Oseas 7:3-13

3 Con su maldad alegran al rey, y con sus mentiras a los príncipes.

4 Todos ellos son adúlteros; son como horno encendido por el hornero, que deja de atizar el fuego desde que prepara la masa hasta que fermenta.

5 En la fiesta de nuestro rey, los príncipes se enfermaron por el calor del vino; él extendió la mano a los escarnecedores,

6 pues sus corazones son como un horno mientras se acercan a su emboscada; toda la noche duerme su ira, por la mañana arde como llamas de fuego.

7 Todos ellos están calientes como un horno, y devoran a sus gobernantes; todos sus reyes han caído. No hay entre ellos quien me invoque.

8 Efraín se mezcla con las naciones; Efraín es como una torta no volteada.

9 Devoran extranjeros su fuerza, y él no lo sabe; también tiene cabellos canos, y él no lo sabe.

10 Testifica contra él el orgullo de Israel, pero no se han vuelto al SEÑOR su Dios, ni lo han buscado a pesar de todo esto.

11 Efraín es como paloma incauta, sin entendimiento; llaman a Egipto, acuden a Asiria.

12 Cuando vayan, tenderé sobre ellos mi red, como aves del cielo los haré caer; los castigaré conforme a lo anunciado a su congregación.

13 ¡Ay de ellos, pues de mí se han alejado! Sobre ellos vendrá la destrucción, porque contra mí se han rebelado; yo los redimiría, pero ellos hablan mentiras contra mí.

Oseas 7:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 7

This chapter either begins a new sermon, discourse, or prophecy, or it is a continuation of the former; at least it seems to be of the same argument with the latter part of it, only it is directed to Israel alone; and consists of complaints against them because of their manifold sins, and of denunciations of punishment for them. They are charged with ingratitude to God, sinning in a daring manner against mercy, and with falsehood, thefts, and robberies, Ho 7:1; with want of consideration of the omniscience of God, and his notice of their sins, which surrounded them, Ho 7:2; with flattery to their king and princes, Ho 7:3; with adultery, which lust raged in them like a heated oven, Ho 7:4; with drunkenness, aggravated by drawing their king into it, Ho 7:5; with raging lusts, which devoured their judges, made their kings to fall, and brought on such a general corruption, that there were none that called upon the Lord, Ho 7:6,7; with mixing themselves with the nations of the earth, and so learning their ways, and bringing their superstition and idolatry into the worship of God, so that they were nothing in religion, like a half baked cake, Ho 7:8; with stupidity and insensibility of their declining state, Ho 7:9; with pride, impenitence, and stubbornness, Ho 7:10; with folly, in seeking to Egypt and Assyria for help, and not to the Lord; for which they would be taken as birds in a net, and sorely chastised, Ho 7:11,12; with ingratitude, hypocrisy, and deceitfulness; for all which they are threatened with destruction, Ho 7:13-16.