Study Desk

The word of the Lord that came^(a) to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah,^(b) Jotham,^(c) Ahaz^(d) and Hezekiah,^(e) kings of Judah,^(f) and during the reign of Jeroboam^(g) son of Jehoash^[a] king of Israel:^(h)

Hosea's Wife and Children

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "Go, marry a promiscuous⁽ⁱ⁾ woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness^(j) to the Lord ."

So he married Gomer^(k) daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Then the Lord said to Hosea, "Call him Jezreel,^(l) 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.

In that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel.^(m)"

Gomer⁽ⁿ⁾ conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, "Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means "not loved"),^(o) for I will no longer show love to Israel,^(p) that I should at all forgive them.

Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow,^(q) sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God,^(r) will save them."

After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah,^(s) Gomer had another son.

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.^[b](t)

"Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted.^(u) In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,' they will be called ‘children of the living God.'^(v)

The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together;^(w) they will appoint one leader^(x) and will come up out of the land,^(y) for great will be the day of Jezreel.^[c](z)

^[a]"Say of your brothers, ‘My people,' and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.'^(a)