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 during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel:
2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”
6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should at all forgive them.

7 Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord their God.”
8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son.

9 Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’

11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

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!