Hosea
Israelite / Jew Hebrew; prophet to the northern kingdom · Divided Kingdom · Old Testament
- Also called
- Osee
- Name means
- Salvation
- Role
- Prophet of God's faithful love
- When
- 8th century BC
What they did
Commanded to marry Gomer, who proved unfaithful, and to love her again. His marriage pictured God's love for unfaithful Israel.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
He proclaimed that God would call 'them my people, which were not my people', words Paul applies to the calling of the Gentiles (Romans 9:25-26).
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 (KJV)
Bible references
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. Hosea 1:1 (KJV)
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. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. Hosea 1:2-3 (KJV)
Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. Hosea 3:1 (KJV)
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 (KJV)
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. Romans 9:25 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Beeri
- Spouse(s)
- Gomer
- Children
- Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, Lo-ammi