Bible Commentaries
Hosea 1

Introduction

Hosea 1:0

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS*

* Although they are not inspired, paragraph divisions are the key to understanding and following the original author's intent. Each modern translation has divided and summarized the paragraphs. Every paragraph has one central topic, truth, or thought. Each version encapsulates that topic in its own distinct way. As you read the text, ask yourself which translation fits your understanding of the subject and verse divisions. In every chapter we must read the Bible first and try to identify its subjects (paragraphs), then compare our understanding with the modern versions. Only when we understand the original author's intent by following his logic and presentation can we truly understand the Bible. Only the original author is inspiredreaders have no right to change or modify the message. Bible readers do have the responsibility of applying the inspired truth to their day and their lives. Note that all technical terms and abbreviations are explained fully in the following documents: Hebrew Grammatical Tems, Textual Criticism, and Glossary.

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the four modern translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. Hos. 1-3 forms an initial literary unit which describes

1. the marriage of Hosea to Gomer at God's direction, Hosea 1:0 (told in the third person, biographical)

2. a poetic account of Israel's unfaithfulness to YHWH, Hosea 2:0

3. Hosea's purchase and remarriage to Gomer at God's direction, chapter 3 (told in the first person, autobiographical)

B. Each of the three subsections concludes with a promise of restoration.

1. Hosea 1:10-11

2. Hosea 2:14-23

3. Hosea 3:5

C. Israel's idolatry was not only a violation of law, but of love! Possibly the best analogy to comprehend covenant is the marriage vows!

D. Chapter 2 mirrors chapters 1 and 3. In Hosea 2:1-13, YHWH's anger at Israel's unfaithfulness is followed by His offer of restoration (cf. Amos 2:14-23).

Verse 1

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 1:1 1 The word of the LORD which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Hosea 1:1 “The word of the LORD” This is a common opening phrase (used over 250 times in the OT) for the prophets (i.e., Hosea, Joel, Micah, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). It shows that the prophets did not speak out of their own understanding, but from God's initiating revelation. The term “word” (BDB 182) relates to the Hebrew concept of the independent power of the spoken word (cf. Genesis 1:0; Isaiah 55:11; John 1:1, John 1:14; Revelation 19:13).

For “Lord” see Special Topic: NAMES FOR DEITY.

▣ “Hosea” The name means “salvation” (BDB 448). When one adds the covenant name for God, “YHWH,” to the Hebrew root “salvation,” the word “Joshua” (cf. Numbers 13:8, Numbers 13:16) or “Jesus” (cf. Matthew 1:21) results.

▣ “the son of Beeri” The name means “my well” (BDB 92). We know nothing about him. The only other occurrence of the name is Esau's Hittite father-in-law (cf. Genesis 26:34).

▣ “during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah” It seems rather unusual that a prophet from the Northern Kingdom would list the Judean kings in such detail. This list of kings covers a long period of time (see Special Topic: Kings of the Divided Monarchy).

This list of Judean kings is identical to the introduction to Isaiah, therefore, many scholars have asserted that Hosea is trying to show that he is a contemporary of this southern prophet. Also it possibly shows that (1) Hosea was against the division of the kingdoms and saw Judah as the only legitimate covenant hope or (2) this verse was added by later Judean scribes. With so many theories it is obvious that moderns do not know!

▣ “during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel” It is surprising that no other Israelite kings are listed (i.e., Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, Hoshea). There have been several theories concerning this: (1) there was political confusion after Jeroboam II's death and several kings only reigned for a short period of time (see Appendix: Kings of the Divided Monarchy); (2) the prophet spoke to both kingdoms; or (3) Judah is the legitimate Davidic line (cf. Amos 9:11-15).

For the historical setting of Jeroboam II's day see Introduction to Amos, VI.

Verses 2-5

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 1:2-5 2When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.” 3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4And the LORD said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

Hosea 1:2

NASB, NRSV, TEV“When the LORD first spoke through Hosea” NKJV“When the LORD began to speak by Hosea” NJB“The beginning of what Yahweh said through Hosea”

G. Campbell Morgan, Hosea, pp. 9-11, asserts that the ASV, “When Jehovah spoke at first by Hosea,” is the temporal key to see that Hosea, looking back over his life, writes Hosea 1:2 from the advantage of hindsight. Therefore, he asserts that Gomer was faithful when he married her, but that she became unfaithful. Therefore, from God's foreknowledge, He knew what would happen and now from Hosea's later years he, too, knows well the tragic marriage (also see Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 294-295 and Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 322-324).

▣ “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry” YHWH's first message to Hosea has two IMPERATIVES and the implication of a third.

1. “Go” (BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERATIVE)

2. “Take” (BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE)

3. “Have children,” implied by context

These commands, related to marriage and children, imply that God called Hosea while he was very young, possibly around the time of the consummation of his adolescent rites (13-14 years old).

The term “harlotry” (BDB 276, KB 275) is PLURAL, which can convey (1) intensity or (2) repitition in Hebrew. It seems to refer to either a cultic prostitute (cf. Hosea 4:14; NET Bible) or probably a typical woman of his day who, because of the cultural climate of Ba'alism, was involved in promiscuous activities (at least initial sexual union with priest to ensure fertility) and, therefore, was considered (biblically) to be a harlot. This has caused much discussion among commentators:

1. Origen said that nothing unworthy of God should be taken literally, but must be spiritualized /allegorized (followed Philo).

2. Jerome and Iben Ezra (many rabbis) interpret this as a vision.

3. Calvin and E. J. Young interpret this as an allegory.

4. Martin Luther interprets this as Gomer being a faithful wife and they only acted out this drama to convey the message.

5. Wellhausen says that she became promiscuous after marriage. (KB lists one meaning as “inclined to fornicate”).

The term znh (BDB 275,276) in two forms (VERB, NOUN) is used four times in Hosea 1:2 and is translated variously:

1. NASB, NKJV - harlotry

2. NRSV - whoredom

3. TEV - unfaithful

4. NJB - whore

The combination of the Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and the Qal IMPERFECT of the same root intensifies the meaning:

1. has been habitually committing fornication (temporal)

2. guilty of the vilest adultery or great harlotry (type of sin)

Violated, faithful love, not just the violation of rules, becomes the central message of the prophet. The VERB is used in Hosea 1:2 (twice); Hosea 2:5; Hosea 3:3; Hosea 4:10, Hosea 4:12, Hosea 4:13, Hosea 4:14, Hosea 4:15, Hosea 4:18(twice); Hosea 5:3; Hosea 9:1 and the NOUN in Hosea 1:2 (twice); Hosea 2:2, Hosea 2:4; Hosea 4:12; Hosea 5:4. Israel does not stand guilty before an impartial judge, but before a brokenhearted lover! There are other places in the prophets where the marriage analogy is used to describe the intense relationship between YHWH and Israel (cf. Jeremiah 3:0; Ezekiel 16:0, also note Ephesians 5:23-33).

▣ “have children of harlotry” The three children are given prophetic names. It is uncertain if the last two are Hosea's biological children because of the promiscuity of Gomer.

▣ “for the land commits flagrant harlotry” It is obvious that God is using an analogy between the prophet's experience of disloyalty and God's experience of disloyalty with Israel! However, the real purpose is to reveal the broken heart and forgiving love of YHWH. Hosea's great truth is the undeserved, faithful, lasting love of God!

When thinking about the analogy between Israel and YWHW illustrated in Gomer and Hosea, the question comes, was Gomer unfaithful before the marriage? If so then how do we explain the analogy?

1. Abraham was a polytheist along with his family in Ur before God revealed Himself to him (cf. Genesis 11:0).

2. Israel was already involved in idolatry before the Exodus (cf. Exodus 32:0 or Amos 5:25-27).

Israel's repeated attraction to idolatry is characterized by Moses as “they play the harlot with their gods” (e.g., Exodus 34:15, Exodus 34:16; Leviticus 17:7; Leviticus 20:5, Leviticus 20:6; Numbers 15:39; Numbers 25:1; Deuteronomy 31:16). This phrase was both literal and figurative when it referred to fertility worship. The background of the metaphor was YHWH as husband and Israel as wife (e.g., Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 62:4-5; Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 3:1, Jeremiah 3:6-9, Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 31:32; Ezekiel 16:0; Ezekiel 23:0; Hosea 2:19).

