Hosea

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Purpose To depict Israel’s unfaithfulness and resulting judgment
To show God’s desire to heal and restore his people
Author Hosea
Date Around 760–722 BC
Setting The northern kingdom of Israel, in the days leading up to its destruction at the hands of Assyria

Overview Article

Hosea suffered deep pain because his wife was unfaithful. His experience shows how God feels about the sins of his people. God’s justice demands judgment, but his love also leads him to save and restore his chosen people. Hosea helps us understand God’s heart.

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Key People, Places, and Terms

Themes

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God’s Love for Israel 2 The prophet Malachi begins his message to the people of Israel with, " I have loved you,” says the LORD " ( Malachi 1:2 ). God's love for Israel is clear throughout the Old Testament. Malachi tells people to look at h... Prophetic Sign Acts 2 The prophets of Israel sometimes used sign acts to share their messages. Sign acts were dramatic actions performed in public to make their message stronger. These visual demonstrations helped people not only hear the... Pure Worship 2 From the start of God's relationship with Israel, he provided ways for their worship of him to be pleasing to him ( Exodus 20–40 ; Leviticus 1–8 ). One of the Lord's main goals for his people is to guarantee they offe... Retribution 2 God gave humans the task of having children and taking care of the world ( Genesis 1:28 ). Yet, as the population increased, so did spiritual evil, violence, and murder ( 4:8 , 23 ; 6:5 , 11–13 ). This led to a corrup... Returning to the Lord 2 The Old Testament prophets often told the people of Israel to return to the Lord, both before and after the exile to Babylon (see, for example, Isaiah 55:6–7 ; Hosea 6:1–3 ; Haggai 1:12 ; Malachi 3:7 ). This meant a r... The Limitations of Law 2 The law was central to God's special agreement (the covenant) with the people of Israel. Many Jews in the apostle Paul's time, including Jewish Christians, still considered it as essential for living. Therefore, Paul... Altars 1 Noah built the first altar mentioned in the Bible ( Genesis 8:20–21 ). Cain and Abel also gave offerings to God ( Genesis 4:3–5 ). The patriarchs built many altars (see Genesis 12:7–8 ; 13:4 , 18 ; 22:9 ; 26:25 ; 33:2... Biblical Marriage 1 The story of creation portrays God as present with humanity’s first union, set within the sacred space of the garden ( Genesis 2:18–25 ). Biblical marriage is a binding covenant (special agreement) before God. Violati... Counsel from Others 1 The book of Proverbs teaches that having many advisors are good because they provide safety ( Proverbs 11:14 ; 24:6 ). They increase our chances of success ( Proverbs 15:22 ). The book of Job shows that advisors can a... Following Jesus 1 The Gospels (books about Jesus's life) were written to help people understand and accept Jesus' invitation to follow him by "taking up their cross." This invitation is not just for Jesus' closest followers, called apo... God’s Absolute Holiness 1 Holiness is one main way to describe God. It is not just one of his many traits, it is central to who he is. Calling God “the Holy One” emphasizes how he is completely different than anyone or anything else. Creation... God’s Covenant Love 1 The Bible talks about God's love in two main ways. First, there is the common understanding that God deeply cares about and has great affection for all people. Second, in some parts of the Bible, like Deuteronomy (whe... God’s Covenants 1 The word "covenant" (from the Hebrew word berith ) means "bond." A covenant is a binding relationship based on a commitment that includes promises and duties. The covenant relationship requires faithfulness and enable... God’s Faithfulness to His People 1 God made a special agreement (called a covenant) with the people of Israel. It included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (see Deuteronomy 28:1–68 ). Many years later, after King Solomon dedicated th... God’s Grief over Apostasy 1 The God of the universe feels sorrow when his people suffer ( Judges 10:16 ; Hosea 11:8–9 ). Even when people reject him, God's love is stronger than his justice. His compassion is greater than his judgment. Yet, this... God’s Judgment of His People 1 The kings of Israel and Judah were very important in the history of the divided kingdom. But the people also influenced events. They followed their wicked rulers ( 2 Kings 3:3 ; 17:22 ; 21:9 , 11 , 16 ). They stopped... Holiness by Relationship 1 Holiness refers to God's transcendent nature and moral purity ( Leviticus 10:3 ). God is completely set apart from everything else. God is pure, perfect, and greater than all. But we are limited creatures who sin. So...

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Outline

Use of Hosea in the New Testament

Quoted 7 times across 4 New Testament books

Total quotations 7
Connected books 4
Most-connected book Matthew 3

All References

Hosea bookOverview.connections.ntReference Compare
Hosea 1:10 Romans 9:26
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OT Text
  • Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’
NT Text
  • and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God
Hosea 2:23 Romans 9:25
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OT Text
  • And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”
NT Text
  • I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved
Hosea 6:6 Matthew 9:13
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OT Text
  • For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
NT Text
  • I desire mercy, not sacrifice
Hosea 6:6 Matthew 12:7
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OT Text
  • For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
NT Text
  • I desire mercy, not sacrifice
Hosea 10:8 Luke 23:30
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OT Text
  • The high places of Aven will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
NT Text
  • they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us
Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:15
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OT Text
  • When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
NT Text
  • This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son
Hosea 13:14 1 Corinthians 15:55
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OT Text
  • I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
NT Text
  • Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting