The Word of the Lord to Hosea

1 A message from the Lord came^[a] to Beeri’s son Hosea^[b] during the reigns of^[c] Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of^[d] Joash’s son Jeroboam, who was king of Israel.

Hosea’s Wife and Family

² When a message from the Lord came to Hosea, the Lord told him,^[e] “Go marry a prostitute and have children with her,^[f] because the land is prostituting itself by departing from the Lord.” ³ So he went out and married Diblaim’s daughter Gomer. She conceived with him and gave birth to a son.

Naming the Children

⁴ The Lord told Hosea,^[g] “Name the child^[h] ‘Jezreel,’^[i] because in a little while I’ll avenge the blood that was shed by Jehu’s dynasty at Jezreel. I’ll put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. ⁵ At that time I’ll shatter the military strength^[j] of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

⁶ Gomer^[k] conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, so the Lord^[l] told Hosea,^[m] “Name her ‘Lo-ruhamah,’^[n] because I will no longer be showing mercy to the house of Israel, nor will I forgive them. ⁷ But I’ll have mercy on the house of Judah, and I’ll save them by the Lord their God—I will not save them by the bow, by the sword, by battle, by horses, or by cavalry.”

⁸ After Gomer^[o] had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived again and gave birth to a son, ⁹ so the Lord^[p] told Hosea,^[q] “Name him ‘Lo-ammi,’^[r] because you are not my people, and I will not be your God.^{[s] 10 [t]}Despite this, the number of the people of Israel will be like ocean sand, which can neither be measured nor counted. And the time will come when instead of it being said,^[u] ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said,^[v] ‘You are children of the living God.’ ^11 [w]And the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be united as one. They will appoint for themselves a single leader and will take dominion over^[x] the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.