Hosea 1

Chapter 1

1 The LORD gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoasht was king of Israel.

Hosea’s Wife and Children

2 When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute,t so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods.”
3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.4 And the LORD said, “Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence.

5 I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley.”
6 Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to Hosea, “Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—‘Not loved’—for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.

7 But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies—not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the LORD their God.”
8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son.

9 And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.
10 t“Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’

11 Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together. They will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together. What a day that will be—the day of Jezreelt—when God will again plant his people in his land.

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!