Hosea 1:3 “Gomer” There are two people in the OT by this name.

1. Grandson, son of Japheth (cf. Genesis 10:2, Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:5, 1 Chronicles 1:6)

2. Hosea's wife

The meaning of the name is uncertain, but the same consonants mean “end,” “come to an end” (BDB 170). One wonders if this also has symbolic meaning since the children's names and possibly Diblaim, her father, are symbolic (similar to the names in Ruth).

▣ “Diblaim” This term seems to be related to the “raisin cakes” (BDB 84) of Hosea 3:1. It can mean “lump of figs” or “raisin cakes” (BDB 179). Raisin cakes were a part of the Canaanite fertility ritual (cf. Jeremiah 44:19).

▣ “she conceived and bore him a son” It is clearly stated that Hosea is the father of the first child, but not the other two.

Hosea 1:4 “Name him” This VERB (BDB 894, KB 1128) is a Qal IMPERATIVE. The prophetic purpose related to Israel is seen in these children's names.

▣ “Jezreel” “Jezreel” means “God scatters,” “God sows,” or “God makes fruitful.” Therefore, this term can refer to (1) judgment (cf. Hosea 1:4-5) or (2) prosperity (cf. Hosea 2:22-23). In context, #1 is the obvious meaning. It refers to both a city and a valley in Galilee (Valley of Armageddon). This northern city (Omri's second capital) was the site of the slaughter of Ahab's house (the one whose wife popularized fertility worship in Israel) by Jehu (cf. 2 Kings 9:7-28), and it became a symbol or idiom for judgment.

Was Jehu punished for doing as he was commanded? This is the question that Hard Sayings of the Bible, IVP, answers (pp. 235-236). Jehu did as God commanded him and wiped out the house of Ahab, but he did it with an intensity and scope that draws God's condemnation.

▣ “for yet a little while” This temporal phrase (the two ADVERBS BDB 728 plus 589) is used seven times, six of them are in judgment passages (cf. Psalms 37:10; Isaiah 10:25; Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 1:4; Haggai 2:6). The one positive usage is Isaiah 29:17.

Hosea 1:5 “I will break the bow of Israel” The bow is a symbol of military power and stability. This occurred during the reign of the Assyrian king, Shalmanesar V, who invaded Israel in 724 B.C., but the naturally fortified capital of Samaria did not fall until 722 B.C. in the reign of Sargon II.

Verses 6-7

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 1:6-7 6Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. 7But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the LORD their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen.”

Hosea 1:6 “Name her Lo-ruhaman” Again the VERB is a Qal IMPERATIVE. The name means “not pitied” (BDB 520, cf. Hosea 2:4, Hosea 2:23). The term “pity” (or “mercy” NKJV note; “compassion” BDB) is used for God's deep and tender feelings (cf. Psalms 103:13). It will be used in a positive sense in Hosea 2:19, Hosea 2:23. God's judgment does not imply a lack of love, just the opposite (cf. Hosea 11:8-9; Hebrews 12:6-13).

▣ “that I would ever forgive them” What a startling statement of the purposeful, unrelenting judgment of God (cf. Amos 8:7; Amos 9:4). Yet, in the prophets this note of finality is always balanced with salvation oracles (cf. vv, 10-11).

Grammatically this is a Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE (BDB 669) followed by a Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 669), the same form as in Hosea 1:2c. This form intensifes the VERB (i.e., “that I would ever forgive them”).

Hosea 1:7 “on the house of Judah” Hosea, like Amos, speaks to both kingdoms (cf. Hosea 1:7, Hosea 1:11; Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:5, Hosea 5:8-15; Hosea 6:4, Hosea 6:11; Hosea 8:14; Hosea 10:11; Hosea 11:12; Hosea 12:2). Here God promises to spare Judah from the Assyrian invasion. He did this several different times. The exact number of Assyrian invasions of Palestine during this period is uncertain.

Because this statement is so shocking in a book written to Israel, many scholars have assumed it is a later Judean scribal addition. However, it may have been a way to condemn the formation of the northern tribes at the split in 922 B.C. All of the prophets condemned the northern kingdom, especially because of the rival worship sites (golden calves) of Bethel and Dan.

