Hosea 1

1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

Hosea's Marriage and Children

2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, He said this to him:

Go and marry a promiscuous wife
and [have] children of promiscuity,
for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity
by abandoning the Lord.
3 So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

4 Then the Lord said to him:

Name him Jezreel, for in a little while
I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel
on the house of Jehu
and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel
in the Valley of Jezreel.

6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him:

Name her No Compassion,
for I will no longer have compassion
on the house of Israel.
I will certainly take them away.

7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah,
and I will deliver them by the Lord their God.
I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war,
or by horses and cavalry.
8 After Gomer had weaned No Compassion, she conceived and gave birth to a son.

9 Then the Lord said:

Name him Not My People,
for you are not My people,
and I will not be your God.
10 Yet the number of the Israelites
will be like the sand of the sea,
which cannot be measured or counted.
And in the place where they were told:
You are not My people,
they will be called: Sons of the living God.
11 And the Judeans and the Israelites
will be gathered together.
They will appoint for themselves a single ruler
and go up from the land.
For the day of Jezreel will be great.

Hosea 1

Superscription

1 s This is the word of the Lord which was revealed to Hoseat son of Beeri during the time whent Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled Judah,t and during the time when Jeroboam son of Joashs ruled Israel.t

Symbols of Sin and Judgment: The Prostitute and Her Children

2 When the Lord first spoket throught Hosea, het said to him,t “Go marryt a prostitutet who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution,t because the nationt continually commits spiritual prostitutiont by turning away fromt the Lord.”3 So Hosea marriedt Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him.4 Then the Lord said to Hosea,t “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punisht the dynastyt of Jehu on account of the bloodshedt in the valley of Jezreel,t and I will put an end to the kingdomt of Israel.s

5 At that time,t I will destroy the military powert of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lordt said to him, “Name her ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pitys on the nationt of Israel. Fort I will certainly not forgivet their guilt.t

7 But I will have pity on the nationt of Judah.t I will deliver them by the Lord their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior’s bow, by sword, by military victory,t by chariot horses, or by chariots.”s
8 Whent she had weaned ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son.

9 Then the Lordt said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because yout are not my people and I am not yourt God.”stss
10 s However,t in the future the number of the peoplet of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Althought it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You aret childrent of the living God!”11 Then the peoplet of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader,t and will flourish in the land.t Certainly,t the day of Jezreel will be great!