Hosea 13:15

Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come—a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Hosea to the northern kingdom of Israel, delivering judgment immediately after taunting Death and Sheol over their rebellion. The oracle targets a nation experiencing temporary prosperity while actively rejecting covenant loyalty.

The words — קָדִים (ka.Dim) translates literally as "east wind," and ר֨וּחַ (Ru.ach) denotes the "wind" or breath that executes the coming disaster. These terms frame the judgment not as natural chance but as a directed force from the desert.

The thread — The east wind motif appears in Ezekiel 19:12 and Ezekiel 17:10 as a metaphor for sudden, divinely sent destruction that withers flourishing kingdoms. Genesis 41:52 uses parallel fruitfulness language for divine blessing, underscoring the complete reversal Hosea describes.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that national prosperity provides no shield against divine judgment. It strips away complacency by declaring that God will actively drain every resource and security the nation relies upon.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 19:12 But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them.
Ezekiel 17:10 Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’”
Genesis 41:52 And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Genesis 48:19 But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”
Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful vine—a fruitful vine by a spring, whose branches scale the wall.
Jeremiah 4:11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people, but not to winnow or to sift;
Deuteronomy 33:17 His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Job 18:16 The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away.
Psalms 1:4 Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
Psalms 109:13 May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation.