# Hosea 12.3
**Book:** [Hosea](/codex/hosea/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT
## Immediate context (±2 verses)
**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/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. (Hosea 12:1-5, ASV)
**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/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! (Hosea 12:1-5, WEB)
**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/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. (Hosea 12:1-5, KJV)
**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/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. (Hosea 12:1-5, 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
- [H0430 - elohim](/codex/h0430-elohim/), *elohim* (Strong's H430). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.1](/codex/genesis-1-1/), [Genesis 1.2](/codex/genesis-1-2/), [Genesis 1.14-19](/codex/genesis-1-14-19/).
## 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](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/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](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.
## Quoted in
**Concepts:**
- [Angel of the LORD](/codex/angel-of-the-lord/), via [Hosea 12.3-5](/codex/hosea-12-3-5/)
- [Old Testament Christology](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [Hosea 12.3-5](/codex/hosea-12-3-5/)
- [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [Hosea 12.3-5](/codex/hosea-12-3-5/)