Hosea Marries Gomer
Study note
God commands Hosea to marry a woman who will be unfaithful to him. This marriage is meant to be a living picture of how Israel has been unfaithful to God by worshiping idols. Hosea obeys and marries Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim.
1 This message from the LORD came to Hosea son of Beeri. It arrived during the reigns of four kings of Judah — Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah — and during the time Jeroboam son of Joash was king of Israel. 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.
2 The very first thing the LORD told Hosea was shocking: "Go marry a woman who will be unfaithful to you, and have children with her. I am telling you to do this because my people have been completely unfaithful to me." 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.
3 So Hosea married a woman named Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and had a baby boy. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
Children Named as Warnings
Study note
Each of Hosea and Gomer's three children receives a name that carries a warning from God. Jezreel means 'God sows,' which can imply both scattering in judgment and planting in hope — pointing to the coming end of the royal family. Lo-ruhamah means 'no mercy,' showing God would no longer show mercy to Israel. Lo-ammi means 'not my people,' meaning God was rejecting the relationship. These names were shocking messages to the nation.
4 The LORD told Hosea, "Name this boy Jezreel, because very soon I will punish the family of Jehu for the blood they spilled at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring the whole kingdom of Israel to an end." 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.
5 "When that day comes, I will snap Israel's military power in half there in the Jezreel Valley." And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
6 Gomer got pregnant again and had a daughter. God told Hosea, "Name her Lo-ruhamah — it means No Mercy — because I am done showing mercy to Israel. I will completely take them away." 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.
7 "Judah, on the other hand, will still receive my mercy. I will save them myself — the LORD their God — but I will not do it through weapons, armies, horses, or soldiers." 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.
8 After Lo-ruhamah was weaned, Gomer became pregnant once more and gave birth to another son. Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
9 God said, "Name him Lo-ammi — it means Not My People — because you are no longer my people, and I am no longer your God." Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
A Promise of Restoration
Study note
Even after these harsh judgments, God gives a beautiful promise. He says the day will come when Israel's people will be as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. The very people once called 'not my people' will be called 'children of the living God.' Israel and Judah will come together again under one leader.
10 But a day is coming when the people of Israel will be as countless as grains of sand on the beach — too many to measure or count. In the very same place where they were told, "You are not my people," they will be called "children of the living God." 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.
11 The people of Judah and Israel will come together again. They will pick one leader and rise up from the land. What an incredible day Jezreel will be! 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.