Hosea 12:3

Contemporary English Version

³^(A)^(B) Even before Jacob was born,
he cheated his brother,^[a]
and when he grew up,
he fought against God.^[b]

12.3 Jacob … cheated … brother: In Hebrew “Jacob” sounds like “cheat” and also like “heel.” Jacob grabbed his twin brother Esau by the heel at the time of their birth (see Genesis 25.26). Later he cheated him out of his rights and blessings as the first-born son (see Genesis 25.29-34; 27.1-40).
12.3 fought against God: See Genesis 32.22-32.

Hosea 12:3

New International Version

³In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;^(A)
as a man he struggled^(B) with God.

⁴^(A) At Bethel, Jacob wrestled
with an angel and won;
then with tears in his eyes,
he asked for a blessing,
and God spoke to us^[a] there.

⁴He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel^(A)
and talked with him there—

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

New International Version (NIV)