Hosea 1
The LORD commands Hosea to marry a wife of whoredoms as a picture of Israel's unfaithfulness. Gomer bears three children: Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah ("no mercy"), and Lo-ammi ("not My people"). Yet the LORD promises that in the very place where Israel was rejected, they will be called sons of the living God.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The word of the LORD 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. | The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri, during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel. |
| 2 | The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. | This was the beginning of the LORD's message through Hosea. The LORD said to Him, "Go, take a wife of whoredoms and have children of whoredoms, for the land has committed great whoredom in departing from the LORD." |
| 3 | So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. | So He went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore Him a son. |
| 4 | And the LORD 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 to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. | The LORD said to Him, "Name Him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. |
| 5 | And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. | In that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel." |
| 6 | And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. | Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. The LORD said to Hosea, "Name her Lo-ruhamah — for I will no longer show mercy to Israel or forgive them. |
| 7 | But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. | But I will show mercy to Judah, and I will save them — not by bow or sword or battle, not by horses or horsemen, but by the LORD their God." |
| 8 | Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. | After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived again and gave birth to a son. |
| 9 | Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. | The LORD said, "Name Him Lo-ammi — for You are not My people, and I am not Your God." |
| 10 | Yet 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, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. | Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. In the very place where it was said to them, "You are not My people," they will be called "sons of the living God." |
| 11 | Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. | The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together and appoint one leader. They will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. |