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:
Hosea’s Wife and Children
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.” Hosea 1:1-5
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 Israel, that I should at all forgive them. 7 Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”
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 2
2 “Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’
Israel Punished and Restored
2 “Rebuke your mother, rebuke her,
for she is not my wife,
and I am not her husband.
Let her remove the adulterous look from her face
and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.
3 Otherwise I will strip her naked
and make her as bare as on the day she was born;
I will make her like a desert,
turn her into a parched land,
and slay her with thirst.
4 I will not show my love to her children,
because they are the children of adultery.
5 Their mother has been unfaithful
and has conceived them in disgrace.
She said, ‘I will go after my lovers,
who give me my food and my water,
my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.’
6 Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
7 She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
she will look for them but not find them.
Then she will say,
‘I will go back to my husband as at first,
for then I was better off than now.’
8 She has not acknowledged that I was the one
who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil,
who lavished on her the silver and gold—
which they used for Baal.
9 “Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens,
and my new wine when it is ready.
I will take back my wool and my linen,
intended to cover her naked body.
10 So now I will expose her lewdness
before the eyes of her lovers;
no one will take her out of my hands.
11 I will stop all her celebrations:
her yearly festivals, her New Moons,
her Sabbath days—all her appointed festivals.
12 I will ruin her vines and her fig trees,
which she said were her pay from her lovers;
I will make them a thicket,
and wild animals will devour them.
13 I will punish her for the days
she burned incense to the Baals;
she decked herself with rings and jewelry,
and went after her lovers,
but me she forgot,”
declares the Lord.
14 “Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
15 There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
16 “In that day,” declares the Lord,
“you will call me ‘my husband’;
you will no longer call me ‘my master.’
17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
no longer will their names be invoked.
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them
with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
and the creatures that move along the ground.
Bow and sword and battle
I will abolish from the land,
so that all may lie down in safety.
19 I will betroth you to me forever;
I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
In love and compassion.
20 I will betroth you in faithfulness,
and you will acknowledge the Lord.
21 “In that day I will respond,”
declares the Lord—
“I will respond to the skies,
and they will respond to the earth;
22 and the earth will respond to the grain,
the new wine and the olive oil,
and they will respond to Jezreel.
23 I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’
I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’;
and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”
The book of Hosea employs the metaphor of a troubled marriage to illustrate the relationship between Israel and God. In the opening verses, God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman described as unfaithful, which underscores her past as a harlot and the notion that their children are labeled as products of infidelity. The names of Hosea’s children are deeply symbolic: Jezreel, the firstborn, means “scattered,” while the second child, Lo-Ruhamah, translates to “not loved,” and the third, Lo-Ammi, signifies “not my people.” These names reflect God’s judgment on Israel, particularly as the daughter named “not loved” indicates a limited time for Israel, with impending conquest looming, although Judah is promised preservation. Gomer’s subsequent son, named “not my people,” further emphasizes the Israelites’ betrayal of their covenant with God, leading to His declaration of separation. Nevertheless, verse eleven offers a glimmer of hope, as God assures a future reconciliation between Judah and Israel, showcasing His nature as a God of second chances.
God’s call for Israel to turn away from its sinful practices arises from His longing for individual salvation amid the collective judgment facing the nation. Despite the looming consequences, God remains dedicated to rescuing lives until the very end. He warns that Israel will seek out other lovers, yet He will place obstacles in their way, forcing them to recognize the futility of their choices. Ultimately, through these challenges, they will be led back to their true source of safety and sustenance. The Valley of Achor, named after Achan, who brought judgment upon Israel by taking forbidden spoils from Jericho, symbolizes the pain and repercussions of disobedience. However, the Lord promises redemption and hope that transcends the judgment inflicted by one man’s actions on the nation.
Hosea 3
The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”
2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. 3 Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”
4 For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
In the book of Hosea, the significance of marriage and the importance of honoring the covenant between a man and a woman are profoundly illustrated. God commands Hosea to undertake the unimaginable task of forgiving his unfaithful wife, Gomer, who has abandoned him and their three children for another man. Despite her lack of interest in reconciliation, Hosea is instructed to seek her out, demonstrating the depth of God’s love for Israel. This act of forgiveness, which is emotionally taxing, highlights that it is only through divine grace that we can extend forgiveness to others, even in the face of betrayal. While human nature often dictates that the guilty party should seek forgiveness, Hosea’s actions mirror Christ’s own sacrifice; He descended from Heaven to save humanity, even when we were not actively seeking redemption.
The manner in which Hosea redeems Gomer carries significant implications. Some interpretations suggest that he purchased her from a slave auction, while others propose that he settled debts owed to her exploitative partner. In doing so, Hosea not only alleviates her burdens but also establishes new expectations for her conduct. Forgiveness does not grant a license to continue in sin; rather, it calls for a return to a life of righteousness. This principle resonates with Israel’s history, as their own infidelity led to a period without a king, prompting them to eventually seek God once more.
Hosea 4
Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,
because the Lord has a charge to bring
against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love,
no acknowledgment of God in the land.
2 There is only cursing, lying and murder,
stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Because of this the land dries up,
and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea are swept away.
4 “But let no one bring a charge,
let no one accuse another,
for your people are like those
who bring charges against a priest.
5 You stumble day and night,
and the prophets stumble with you.
So I will destroy your mother—
6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
“Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.
7 The more priests there were,
the more they sinned against me;
they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.
8 They feed on the sins of my people
and relish their wickedness.
