Hosea 13:12 — Word Study
WLCצָרוּר֙ עֲוֹ֣ן אֶפְרָ֔יִם צְפוּנָ֖ה חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃
BSAThe iniquityʻâvôn [moral evil, sin] of EphraimʼEphrayim [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph's son and the tribe] [is] bound uptsârar [confined, stored away] his sinchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, punishment for sin] [is] stored uptsâphan [treasured, laid up in store, hid]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| צָרוּר֙ | [is] bound up | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| עֲוֹ֣ן | [the] iniquity of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| אֶפְרָ֔יִם | Ephraim | Noun proper masculine |
| צְפוּנָ֖ה | [is] stored up | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) feminine singular |
| חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃ | sin his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up. |
| KJV | The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. |
| ASV | The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store. |
| YLT | Bound up [is] the iniquity of Ephraim, Hidden [is] his sin, |
| WEB | The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up. |
| BBE | The wrongdoing of Ephraim is shut up; his sin is put away in secret. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of צָרוּר — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause with two subjects, indicating the state of Ephraim's iniquity and sin.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbצָרַר
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 13:12
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 — The Judgment Against Ephraimgenerated
Hosea 13:12 reveals that Ephraim's iniquity is tightly bound and stored, indicating a serious state of moral failure. This verse is part of a broader context where God addresses the sins of Israel, warning them of the consequences of their actions and the impending judgment. The surrounding verses emphasize the relationship between sin and divine retribution, illustrating the gravity of Ephraim's situation.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 32:34–35 | “Have I not stored up these things, sealed up within My vaults? |
| 2 | Job 14:17 | My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity. |
| 3 | Job 21:19 | It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it. |
| 4 | Romans 2:5 | But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צָרוּר, tza.Rurgenerated
The word צָרוּר (tzarar) is a passive participle derived from a root meaning to bind or confine. It conveys the idea of being restricted or held tightly, suggesting that Ephraim's iniquity is not only recognized but also contained in a way that anticipates future judgment.
The passive form indicates that Ephraim's iniquity is acted upon — it is bound up by divine decree. This reflects a serious moral condition, as it implies that Ephraim's sins are not just acknowledged but are also being preserved for a time of reckoning.
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 צָרוּר governs the main clause, indicating the state of Ephraim's iniquity, while the second verb צְפוּנָ֖ה describes the condition of his sin. The structure emphasizes the dual aspects of Ephraim's moral failure — both the binding of iniquity and the storing of sin.
Hebrew word order places the subject אֶפְרָ֔יִם at the center, underscoring Ephraim's pivotal role in the judgment being pronounced.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צָרוּר as συστροφὴν (G4963), which carries the meaning of being gathered or confined. This choice suggests a focus on the collective nature of Ephraim's iniquity being held together for judgment.
For עֲוֹן, the LXX uses ἀδικίας (G93), indicating a broader sense of injustice or wrongdoing, which aligns with the moral implications of the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Hosea 13:12 states that Ephraim's iniquity is bound up and his sin is stored away. This indicates that Ephraim's wrongdoing is recognized and preserved, highlighting the seriousness of their moral failures and the impending consequences.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that Ephraim's moral failures are recognized and confined, indicating a serious state of sin that will not go unpunished.
Sin being stored up suggests that it is being preserved for judgment, emphasizing that it will be addressed at the proper time.
Ephraim represents the northern kingdom of Israel, and its mention highlights the collective moral failures of the people.
This verse encapsulates the themes of sin, judgment, and the need for repentance that run throughout the book of Hosea.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean for me to recognize and address my own iniquities?
- How can I ensure that my actions do not lead to moral failure like Ephraim's?
- In what ways can I treasure the lessons from scripture to avoid storing up sin?
