1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah,  * 1:1 2Ch 26:1–23; Is 1:1; Am 1:1 Jotham,  * 1:1 2Kg 15:5; 2Ch 27:1–9 Ahaz,  * 1:1 2Kg 16:1–20; 2Ch 28:1–27; Is 1:1; 7:1–17; Mc 1:1 and Hezekiah,  * 1:1 2Kg 18:1–20:21; 2Ch 29:1–32:33; Mc 1:1 kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam  * 1:1 2Kg 13:13; 14:23–29; Am 1:1 son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him:

Go and marry a woman of promiscuity,  * 1:2 Hs 3:1

and have children of promiscuity,

for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity

by abandoning the  Lord.

3 So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.  * 1:3 Ezk 23:44 Then the Lord said to him:

Name him Jezreel,  * 1:4 = God Sows,* 1:4 Hs 2:22 for in a little while

I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel  * 1:4 2Kg 9:24–10:11

on the house of Jehu  * 1:4 2Kg 9:7; 10:30; 15:10

and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel  * 1:5 Gn 49:24; Jb 29:20; Jr 49:35

in Jezreel Valley.  * 1:5 Jos 17:16; Jdg 6:33

6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him:

Name her Lo-ruhamah,  * 1:6 = No Compassion

for I will no longer have compassion

on the house of Israel.

I will certainly take them away.

7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah,  * 1:7 Is 30:18

and I will deliver them by the  Lord  their God.  * 1:7 Jr 25:5–6; Zch 9:9–10

I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war,

or by horses and cavalry.  * 1:7 Ps 44:3–7

8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 Then the Lord said:

Name him Lo-ammi,  * 1:9 = Not My People

for you are not my people,

and I will not be your God.  * 1:9 Lit not be yours,* 1:9 Ex 6:7; Lv 26:12; Jr 7:23; 11:4; 30:22; Ezk 36:28

10 Yet the number of the Israelites

will be like the sand of the sea,  * 1:10 Gn 22:17; Jr 33:22

which cannot be measured or counted.

And in the place where they were told:

You are not my people,

they will be called: Sons of the living God.  * 1:10 Rm 9:25–27

11 And the Judeans and the Israelites

will be gathered together.  * 1:11 Jr 23:5–6; 50:4–5; Ezk 37:18–25; Hs 3:5

They will appoint for themselves a single ruler  * 1:11 Jr 30:21; Hs 3:5

and go up from  * 1:11 Or and flourish in; Hb obscure  the land.

For the day of Jezreel  * 1:11 Ezk 36:9–11 will be great.