Hosea 1: Group Study Handout

Overview

The word of Yahweh comes to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. The first command is to 'take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness', because the land has forsaken Yahweh (vv. 1-2). Hosea marries Gomer. She bears a son, and Yahweh names him Jezreel. The blood of Jezreel will be avenged on the house of Jehu, and the bow of Israel will be broken in the valley of Jezreel (vv. 3-5). A daughter follows, named Lo-Ruhamah, because Yahweh 'will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel'. Judah he will save, not by bow or sword (vv. 6-7).

Key verse

“He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi; for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.”

Hosea 1:9 (WEB)

Outline

1. Hosea 1:1–2 Hosea's Prophetic Calling
2. Hosea 1:3–5 Marriage to Gomer and Jezreel's Prophecy
3. Hosea 1:6–7 Lo-Ruhamah and Mercy Withdrawn
4. Hosea 1:8–9 Lo-Ammi's Naming and Rejection
5. Hosea 1:10–11 Promise of Restoration

Discussion questions

1. In v3, who does Hosea marry and what is her relationship status?
2. What is the name of the first child born to Hosea and Gomer in v4?
3. In v6, why does God say, 'I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel'?
4. Lo-Ammi in v9 means 'not my people': what tension does this create regarding Israel's identity?
5. When have you felt distant from a community, like Israel is described in v9?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Hosea 1: Hosea 2, Zechariah 4, Romans 9.

Before next time: read Hosea 2.