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.
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Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
Ephraim feedeth on wind,.... Which will be no more profitable and beneficial to him than wind is to a man that opens his mouth, and fills himself with it: the phrase is expressive of labour in vain,…
Barnes' Notes
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind - The East wind in Palestine, coming from Arabia and the far East, over large tracts of sandy waste, is parching, scorching, destructive to…
Adam Clarke
Ephraim feedeth on wind - He forms and follows empty and unstable counsels.
Followeth after the east wind - They are not only empty, but dangerous and destructive. The east wind was, and still is, in…
In these verses,
I. Ephraim is convicted of folly, in staying himself upon Egypt and Assyria, when he was in straits (Hos 12:1): Ephraim feeds on wind, that is, feeds himself with vain hopes of…
Cambridge Bible
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 Hos 13:15.
lies and desolation Rather, lies and…
Cross References
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