Bible Chapter Summary
Hosea 1 Summary
Hosea's Marriage as Sign of Israel's Unfaithfulness
The LORD commands Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman of whoredoms, as a sign of Israel's unfaithfulness to God. Hosea's three children receive symbolic names: Jezreel (God will avenge), Lo-ruhamah (no mercy), and Lo-ammi (not my people), each representing God's judgment upon Israel's kingdom. Yet the passage ends with a promise that Israel's numbers shall be as the sand of the sea and they shall be called the sons of the living God, and that Judah and Israel shall gather together under one head.
Key themes
Key verses
Hosea 1:2
“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.”
Hosea 1:4
“And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.”
Hosea 1:10
“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”
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