Oseas 12:3-13

3 En el vientre tomó por el calcañar a su hermano, y con su fortaleza venció al ángel

4 Dominó al ángel, y prevaleció; lloró, y le rogó; en Bet-el le halló, y allí habló con nosotros

5 Mas el SEÑOR es Dios de los ejércitos; el SEÑOR es su memorial

6 Tú, pues, conviértete a tu Dios; guarda misericordia y juicio, y en tu Dios espera siempre

7 Es mercader que tiene en su mano peso falso, amador de opresión

8 Y dijo Efraín: Ciertamente yo he enriquecido, he hallado riquezas para mí; nadie hallará en mí iniquidad, ni pecado en todos mis trabajos

9 Pero yo soy el SEÑOR tu Dios desde la tierra de Egipto; aún te haré morar en tiendas, como en los días de la fiesta

10 Y hablé por los profetas, y yo aumenté las visiones, y por mano de los profetas puse semejanzas

11 ¿Es Galaad iniquidad? Ciertamente vanidad son; en Gilgal sacrificaron bueyes; y aún son sus altares como montones en los surcos del campo

12 Mas Jacob huyó a tierra de Aram, y sirvió Israel por su mujer, y por su mujer fue pastor

13 Y por profeta hizo subir el SEÑOR a Israel de Egipto, y por profeta fue guardado

Oseas 12:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 12

This chapter contains complaints and charges both against Israel and Judah, and threatens them with punishment in case they repent not, which they are exhorted to: and first Ephraim is charged with idolatry, vain confidence in, and alliances with, foreign nations, Ho 12:1; and then the Lord declares he has a controversy with Judah, and will punish the inhabitants of it for their sins, Ho 12:2; which are aggravated by their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob, who got the advantage of his elder brother, had much power with God, and received favours from him, and they also, Ho 12:3-5; and therefore are exhorted to turn to God, wait on him, and do that which is right and good, Ho 12:6. Ephraim is again in his turn charged with fraudulent dealing in trade, and with oppression, and the love of it; and yet pretended he got riches by his own labour, without wronging any, Ho 12:7,8; nevertheless, the Lord promises them public ordinances of worship, and joy in them, and the ministry of his prophets, Ho 12:9,10; though for the present they were guilty of gross idolatry, Ho 12:11; which is aggravated by the raising of Jacob their progenitor from a low estate, and the wonderful preservation of him, and the bringing of them out of Egypt, Ho 12:12,13; and the chapter is closed with observing Ephraim's bitter provocation of God, for which his reproach should return unto him, and his blood be left upon him, Ho 12:14.