About Hosea

Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful wife pictures God's persistent love for unfaithful Israel.

Author: HoseaWritten: c. 755-715 BCReading time: ~1 minVerses: 11
UnfaithfulnessCovenant LoveJudgmentRestorationRepentanceKnowledge of God

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Jezreel 2(Settlement)Valley of Jezreel(Valley)

King James Version

Hosea 1

11 verses with commentary

Hosea's Unfaithful Wife

1

The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

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KJV Study Commentary

The prophetic introduction 'The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel' establishes divine authority and historical context. The Hebrew 'devar-YHWH' (word of the LORD) indicates direct revelation, not human speculation. Hosea's ministry spanned approxima...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(1) **In the days of Uzziah.—**On the historical questions involved in this verse, see *Introduction.*

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**4. waters ... little rivers--**the Tigris with its branches and "rivulets," or "conduits" for irrigation, the source of Assyria's fertility. "The deep" is the ever flowing water, never dry. Metaphorically, for Assyria's resources, as the "conduits" are her colonies.
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.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Take unto thee a wife of whoredoms</strong> (אֵשֶׁת זְנוּנִים, eshet zenunim)—God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute, creating a living parable of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. The phrase <strong>wife of whoredoms</strong> doesn't mean merely past sin but ongoing harlotry, paralleling Israel's continuous spiritual adultery with Baal worship. <strong>The land hath committed gre...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **The beginning of the word** . . .—More correctly, *In the beginning when the Lord spoke to Hosea, the Lord said* . . . **Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms.—**How are we to interpret the prophet’s marriage to the licentious Gomer? Is it an historic occurrence, the only too real tragedy of the author’s personal experience, employed for the purpose of illustration? (Comp. the domestic inci...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**5. when he shot forth--**because of the abundant moisture which nourished him in shooting forth. But see Margin.
3

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

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KJV Study Commentary

Hosea's obedience to God's shocking command to 'take unto thee a wife of whoredoms' demonstrates the prophetic embodiment of divine truth. The name 'Gomer daughter of Diblaim' grounds this in historical reality—not allegory but actual marriage to a promiscuous woman (or one predisposed to adultery). This living parable illustrates Israel's spiritual adultery against YHWH. The covenant between God ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3) **Gomer the daughter of Diblaim.—**Gomer means complete, or perfect, but whether in external beauty or in wickedness of character is not easy to determine.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**6. fowls ... made ... nests in ... boughs--**so Eze 17:23; Da 4:12. The gospel kingdom shall gather all under its covert, for their good and for the glory of God, which the world kingdoms did for evil and for self-aggrandizement (Mt 13:32).
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. avenge: Heb. visit

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KJV Study Commentary

God's command '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' names Hosea's first son prophetically. Jezreel (meaning 'God scatters' or 'God sows') references the valley where Jehu executed Ahab's house (2 Kings 9-10), initially fulfilling God's judgment on Baal worship. Yet J...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **Jezreel** means “God shall sow.” The prophet had already discovered the faithlessness of his spouse, and that his married life was symbolic of his nation’s history. Observe the resemblance in sound between Jezreel and Israel, and the historic associations of the former. It was the name of a very fertile plain in the tribe of Issachar, which was many times the scene of terrible struggles (Jud...
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5

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

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KJV Study Commentary

The prophecy 'And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel' predicts military defeat in Israel's heartland. The 'bow' symbolizes military power (Psalm 46:9, Jeremiah 49:35). Jezreel valley, site of Israel's past victories (Judges 7, Gideon's defeat of Midian; 1 Samuel 29, Saul's final battle), would witness their ultimate humiliation. God Hims...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.**—Jehu was to be punished for the assassination of Ahab’s descendants. Though the destruction of the house of Ahab was divinely appointed, its value was neutralised by Jehu’s tolerance of the calf-worship.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**8. cedars ... could not hide him--**could not outtop him. No other king eclipsed him. **were not like--**were not comparable to. **garden of God--**As in the case of Tyre (Eze 28:13), the imagery, that is applied to the Assyrian king, is taken from Eden; peculiarly appropriate, as Eden was watered by rivers that afterwards watered Assyria (Ge 2:10-14). This cedar seemed to revive in itself a...
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6