9 And it will be: Like people, like priests.
I will punish both of them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.
10 “They will eat but not have enough;
they will engage in prostitution but not flourish,
because they have deserted the Lord
to give themselves 11 to prostitution;
old wine and new wine
take away their understanding.
12 My people consult a wooden idol,
and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.
A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;
they are unfaithful to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar and terebinth,
where the shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution
and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
14 “I will not punish your daughters
when they turn to prostitution,
nor your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery,
because the men themselves consort with harlots
and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes—
a people without understanding will come to ruin!
15 “Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty.
“Do not go to Gilgal;
do not go up to Beth Aven.
And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’
16 The Israelites are stubborn,
like a stubborn heifer.
How then can the Lord pasture them
like lambs in a meadow?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols;
leave him alone!
18 Even when their drinks are gone,
they continue their prostitution;
their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 A whirlwind will sweep them away,
and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
In Hosea chapter 4, the consequences of Israel’s failure to know God are vividly illustrated, serving as a cautionary tale for the church today. To “know” God, as emphasized by Hosea, transcends mere intellectual acknowledgment; it signifies an intimate relationship akin to that between a husband and wife, as depicted in Genesis 4:1. This profound connection requires active engagement and a commitment to living in accordance with God’s will. A lack of knowledge about God hinders the development of a genuine relationship with Him, much like marriages that rely solely on emotions or superficial needs. True love necessitates a deep understanding of the other person. When individuals fail to know God, they may mistakenly believe they are self-sufficient, as illustrated by Gomer’s misguided choices. This disconnect can lead to unfaithfulness, as there is no solid foundation for loyalty. Furthermore, both the priests and the people of Israel neglected God’s law, failing to remember and pass it on to future generations. This disregard for divine guidance resulted in chaos and sin, ultimately leading to their own downfall as they turned to idols instead of seeking the truth of God’s word.
Hosea 5
“Hear this, you priests!
Pay attention, you Israelites!
Listen, royal house!
This judgment is against you:
You have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.
2 The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter.
I will discipline all of them.
3 I know all about Ephraim;
Israel is not hidden from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
Israel is corrupt.
4 “Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God.
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart;
they do not acknowledge the Lord.
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;
the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin;
Judah also stumbles with them.
6 When they go with their flocks and herds
to seek the Lord,
they will not find him;
he has withdrawn himself from them.
7 They are unfaithful to the Lord;
they give birth to illegitimate children.
When they celebrate their New Moon feasts,
he will devour their fields.
8 “Sound the trumpet in Gibeah,
the horn in Ramah.
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven;
lead on, Benjamin.
9 Ephraim will be laid waste
on the day of reckoning.
Among the tribes of Israel
I proclaim what is certain.
10 Judah’s leaders are like those
who move boundary stones.
I will pour out my wrath on them
like a flood of water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed,
trampled in judgment,
intent on pursuing idols.
12 I am like a moth to Ephraim,
like rot to the people of Judah.
13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
and Judah his sores,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria,
and sent to the great king for help.
But he is not able to cure you,
not able to heal your sores.
14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
like a great lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces and go away;
I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
15 Then I will return to my lair
until they have borne their guilt
and seek my face—
in their misery
they will earnestly seek me.”
Pride often leads individuals to persist in other transgressions, as seen in the case of Judah, which ultimately results in their downfall alongside Israel. Those who betray the Lord are merely deceiving themselves, as highlighted in Hosea 5:6, which cautions that sacrifices made without true repentance and a sincere heart will not lead to divine connection. While such individuals may appear religious outwardly, they remain spiritually disconnected, rendering their offerings meaningless. The text underscores that external rituals devoid of internal change fail to fulfill God’s expectations. The fate of unrepentant sinners is not an empty threat but a definitive judgment that cannot be reversed. It is a mercy to receive timely warnings, allowing individuals to escape impending wrath. Adhering to human commandments that contradict divine ones prepares a society for destruction. Many nations and individuals suffer from a gradual decline, as God often administers minor judgments to avert greater calamities, provided they heed the warnings. When Israel and Judah faced peril, they sought refuge in Assyria, which only exacerbated their plight, ultimately compelling them to turn back to God. True hope arises when individuals begin to lament their sins rather than their sufferings, prompting them to seek knowledge of God amid trials. Those who earnestly pursue God during difficult times will discover Him as a reliable source of help and refuge, for He offers abundant redemption to all who call upon Him, establishing true peace where He resides.
Hosea 6
“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.
3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”
4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth—
then my judgments go forth like the sun.
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 As at Adam, they have broken the covenant;
they were unfaithful to me there.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers,
stained with footprints of blood.
9 As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,
so do bands of priests;
they murder on the road to Shechem,
carrying out their wicked schemes.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in Israel:
There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
Israel is defiled.
11 “Also for you, Judah,
a harvest is appointed.
“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,
In this chapter, the prophet clarifies what God desires with the covenantal relationship. He states that the Lord is not satisfied with meaningless sacrifices or ceremonies but rather desires mercy and genuine knowledge of Himself. God desires a truly intimate relationship with all of His children. He wants them to know His character and His love for them. In the same way, men and women don’t want their spouse to only shower them with gifts, but rather spend time with them and grow in a deeper relationship with each other. But rather than having a truly wonderful relationship with God, Israel has turned her back on Him and been unfaithful. Israel says she loves God, but acts in ways that oppose that statement.
2 Lives, 1 Flesh 