1The 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 . 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 .
The Names of Hosea's Children
3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim ; which conceived , and bare him a son . 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 . 5And it shall come to pass at that day , that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel . 6And 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 . 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 . 8Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah , she conceived , and bare a son . 9Then said God , Call his name Lo-ammi : for ye are not my people , and I will not be your God .
God's Promise of Restoration
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 . 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 .