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. Loruhamah: that is, Not having obtained mercy no: Heb. not add any more to but: or, that I should altogether pardon them

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KJV Study Commentary

The second symbolic name: 'And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.' Lo-ruhamah means 'not pitied' or 'no mercy' (לֹא רֻחָמָה, lo-ruhamah). The Hebrew ruhamah comes from racham (compassion, womb-love), God's tender maternal compassion. Its negation signal...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **Lo-ruhamah.**—“Unloved,” or, perhaps, “unpitied.” The prophet’s growing despondency about his country’s future is revealed in her name. The rest of the verse is best rendered—*For I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel, that I should indeed forgive them.*

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**9. I ... made him--**It was all due to My free grace.
7

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

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KJV Study Commentary

The contrast: 'But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.' Despite pronouncing judgment on Israel, God promises mercy to Judah—demonstrating sovereign discrimination, not universal abandonment. The phrase 'save them by the LORD their God' emphasizes divine agency, n...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(7) **Will save them** . . .—We may consider this verse to have been literally fulfilled in the destruction of Sennacherib’s army. The prophetic outlook anticipates the fact that when Judah is captive and exiled, her restoration by the divine hand would take the form of mercy and forgiveness. (Comp. Psalms 76, Isaiah 40:1-2.)

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**10. thou ... he--**The change of persons is because the language refers partly to the cedar, partly to the person signified by the cedar.
8

Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

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KJV Study Commentary

The weaning and third child: 'Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.' The time gap (weaning typically occurred around age 3 in ancient Near East) suggests passage of years between prophecies. Gomer's continued childbearing despite marital unfaithfulness mirrors Israel's continued existence despite spiritual adultery. Each child represents progressive judgment: Jezreel (...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. Here the literal supersedes the figurative. **shall surely deal with him--**according to his own pleasure, and according to the Assyrian's (Sardanapalus) desert. Nebuchadnezzar is called "the mighty one" (El, a name of God), because he was God's representative and instrument of judgment (Da 2:37, 38).
9

Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Loammi: that is, Not my people

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KJV Study Commentary

The final symbolic name: 'Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.' Lo-ammi (לֹא עַמִּי, lo-ammi) means 'not my people'—the ultimate covenant breach. This inverts God's covenant formula repeated throughout Scripture: 'I will be your God, and you shall be my people' (Exodus 6:7, Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:28). Covenant relationship...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(9) Closes the chapter in the Hebrew text. The episode above described is, in some particulars, the model for Ezekiel 16. Gomer’s child *Lo ‘Ammi* (not my people), is type of utter and final repudiation.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**12. from his shadow--**under which they had formerly dwelt as their covert (Eze 31:6).
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. in: or, instead of that

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KJV Study Commentary

This prophecy promises dramatic reversal: '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.' Despite coming judgment (northern kingdom's destruction by Assyria, 722 BC), G...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(10) An abrupt transition from dark presage to bright anticipation. The covenant-blessings promised to Abraham shall yet be realised.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. Birds and beasts shall insult over his fallen trunk.
11

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

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KJV Study Commentary

The reversal promise: 'Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.' Despite three names of judgment, hope emerges. The divided kingdoms (split since 931 BC) will reunite under 'one head'—ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who gathers scattered Israel an...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **Shall come up out of the land.—**Better, *shall go up out of,* &c., a phrase frequently occurring in Scripture, to denote the marching forth to war. Israel shall then be united. The envy of Israel and Judah shall cease. (Isaiah 11:12-13; Ezekiel 34:24; Ezekiel 37:24). A world-wide dominion shall be established under the restored theocracy. Under the word “land,” no reference is made by the ...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**14. trees by the waters--**that is, that are plentifully supplied by the waters: nations abounding in resources. **stand up in their height--**that is, trust in their height: stand upon it as their ground of confidence. Fairbairn points the Hebrew differently, so as for "their trees," to translate, "(And that none that drink water may stand) on themselves, (because of their greatness)." But th...
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