Lexical Summary Diblayim: Diblaim Original Word: דִּבְלַיִם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Diblaim Dual from the masculine of dbelah; two cakes; Diblajim, a symbolic name -- Diblaim. see HEBREW dbelah Brown-Driver-Briggs [דִּבְלַ֫יִם] proper name, masculine father of Gomer wife of Hosea דִּבְלָ֑יִם Hosea 1:3. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Diblaim is mentioned once in Scripture in the opening narrative of Hosea. “So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son” (Hosea 1:3). The prophetic sign-act of Hosea’s marriage stands at the very center of the book’s message to the Northern Kingdom in the eighth century B.C., and the naming of Gomer’s father anchors the event in real history. Identity of Diblaim Only his paternity is recorded, yet that single reference serves to establish the genuine, legal status of Hosea’s marriage. Unlike an allegory fabricated for literary effect, the union involved identifiable persons, emphasizing that God’s word addressed concrete covenant failure rather than abstract ideas. Diblaim, therefore, is a silent witness to the authenticity of the prophetic sign. Meaning of the Name and Symbolic Implications The name is associated with fig-cakes, recalling the sweetness and sustenance of figs in the ancient Near East (cf. 1 Samuel 30:12). Hosea later employs fruit imagery to portray Israel’s early promise and later corruption: “Like early fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your fathers” (Hosea 9:10). By bearing a name that evokes figs or fig-cakes, Diblaim’s household subtly prefigures the fruit motif central to Hosea’s indictment—fruit that began as a blessing but decayed through idolatry. Historical Context in Hosea’s Ministry Hosea preached during the waning decades of Israel’s monarchy, confronting Baal worship, social injustice, and political alliances that betrayed reliance on the LORD. In that turbulent setting, Hosea’s domestic life became a lived parable. Mentioning Diblaim situates Gomer within Israelite society, underscoring that the nation’s unfaithfulness sprouted from within its own families, not merely from foreign influence. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Reality: By tracing Gomer to her father, Scripture underscores the reality of Hosea’s covenantal obligations. The prophet’s faithfulness in marriage mirrors God’s steadfast love, even when Israel proves faithless (Hosea 3:1). Practical Applications for Ministry • Authentic Witness: Real names and relationships in Scripture remind believers that faithfulness is worked out in ordinary households. Ministry begins at home, where the gospel must be embodied before it is proclaimed. Related Biblical Themes Fig imagery—Jeremiah 24; Micah 7:1; Matthew 21:19. Parental responsibility—Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4. Covenantal marriage—Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14; Ephesians 5:31. Though Diblaim appears only once, his brief mention enriches Hosea’s prophetic drama by rooting abstract symbolism in tangible family life, warning every generation to remain fruitful and faithful to the covenant Lord. Forms and Transliterations דִּבְלָ֑יִם דבלים diḇ·lā·yim diḇlāyim divLayimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hosea 1:3 HEB: גֹּ֖מֶר בַּת־ דִּבְלָ֑יִם וַתַּ֥הַר וַתֵּֽלֶד־ NAS: the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived KJV: the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, INT: Gomer the daughter of Diblaim conceived and bore 1 Occurrence |
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