Albert Barnes Commentary Hosea 12:3

"In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:" — Hosea 12:3 (ASV)

He took his brother by the heel in the womb - Whether or not the act of Jacob was beyond the strength ordinarily given to infants in the womb, the meaning of the act was beyond human wisdom to declare. This is why the Jews paraphrased, “Was it not predicted of your father Jacob, before he was born, that he should become greater than his brother?” Yet this was not fulfilled until more than 500 years later, nor completely until the time of David.

These gifts were promised to Jacob out of the free mercy of God, prior to any merit. But Jacob, thus chosen without merit, displayed 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 struggled with him; yet it is well called his, as it was given to him by God. Yet he had power with God, God ordained it so that the strength in Jacob exerted itself with greater force than that in the assumed body, by which He thus dealt with Jacob. God, as it were, acted as two persons, showing in Jacob more strength than He exerted in the Angel.”

“Because of that faith in Jacob, it is related that God “could” not overcome him. He could not because He would not undermine his faith and constancy.”

“By the touch in the hollow of his thigh, He only added strength to his faith, showing him who it was who wrestled with him, and that He willed to bless him.” Then 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). It is also said: “He was strengthened by the blessing of Him whom he overcame.”