Easy Bible・Hosea 1

Hosea's Marriage and Children

Key Passages

About this Chapter

In the time of King Jeroboam, God spoke to the prophet Hosea and told him to marry a promiscuous woman named Gomer. Hosea obeyed and they had three children. The first son was named Jezreel, which signified the coming judgment on the house of Jehu. The second child, a daughter, was named Lo-Ruhamah, which meant 'not loved' to symbolize God's judgment on Israel. The third child, another son, was named Lo-Ammi, which meant 'not my people' to represent God's rejection of Israel. Through Hosea's marriage and children, God was using their names to convey His message of judgment and rejection towards Israel. The unfaithfulness of Hosea's wife Gomer symbolized Israel's unfaithfulness to God, and the children's names served as a warning of the consequences they would face. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God still loved them and desired to restore them. This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the book, where Hosea prophesies about God's judgment, Israel's repentance, and the ultimate restoration and reconciliation between God and His people.