Book of Hosea

Minor Prophets

Traditionally Hosea

Traditionally dated c. 750–715 BC

God's unfaithful spouse and relentless love.

Hosea uses the prophet's painful marriage to an unfaithful wife as a living metaphor for Israel's covenant infidelity and God's stubborn, pursuing love.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.”

“Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.”

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

“Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.”

“For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.”