Hosea Chapter 1

¹ Messages from the LORD to Hosea Son of Beeri

at the Time of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah,

and Jeroboam Son of Joash/Jehoash, King of Israel

Hosea’s Wife and Children

² When the LORD spoke the first time through Hosea, he said, “Marry a prostitute and have children, because the land is committing flagrant prostitution by abandoning me.” ³ So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she had a son. ⁴ The LORD said,

“Name him Jezreel. Soon I’ll punish Jehu’s dynasty for the bloodshed in Jezreel, and put an end to Israel. ⁵ At that time, I’ll break Israel’s military strength in the Valley of ‘Jezreel.’”                                  

Hos 1:1-5

⁶ Then she had a daughter. The LORD told him,

“Name her Lo-ruhamah. I ‘won’t have mercy’ any more on Israel by forgiving them. ⁷ But I will have mercy on Judah and deliver them, but not by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen.”

⁸ When she’d weaned Lo-ruhamah, she had another son. ⁹ The LORD said,

                        “Name him Lo-ammi. You’re ‘not my people,’ and I’m not your God.

¹⁰ Yet the number of Israelites

      will be like sand by the sea,

      that you can’t measure or count.

Where I said, ‘You’re not my people,’

      I’ll say, ‘You’re children of the living God.’

¹¹ Then Judah and Israel will unite

      and appoint one leader.

They’ll return from the exile together

      because the day of Jezreel [sowing] will be great.”       

Hos 1:6-11