Hosea

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.

1This is the message the LORD gave to a man named Hosea. Hosea was a prophet. That means he told people what God said. He was the son of Beeri. This happened when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. Jeroboam son of Joash was the king of Israel then.

2The 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.

2This is how the LORD first spoke through Hosea. The LORD said to him, "Go and marry a woman who will not be faithful to you. Have children with her. The people of this land are not faithful to me either. They have turned away from me."

3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

3So Hosea went and married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. She had a baby boy.

4And 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.

4Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Name him Jezreel. Soon I will punish the family of King Jehu. They killed many people at Jezreel. I will also bring the kingdom of Israel to an end."

NoteJezreel is a town and valley in Israel. Long before Hosea's time, King Jehu killed many people there.

5And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

5"On that day I will break the bows of Israel's army. It will happen in the valley of Jezreel."

6And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

6Gomer had another baby. This time it was a girl. God said to Hosea, "Name her Loruhamah. I will not feel sorry for the people of Israel anymore. I will not forgive them."

NoteThe name Loruhamah means "not loved" or "no pity for her."

7But 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.

7"But I will feel sorry for the people of Judah. I myself will save them. I will not use bows or swords or war. I will not use horses or riders. I am the LORD their God, and I will save them."

8Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

8Loruhamah grew big enough to stop drinking milk. Then Gomer had another baby boy.

9Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

9God said, "Name him Loammi. You are not my people. And I am not your God."

NoteThe name Loammi means "not my people."

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, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

10"But one day there will be so many people in Israel. They will be like the sand on the beach. No one will be able to count them. In the place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' they will be called children of the living God."

11Then 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.

11"Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together. They will choose one leader for all of them. They will come up out of the land. That day at Jezreel will be a great day."