God Commands Hosea to Start a Family

¹ The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

² ⌞At the beginning when Yahweh spoke⌟¹ through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife and children of whoredom, because the land commits great whoredom ⌞forsaking Yahweh⌟.”²

1. Literally “At the beginning of the talking of Yahweh”
2. Literally “from behind Yahweh”

³ So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

⁴ And Yahweh said to him, “⌞Name him⌟¹ Jezreel;² because in a little while ⌞I will punish⌟³ the house of Jehu⁴ for the blood⁵ of Jezreel,⁶ and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.⁷

1. Literally “Call his name”
2. Jezreel means “God sows”
3. Literally “I will visit sin upon”
4. Or “the dynasty of Jehu”
5. Or “bloodshed”
6. Jezreel means “God sows”
7. Or “the dynasty of Israel”

⁵ ⌞On that day⌟¹ I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

1. Literally “And it will happen on that day”

⁶ And she conceived again and bore a daughter, and he¹ said to him, “⌞Name her⌟² Lo-ruhamah,³ for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or ⌞forgive them⌟.⁴

1. Yahweh
2. Literally “Call her name”
3. Lo-ruhamah means “Not pitied”
4. Literally “raise them up”

⁷ But I will have pity on the house of Judah and I will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, war, horses, or horsemen.

⁸ And when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah,¹ she conceived and bore a son.

1. Lo-ruhamah means “Not pitied”

⁹ And he¹ said, “⌞Name him⌟² Lo-ammi,³ for you are not my people and I am not your God.⁴

1. Yahweh
2. Literally “Call his name”
3. Lo-ammi means “not my people”
4. Hebrew “not yours”

^{10 1} The number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that cannot be measured or counted; and in the place where it is said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “Children of the living God.”

1. Hosea 1:10–2:23 in the English Bible is 2:1–25 in the Hebrew Bible

¹¹ Then the children of Judah and Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one head; and ⌞they will take possession of⌟¹ the land, for great is the day of Jezreel.²

1. Literally “they will go up from”
2. Jezreel means “God sows”