no local or forgotten deity but the living LORD over all powers in heaven and earth. To remember his name is to remember who he is and what he has done. For a people tempted to chase other gods and other alliances, this single verse anchors them: the One who blessed their father still reigns, unchanged. His name is a memorial precisely so that no generation need wonder where to turn.
Hosea 12:5 in the Original Language
zeker (זֵכֶר), 'memorial' -- a name or remembrance by which one is called to mind across generations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 12:5
What does Hosea 12:5 mean?
The God who met Jacob is the LORD of hosts, whose very name is to be remembered forever.