Hosea 1 ASV
Summary: The LORD commands Hosea to marry Gomer, "a wife of whoredom," as a living sign-act of Israel's unfaithfulness in forsaking the LORD for other gods. Their children receive symbolic names of judgment: Jezreel, recalling the bloodshed of Jehu's dynasty; Lo-ruhamah ("No Mercy"), signifying that God will no longer show compassion to Israel; and Lo-ammi ("Not My People"), signifying the broken covenant. Yet the chapter closes with a startling reversal, promising that the children of Israel will one day be as numerous as the sand of the sea and be called "sons of the living God," with the names' meanings restored to mercy and belonging.
1The word of Jehovah 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.
2When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.
3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bare him a son.
4And Jehovah said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.
5And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
6And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And Jehovah said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, that I should in any wise pardon them.
7But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Jehovah their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
8Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
9And Jehovah said, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
10Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
11And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up from the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
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