Catholic Commentary on Hosea 1

“The LORD said to him, 'Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel... yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted.'” (Hosea 1:4,10)

The Book of Hosea

Hosea is the first of the twelve Minor Prophets, ministering in the northern kingdom of Israel during the eighth century BC, roughly 750-720 BC. He is a contemporary of Isaiah and Amos. His book is unique in the prophetic literature because his own marriage becomes the living parable of God's relationship with Israel: just as Hosea marries Gomer who proves unfaithful, so the LORD is married to Israel who has played the harlot with foreign gods.

The LORD commands Hosea to marry Gomer, who bears three children given symbolic names. Jezreel: judgment is coming. Lo-Ruhamah, Not Loved: I will no longer show love to Israel. Lo-Ammi, Not My People: you are not my people and I am not your God. Yet immediately the judgment is reversed: the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'children of the living God.'

Paul quotes this passage in Romans 9 applying it to the Gentiles who were once not God's people and are now called his children. The Catechism identifies the reversal of Lo-Ammi as the figure of the universal calling of the nations into the covenant family (CCC 218).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, in the place where it was said you are not my people, they will be called children of the living God. The names of rejection become the names of adoption. God does not leave the symbolic names as the last word. He renames his people. Whatever name rejection has placed on you, the living God is in the business of renaming.

Prayer

Lord God, in the place where we were told we are not your people, call us children of the living God. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hosea
1
Hosea’s Wife and Children
1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash,* 1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash king of Israel.
 
2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”
 
3 So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
 
4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel,† 1:4 Jezreel means God sows; also in verse 11. for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
 
6 Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah,‡ 1:6 Lo-ruhamah means she has not received mercy. for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them. 7 Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them-not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”
 
8 After she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi,§ 1:9 Lo-ammi means not My people. for you are not My people, and I am not your God.* 1:9 Hebrew I am not yours
 
10 Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’† 1:10 Cited in Romans 9:26 11 Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel.

*1:1 1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash

†1:4 1:4 Jezreel means God sows; also in verse 11.

‡1:6 1:6 Lo-ruhamah means she has not received mercy.

§1:9 1:9 Lo-ammi means not My people.

*1:9 1:9 Hebrew I am not yours

†1:10 1:10 Cited in Romans 9:26

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