Hosea

Portrait of Hosea

The prophet Hosea was instructed by the Lord to take an unfaithful wife whose actions served as a vivid illustration of Israel's idolatry and departure from the covenant. In this personal experience of betrayal and redemption, he demonstrated the steadfast love of God who pursues his people even in their waywardness and promises restoration after discipline. His prophecies underscore the tension between judgment and mercy in the divine character, highlighting how God's faithfulness ultimately triumphs to bring about reconciliation and renewal for those who return to him.

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Books written: Hosea

Read Through Hosea's Writings

14 chapters total

Hosea

1 Hosea's Wife and Children 2 Israel's Unfaithfulness 3 Hosea Redeems His Wife 4 The Charge Against Israel 5 Judgment on Israel and Judah 6 A Call to Repentance 7 Israel's Iniquity 8 Israel Reaps the Whirlwind 9 Punishment for Israel 10 Israel's Sin and Captivity 11 God's Love for Israel 12 Israel's Guilt 13 The Lord's Anger Against Israel 14 A Call to Return to the Lord

Key Passages

I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Hosea 6:1-6

C1ome, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. 4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

God's Compassion for Israel

Hosea 11:1-4

W1hen Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.