- How does understanding God's judgment influence my daily choices?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Hosea 13:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe iniquity of Ephraim [is] bound up; his sin [is] hid. Which Kimchi restrains to the sin of the calves, and worshipping them; and others to the request of a king, the context speaks of: but it
Read John Gill on Hosea 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid - treasures, meant to be kept, are bound up and hidden; i:e., do not flatter yourselves,
Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe iniquity, in the singular, instead of the plural, all the iniquities and sins, of Ephraim, the kingdom of the ten tribes, is bound up; as indictments drawn up and tied together against the day of trial; or as bills and bonds tied up that they may be ready against the day of account, when all must be paid. Or, as sins unpardoned; for to loose sins is to forgive, and to bind sins is to charge them upon the sinner, . O Ephraim, thine unpardoned sins lie in account against thee, thou shalt hear of them and smart for them. His sin is hid; not from God, but laid up with God against the day of recompence, as : so .
Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsHosea 13:12 The iniquity of Ephraim [is] bound up; his sin [is] hid.Ver. 12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up] sc. in a bundle, or fardle, or fagot, as the French hath it. And like as all fardles are opened on a fair day, so shall Ephraim’ s iniquities be brought to light, and punished at the last day: as the householder bindeth up the tares in bundles at harvest and burneth them; so shall it be in the end of the world. "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire," Matthew 13:30; Matthew 13:41-42. As the clerk of assizes binds up the indictments of malefactors in…
Read John Trapp on Hosea 13 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) Bound up . . . Hid.—The binding up and hiding away of Ephraim’s sin as in a secret place, for ultimate disclosure, prepares us for the terrible words that follow.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up] It is registered in my court of justice; the death warrant is in store, and will be produced in due time. Though there be not at present the judgment inflicted which such glaring transgressions demand, yet it will surely come. Such crimes cannot go unpunished.
Read AdamClarke on Hosea 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. But this instability of government is not Israel’s full punishment. bound up] Tied up as in a bag (comp. Job 14:17). hid] Rather, laid by in store (as Job 21:19).
Read Cambridge on Hosea 13 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe iniquity of Ephraim is bound up - (As in a bag or purse, and so, “treasured up”), as Job saith, using the same word, “My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and Thou sewest up mine iniquity.” Job 14:17. “His sin” is “hid” i.
Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 13 →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 iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.
The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.
The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future.
Tyndale line
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
The iniquitie of Ephraim is bound vp: his sinne is hid.
Strictly literal
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid by in store.
Bound up [is] the iniquity of Ephraim, Hidden [is] his sin,
Bound up [is] the iniquity of Ephraim, || Hidden [is] his sin,
Bound up is the iniquity of Ephraim, treasured up is his sin.
Ephraim's iniquity has been stored up; his guilt has been stored up.
From the Latin
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hidden.
Simplified
Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.
The wrongdoing of Ephraim is shut up; his sin is put away in secret.
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 on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, although one word is partly restored and four are supplied by an editor.
צָרוּר֙ עֲוֹ֣ן אֶפְרָ֔יִם צְפוּנָ֖ה חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃
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.
[צרור] [עוון] [אפרים] [צפונה] חטאת׳ו
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 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 13:12
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.
The Hebrew word צָרַר (tsarar) is built from a primitive root meaning to bind or confine. It covers a range of meanings including to besiege, cause distress, and show hostility. The word can also denote making a rival-wife. Notably, it appears in Leviticus 18:18.
צוּר vb. confine, bind, besiege
base
צָרַר vb. bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, cramped
trans.
Qal bind or tie up
Pu. tied up (mended by tying)
intrans.
Qal be scant, cramped, in straits
Hiph. make narrow for, press hard upon, cause distress to
base
[צָרַר] vb. denom. Hiph. suffer distress
base
צָרַר vb. shew hostility toward, vex
base
[צָרַר] vb. denom. make a rival-wife;—Qal Lv 18:18
ref
H6887a צוּר confine, bind, besiege H6887b צָרַר bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, cramped H6887c צָרַר vb. denom. Hiph. suffer distress H6887d צָרַר shew hostility toward, vex H6887e צָרַר vb. denom. make a rival-wife
6887 tsarar tsaw-rar'
a primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively,
transitive or intransitive (as follows):--adversary, (be in)
afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress,
enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait
(trouble), vex.
