Book of Hosea Chapter 13 Vs. 12

 The Lord's Relentless Judgment on Israel

The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. Hos. 13:12

עָווֹן עָוֹן

‛âvôn ‛âvôn

aw-vone', aw-vone'

From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

is bound up… Israel’s sins are all well-documented and safely preserved for the day of reckoning (compare 7:2; Deut. 32:24-35; Job 14:17).

צָרַר

tsârar

tsaw-rar'

A primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively: - adversary, (be in) afflict (-ion), besiege, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.

The sin of Ephraim had not been forgotten. He might believe it to be hidden, but God knew. God would bring judgment upon them.

חַטָּאת חַטָּאָה

chaṭṭâ'âh chaṭṭâ'th

khat-taw-aw', khat-tawth'

From H2398; an offence sometimes habitual sinfulness, and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also, concretely an offender: - punishment of sin, purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering).

God had not overlooked Israel’s guilt (cf. Hos. 10:2; 12:14; 13:16). Ephraim’s sinful deeds were compared to a document which is bound up (NASB; cf. NIV’s stored up) and a treasure which is stored up (NASB; cf. NIV’s) kept on record. Through both figures Israel’s sins were pictured as something guarded carefully till the day of retribution when they would be brought forth as testimony against the nation.

צָפַן

tsâphan

tsaw-fan'

A primitive root; to hide (by covering over); by implication to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk: - esteem, hide (-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set) privily, (keep) secret (-ly, place).

Gathered is Ephraim’s guilt, stored up is his sin. The nation is pregnant - but with guilt!