Hosea

Definition and Meaning

Hosea is a book of the Old Testament containing the message of the prophet Hosea, who ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in the eighth century BC. It has fourteen chapters. The twelve shorter prophetic books are grouped together as the "Minor Prophets," and Hosea is the first of them. The name "Hosea" derives from a Hebrew word meaning "salvation."

Biblical and Historical Background

According to Hosea 1:1, Hosea prophesied 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. During this period the northern kingdom enjoyed outward prosperity, but Baal worship was spreading and political life was growing unstable. The northern kingdom eventually fell to Assyria around 722 BC (2 Kings 17). In the same era, Amos prophesied in the north, while Isaiah and Micah prophesied in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Chapters 1–3 recount Hosea's family life. Hosea marries Gomer, a promiscuous woman, and gives his children the names "Jezreel," "Lo-ruhamah" ("not having obtained mercy"), and "Lo-ammi" ("not my people"). He later pays a price to bring back his wife after she has left him. This marriage symbolizes the relationship between Israel, which had forsaken God, and God, who does not forsake Israel. Interpreters differ on whether the marriage should be understood as an actual event or as a vision or allegory. Chapters 4–14 indict Israel for idolatry and injustice and conclude with a call to return and a promise of restoration.

The key word in Hosea is the Hebrew hesed, often translated "mercy" or "steadfast love." It denotes unchanging love, that is, faithfulness to the covenant. The New Testament quotes Hosea several times:

• Jesus quoted "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6) in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7.
• Hosea 11:1 is quoted in Matthew 2:15.
• Hosea 1:10 and 2:23 are quoted in Romans 9:25–26 and 1 Peter 2:10.
• The language of Hosea 13:14 is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:55.

Practice in the Korean Church

Across denominations, Korean churches frequently use Hosea as a sermon text to explain God's boundless love and grace. The story of a husband who seeks out and brings back his unfaithful wife serves as a leading illustration of that love.

Hosea 6:1–3, which begins "Come, and let us return unto the LORD," is commonly cited in sermons at revival meetings and special dawn prayer meetings that call for repentance and spiritual renewal. "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD" (Hosea 6:3) and "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6) are often used almost as mottoes to encourage Bible study and discipleship training.

Churches that follow the church calendar and use a lectionary (a table assigning Scripture readings to each Sunday) may read from Hosea on designated Sundays. Preachers differ on whether the story of Gomer can be applied directly to contemporary questions of marriage or divorce and remarriage.