Hosea 12:13

Authorized King James Version

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And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

Original Language Analysis

וּבְנָבִ֖יא And by a prophet H5030
וּבְנָבִ֖יא And by a prophet
Strong's: H5030
Word #: 1 of 8
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
הֶעֱלָ֧ה brought H5927
הֶעֱלָ֧ה brought
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 2 of 8
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
יְהוָ֛ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֛ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 8
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 4 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 5 of 8
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם out of Egypt H4714
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם out of Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 6 of 8
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
וּבְנָבִ֖יא And by a prophet H5030
וּבְנָבִ֖יא And by a prophet
Strong's: H5030
Word #: 7 of 8
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
נִשְׁמָֽר׃ was he preserved H8104
נִשְׁמָֽר׃ was he preserved
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 8 of 8
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

Analysis & Commentary

Prophet-led exodus: 'And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.' God used נָבִיא (navi, prophet—Moses) to bring Israel from Egypt and preserve (שָׁמַר, shamar—keep/guard) them. This emphasizes prophetic mediation: God working through chosen messengers. Moses as archetypal prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-18) foreshadows Christ the ultimate Prophet. This demonstrates God's pattern: speaking through prophets, delivering through chosen instruments. Only Christ perfectly fulfills prophetic office (Acts 3:22-23).

Historical Context

Moses, though not always called 'prophet' in Exodus narrative, is identified as such in Deuteronomy 18:15,18, 34:10. The 'bringing out' recalls exodus; 'preserved' the wilderness period. Hosea reminds Israel: you owe existence to prophetic ministry—God spoke through Moses, delivered through him. Yet contemporary prophets (Hosea included) you reject. This demonstrates ingratitude: honoring ancient prophets while despising current ones. Jesus confronted identical pattern: building tombs for dead prophets while persecuting living ones (Matthew 23:29-36). Church history shows similar tendency: revering historical reformers while resisting contemporary reformation.

Questions for Reflection