ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Hosea 12.3-5

Book: Hosea · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"1. Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2. Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him."

"3. In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God: 4. yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us, 5. even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name."

"6. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually. 7. He is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress." (Hosea 12:1-7, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2. Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him."

"3. In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God. 4. Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us, 5. even Yahweh, the God of Armies; Yahweh is his name of renown!"

"6. Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. 7. A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud." (Hosea 12:1-7, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"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. 2. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. punish: Heb. visit upon"

"3. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely 4. Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; 5. Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial."

"6. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. 7. He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. a merchant: or, Canaan oppress: or, deceive" (Hosea 12:1-7, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried. 2. And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him."

"3. In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God, 4. Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh [by] weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us, 5. Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah [is] His memorial."

"6. And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually. 7. Canaan! in his hand [are] balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved." (Hosea 12:1-7, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Hosea + LORD direct discourse
  • Audience: Northern Kingdom of Israel before fall to Assyria
  • Location: Northern Kingdom
  • Time period: ministry c. 753-715 BC

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.