3 The noun רִיב (riv, “dispute”) is used in two contexts: (1) nonlegal contexts: (a) “dispute” between individuals (e.g., Gen 13:7; Isa 58:1; Jer 15:10) or (b) “brawl, quarrel” between people (e.g., Exod 17:7; Deut 25:1); and (2) legal contexts: (a) “lawsuit, legal process” (e.g., Exod 23:3–6; Deut 19:17; 21:5; Ezek 44:24; Ps 35:23), (b) “lawsuit, legal case” (e.g., Deut 1:12; 17:8; Prov 18:17; 25:9), and (c) God’s “lawsuit” on behalf of a person or against his own people (Hos 4:1; 12:3; Mic 6:2; רִיב). The term in Hosea refers to a covenant lawsuit in which Yahweh, the suzerain, lodges a legal case against his disobedient vassal, accusing Israel and Judah of breach of covenant which will elicit the covenant curses. Cf. “is bringing a lawsuit.”
4 The verb שָׂרָה (sarah) means “to strive, contend” ( שׂרה) or “persevere, persist” ( 975 שָׂרָה; see Gen 32:29). Almost all English versions render the verb here in terms of the former: , “contended”; “strove”; , “fought against.”
5 The vocalizes the consonantal text וָיָּשַׂר (vayyasar, vav consecutive + Qal preterite 3rd person masculine singular from שׂוּר, sur, “to see”); however, parallelism with שָׂרַה (sarah, “he contended”) in 12:3 suggested that it be vocalized as ויּשׂר (vav consecutive + Qal preterite 3rd person masculine singular from שׂרה [“to strive, contend”]). The latter is followed by almost all English versions here.
6 Heb “him”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 For location see ; ; ; ; .
8 The Leningrad Codex and the Allepo Codex both read 1st person common plural עִמָּנוּ (’immanu, “with us”). The and both reflect an alternate Hebrew of 3rd person masculine singular עִמוֹ (’imo, “with him”). The editors suggest emending the in favor of the Greek and . The internal evidence of 12:4–5 favors the 3rd person masculine singular reading. It is likely that the 1st person common plural ־נוּ reading on עִמָּנוּ arose due to a misunderstanding of the 3rd person masculine singular ־נוּ suffix on יִמְצָאֶנּוּ (yimtsa’ennu, “he found him”; Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix) which was probably misunderstood as the 1st person common plural suffix: “he found us.” Several English versions follow the and : “there he spoke with him” (, , , , , ). Others follow the : “there he spoke with us” (, , ). The Hebrew University Old Testament Project, which tends to preserve the whenever possible, adopts the reading but gives it only a “C” rating. See D. Barthélemy, e.d., Preliminary and Interim Report on the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, 5:262–63.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The Lord has an indictment against Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways;

he will repay him according to his deeds.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel,

and in his manhood he strove with God.

He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor.

He met God at Bethel,

and there God spoke with us—

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah;

he will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.

In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;

as a man he struggled with God.

He struggled with the angel and overcame him;

he wept and begged for his favor.

He found him at Bethel

and talked with him there—

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The Lord also has a dispute with Judah.

He is about to punish Jacob according to his conduct;

he will repay him based on his actions.

In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel,

and as an adult he wrestled with God.

Jacob struggled with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor.

He found him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.

NLTNew Living Translation

Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah.

He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways,

and pay him back for all he has done.

Even in the womb,

Jacob struggled with his brother;

when he became a man,

he even fought with God.

Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.

He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.

There at Bethel he met God face to face,

and God spoke to him—

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Yahweh has a quarrel with Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.

In the womb he deceived his brother,

and in his manhood he struggled with God.

He struggled with the angel and prevailed;

he pleaded for his mercy.

He met him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.

KJV 1900King James Version

The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah,

And will punish Jacob according to his ways;

According to his doings will he recompense him.

He took his brother by the heel in the womb,

And by his strength he had power with God:

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed:

He wept, and made supplication unto him:

He found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

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