Hosea Marries Gomer as Prophetic Sign
The LORD commanded Hosea to do something shocking: “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.”
Hosea obeyed, marrying Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She bore him three children with symbolic names:
- Jezreel (“God scatters”)—judgment would come for the blood shed at Jezreel
- Lo-Ruhamah (“not loved”)—God would no longer show love to Israel
- Lo-Ammi (“not my people”)—“You are not my people, and I am not your God”
These devastating names proclaimed Israel’s broken covenant relationship with God.
But Gomer was unfaithful, leaving Hosea for lovers. God commanded Hosea: “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods.”
Hosea bought Gomer back—redeeming her from adultery—and restored her as his wife. This painful personal drama became a living parable of God’s relationship with Israel:
- Hosea = God
- Gomer = Israel
- Her adultery = Israel’s idolatry
- Hosea’s pain = God’s grief over Israel’s unfaithfulness
- Buying her back = God’s redeeming love
- Restoration = God’s promise to restore Israel
The prophecy concludes with hope: “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD” (Hosea 2:19-20).
Hosea’s marriage became one of Scripture’s most poignant prophetic sign-acts, revealing both God’s heartbreak over idolatry and His relentless, redeeming love.