Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse paints a picture of desperate, harmful choices. "Feeding on wind" and "pursuing the east wind" aren't just empty actions; the east wind was known for its destructive, scorching nature, revealing their pursuit was not only futile but actively harmful to themselves.
Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Hosea is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel, often referred to as Ephraim, exposing their deep spiritual unfaithfulness. This verse begins a section where Hosea contrasts Israel's empty pursuits and deceitful dealings with the faithful example of their ancestor Jacob. Israel is depicted as desperately seeking security through shifting, unreliable foreign alliances, specifically with powerful nations like Assyria and Egypt, rather than trusting in God.
Imagine spending your whole day chasing something you can never catch, something that actually harms you. That's what Hosea describes!
The verse opens with a powerful image: 'Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind.' This isn't just about being busy; it's about dedicating all your energy to things that are ultimately empty and destructive.
When we chase empty things, it doesn't just affect our inner lives; it spills out into how we treat others. What does that look like?
The verse continues, 'they multiply falsehood and violence.' This is the natural outcome of chasing the wind. When your foundation is unstable and your pursuits are corrupt, your actions will reflect that.
Ask a follow-up
Building alliances seems smart, right? But Hosea shows how even political maneuvering can be a sign of spiritual decay.
The latter part of the verse highlights specific actions that demonstrate Ephraim's misplaced trust: 'they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.'
Understand the original words
Ephrayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The northern kingdom of Israel, often used representatively for the entire nation due to its prominence, frequently associated in Hosea with spiritual adultery and apostasy.
berit · Hebrew Noun
A binding agreement, often between two parties, but here referring to Israel's illicit political and spiritual alliances with pagan nations instead of relying on God.
Hosea's prophecy in this verse highlights Israel's desperate and ultimately futile political maneuvering, seeking security through alliances with Egypt and Assyria rather than trusting in God. This gamble, especially the pact with Egypt against Assyria, directly precipitated the kingdom's final destruction.
c. 740 BC
Israel pays tribute to Assyria
Facing the growing might of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, King Menahem of Israel paid a hefty tribute to Assyrian King Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III) to secure his reign and protection.
c. 732 BC
Assyria conquers Gilead and Galilee
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria conquered significant portions of Israel's northern and eastern territories, deporting many inhabitants.
c. 727 BC
Hoshea pays tribute to Assyria
Following the Assyrian conquests, Israel became a vassal state. King Hoshea paid tribute to the new Assyrian king, Shalmaneser V.
c. 725 BC— this verse
Hoshea seeks alliance with Egypt
King Hoshea stopped paying tribute to Assyria and instead sent valuable oils and other gifts to So, the king of Egypt, seeking an alliance against Assyrian domination. This act directly violated his vassal treaty.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and end of Israel
Shalmaneser V of Assyria besieged and conquered Samaria, the capital of Israel. The northern kingdom was destroyed, its people exiled, and its land repopulated by foreigners.
This passage describes Israel's persistent turning away from God, which the prophet likens to the unpredictable and destructive east wind, mirroring Hosea's imagery of Ephraim pursuing wind.
Isaiah 44:20This verse directly parallels Hosea's 'feeding on wind' by describing those who trust in idols as feeding on ashes, emphasizing the emptiness and futility of seeking sustenance from false sources.
Hosea 8:7This verse uses the 'sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind' metaphor, which powerfully connects to Hosea 12:1's imagery of pursuing wind, highlighting the destructive consequences of their actions.
Proverbs 23:4-5This proverb warns against the futility of laboring for wealth, comparing it to a bird flying away, which resonates with Hosea's depiction of Ephraim's vain pursuits that ultimately offer no true sustenance or security.
2 Kings 17:4This historical account describes Ephraim's specific actions of making a covenant with the king of Egypt (So), directly illustrating the 'covenant with Assyria and oil carried to Egypt' mentioned in Hosea 12:1.
jfbHosea 12:1: "Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt."
CHAPTER 12Ho 12:1-14. Reproof of Ephraim and Judah: Their Father Jacob Ought to Be a Pattern to Them.This prophecy was delivered about the time of Israel's seeking the aid of the Egyptian king So, in violation of their covenant with Assyria (see Ho 12:1). He exhorts them to follow their father Jacob's pe…
cambridgeHosea 12:1: "Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt."
1 . wind … the east wind ] Note the climax; the parching east wind combines the ideas of destructiveness and emptiness. Comp. Job 15:2 ; Job 27:21 , and note on Hosea 13:15 . lies and desolation ] Rather, lies and violence. But the Septuagint reads, ‘lies and falsehoods’—more plausibly, as the other comb…
The verse paints a picture of desperate, harmful choices. "Feeding on wind" and "pursuing the east wind" aren't just empty actions; the east wind was known for its destructive, scorching nature, revealing their pursuit was not only futile but actively harmful to themselves.
The prophet Hosea is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel, often referred to as Ephraim, exposing their deep spiritual unfaithfulness. This verse begins a section where Hosea contrasts Israel's empty pursuits and deceitful dealings with the faithful example of their ancestor Jacob. Israel is depicted as desperately seeking security through shifting, unreliable foreign alliances, specifically with powerful nations like Assyria and Egypt, rather than trusting in God.
The prophet Hosea is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel, often referred to as Ephraim, exposing their deep spiritual unfaithfulness. This verse begins a section where Hosea contrasts Israel's empty pursuits and deceitful dealings with the faithful example of their ancestor Jacob. Israel is depicted as desperately seeking security through shifting, unreliable foreign alliances, specifically with powerful nations like Assyria and Egypt, rather than trusting in God.
"Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt." — The verse paints a picture of desperate, harmful choices. "Feeding on wind" and "pursuing the east wind" aren't just empty actions; the east wind was known for its destructive, scorching nature, reve…
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Last reviewed October 2026