It may also have been a way of warning Judah not to follow Israel's path, but they did (cf. Jeremiah 3:6-10).

▣ “I will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horseman” God will deliver (BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil PERFECT) Judah from the same military power to which Israel will fall, but not by natural means, rather supernatural means (cf. 2 Kings 18:13-37; 2 Chronicles 32:1-23; Isa. 36-37).

Verses 8-9

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 1:8-9 8When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.”

Hosea 1:8 “she had weaned. . .she conceived” The rapid conception of these three children may reflect Gomer's repeated, continuous, sexual activity.

Hosea 1:9 “Name him Lo-ammi” The VERB is again a Qal IMPERATIVE. This term means “not my people” (BDB 520, cf. Hosea 2:23). It reflects the broken covenant (cf. Joshua 24:19-28; Jeremiah 31:32).

NASB, NRSV“I am not your God” NKJV“I will not be your God” TEV“I am not their God” NJB“I do not exist for you”

In the MT there is no name of God (cf. NKJV and NJB). This phrase powerfully states the broken covenant.

Verses 10-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 1:10-11 10Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.” 11And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel.

Hosea 1:10-11 After God's strong rejection of Israel (cf. Hosea 1:1-9; Hosea 2:1-13; Hosea 3:1-4), He offers acceptance (cf. Hosea 1:10-11; Hosea 2:14-23; Hosea 3:5). This swing in emphasis is characteristic of the prophet's presentation of God.

Hosea 1:10 “Israel will be like the sand of the sea” In the Hebrew text chapter 2 begins with verse Hosea 1:10.

This refers to God's promise to Abraham (cf. Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4). This verse shows that there still is hope even in light of Hosea 1:9 (cf. Jeremiah 31:33; Amos 9:8-15).

Paul quotes this verse in Romans 9:26 to express that God's mercy extends to the Gentiles. He also quotes Hosea 2:23 in Romans 9:25. The innumerable people of God includes all of Adam's children!

▣ “You are the sons of the living God” This reflects the OT background for YHWH as Father. This fatherhood of God is not based on Genesis 1-2, but on His choice of Abraham and his descendants.

It is a covenant relationship. It is seen in two ways:

1. the title “father” or its analogy used, Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalms 103:13; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 3:4, Jeremiah 3:19; Jeremiah 31:9; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10; Malachi 3:17

2. the use of “son” or “child,” Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Deuteronomy 32:5, Deuteronomy 32:19; Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 3:22; Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 1:10; Hosea 11:1

The phrase “the living God,” is the root meaning of the name YHWH. YHWH is alive; idols are not! This verse is quoted in the NT as a promise to the Gentiles being included in the covenant people (cf. Romans 9:24-26 and 1 Peter 2:10). A good article about “who is the Israel of God?” is found in Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 633-636. Because inspired NT authors quote OT texts and apply OT titles to believers, the people of God have more to do with faith in Christ than, “who is your mother” (i.e., race)! See Special Topic: Fatherhood of God.

Hosea 1:11 “the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together” The VERB (BDB 867, KB 1062, Niphal PERFECT) is used of God's eschatological gathering of His people (e.g., Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 54:7; Isaiah 56:8; Jeremiah 31:10-14; Micah 2:12; Micah 4:6). This verse speaks of a restoration of the united monarchy under a Davidic king (Hosea 3:5; Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:15-28; Amos 9:11), which makes it Messianic. Many have seen this phrase as a promise reversal of Hosea 1:4. The term Jezreel has the connotation “fruitful” in this verse!

▣ “they will appoint for themselves one leader” Notice the divine aspect in Hosea 1:10 and 11a, yet also the human response in Hosea 1:11b. These two covenantal aspects must be held together in revelatory tension (e.g., Deuteronomy 17:14 vs. Deuteronomy 17:15). Both are true, but how this can be so is a mystery! It is this two-sided interpersonal tension which makes marriage the ideal human metaphor for biblical covenant.

The “one leader” is a sharp contrast to the historical reality of Israeli leadership after the death of Jeroboam II. There was a succession of brief reigns and political turmoil!