Hosea 1:2-4

Easy-to-Read Version

²This was the Lord’s first message to Hosea. The Lord said, “Go, marry a prostitute who has had children as a result of her prostitution. Do this because the people in this country have acted like prostitutes—they have been unfaithful to the Lord.”

The Birth of Jezreel

³So Hosea married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Hosea. ⁴The Lord said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel,^[a] because soon I will punish the family of Jehu for the people he killed at Jezreel Valley.^[b] Then I will put an end to the kingdom of the nation^[c] of Israel.

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Footnotes

Hosea 1:4 Jezreel This name in Hebrew means “God will plant seeds.”
Hosea 1:4 people … at Jezreel Valley See 2 Kings 9-10 for the story of Jehu’s revolt at Jezreel Valley.
Hosea 1:4 nation Literally, “house.” This might mean the royal family of that country. Also in verse 6.