צָרַר (tsa.rar) — to confine.
to confine, besiege
Another spelling of tsur (צוּר "to confine" H6696A)
צָרַר (tsa.rar) — to constrain.
1) to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bind, tie up, shut up
1a2) to be scant, be cramped, be in straits
1b) (Pual) to be bound, be tied up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make narrow for, cause distress to, press hard upon
צָרַר (tsa.rar) — to distress.
to suffer distress
צָרַר (tsa.rar) — to vex.
to show hostility toward, vex
צָרַר (tsa.rar) — to rival.
to make a rival-wife
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
base
H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
5771 `avon aw-vone'
or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from
5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,
mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
see HEBREW for 07
see HEBREW for 05753
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.
: crime
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.
: guilt
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.
: punishment
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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…
אֶפְרַ֫יִם (Ephrayim) refers to Ephraim, a son of Joseph and Asenath, and the tribe descended from him. The term signifies 'double fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including a geographical region, a chief gate of Jerusalem, and a reference to the northern kingdom. Notably, it appears in Genesis 41:52.
אֶפְרַ֫יִם n.pr.m. Ephraim
base
H669 אֶפְרַ֫יִם Ephraim
669 'Ephrayim ef-rah'-yim
dual of masculine form of 672; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son
of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its
territory:--Ephraim, Ephraimites.
see HEBREW for 0672
אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.52;
son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621);
brother of: Manasseh (H4519);
father of: Shuthelah (H7803), Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827), Elead (H0496) and Beriah (H1283H); also called Ephrathite (NIV: Ephraimite) at 1Sa.1.1; Ephron (Qere, KJV: Ephrain) at 2Ch.13.19;
§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"
1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh
2) the tribe, Ephraim
3) the mountain country of Ephraim
4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)
5) a city near Baal-hazor
6) a chief gate of Jerusalem
אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim (Gate).
§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"
a chief gate of Jerusalem
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Ephraim
Double fruitfulness (“for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction”). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt (Gen. 41:52; 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10; comp. 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, “guiding his hands wittingly.” Before Joseph’s death, Ephraim’s family had reached the third generation (Gen. 50:23).
a city "in the district near the wilderness" to which our Lord retired with his disciples when threatened with violence by the priests. (John 11:54)
The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt, Ge 41:52. Although the youngest, he yet had the chief blessing of his grandfather Jacob, and the tribe was always more distinguished than that of Manasseh, Ge 48:8-20 Nu 2:18-21. The portion of Ephraim was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim…
fruitful; increasing
צָפַן (tsaphan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hide or treasure up. It can refer to hiding something by covering it, storing it, or keeping it secret. The word has various forms, including Qal (to hide), Niphal (to be hidden), and Hiphil (to hide from discovery). It conveys both protective and secretive connotations.
צָפַן vb. hide, treasure up
Qal
trans. hide
intrans. lie hid, lurk
Niph. be hidden from before
Hiph. hide
base
H6845 צָפַן hide, treasure up
6845 tsaphan tsaw-fan'
a primitive root; to hide (by covering over); by implication,
to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically
(favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk:--esteem,
hide(-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set) privily, (keep)
secret(-ly, place).
צָפַן (tsa.phan) — to treasure.
1) to hide, treasure, treasure or store up
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to hide, treasure, treasure up
1a2) to lie hidden, lurk
1b) (Niphal) to be hidden, be stored up
1c) (Hiphil) to hide, hide from discovery
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singularHVqsfsa
חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.
H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin
. sin-offering
H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin
. condition of sin, guilt of sin
. punishment for sin
. sin-offering
. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'
or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes
habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or
expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of
sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
see HEBREW for 02398
חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.
sin, sinful thing
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.
: sin
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.
: sin_offering
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.
: punishment/purification
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms