John Calvin Commentary Hosea 12:14

"Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him." — Hosea 12:14 (ASV)

The Prophet says first, that Ephraim had provoked God by his high places. Some, however, take the word תמרורים, tamerurim, for bitternesses. Then it is, “Israel or Ephraim have provoked God to bitterness.” But since this word in other places, as in Jeremiah 31, is taken for high places, and as it clearly appears that the Prophet here openly inveighs against Israel and their vicious worship, I have no doubt that he points out these high places in which the Israelites established their false and impious forms of worship. Ephraim then have provoked him with their high places: Ephraim, having in so many ways immersed themselves in their superstitions, provoked God in their high places.

Then his blood shall remain on him. As the word נתש, nuthesh, signifies “to pour out,” and also signifies “to remain,” some render it, “His blood shall remain;” others, “Shall be poured upon him.” But this makes little difference to the meaning, for the Prophet intends to show that Ephraim would have to suffer the punishment for their impiety. It is as though he said, “They shall not ultimately escape from the hand of God; they shall receive the wages of their iniquities.”

And his reproach shall his Lord return to him. Here he calls God himself the Lord of Israel, though Israel had shaken off the yoke and alienated themselves from the service of God. They cannot, he says, escape the authority of God, though they have spurned his law. Though they have become wanton in their superstitions, they shall yet know that they remain under the hand and power of God. They shall know that they accomplish nothing by their petulance. Though they thus wander after their abominations, yet the Lord will not lose his right, which he had obtained for himself by redeeming Israel. Their Lord then shall render to them their own reproach, which they deserve.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as we have not only been created by you, but since you have placed us in this world, you have also enriched us with an abundance of all blessings—O grant that we may not transfer to others the glory due to you.

Especially since we are daily admonished by your word, and even severely reproved, grant that we may not resist with an iron hardness, but instead make ourselves pliable to you.

May we not give ourselves up to our own devices, but follow with true docility and meekness the rule that you have prescribed in your word.

Grant this until at last, having put off all the remnants of errors, we will enjoy that blessed light which you have prepared for us in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.