1The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, son of Joash, king of Israel. 2When the LORD began to speak to Israel through Hosea, He told Hosea, “Go, and marry a prostitute and have children by that promiscuous woman; for the land has been promiscuous, by departing from the LORD.” 3So Hosea went and married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived, and bore him a son. 4And the LORD told him, “Name him Jezreel (God shall scatter); for soon I will punish the dynasty of Jehu for the massacre he committed at Jezreel (2 Kings 10:11); and will bring an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5On that day I will break the bow (military power) of Israel in the Jezreel Valley.” 6And soon thereafter, Gomer conceived again, and bore a daughter. And God told him, “Call her name Lo-ruhamah (‘not loved’ (Rom.9:25) or ‘without mercy’ (I Pet.2:10)); for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel, by forgiving them. 7But I will show love to Judah, and I will save them - not by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen - but by My power as the LORD, their God, will I save them.” 8And after Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again conceived and had another son. 9Then God said, “Call his name Lo-ammi (‘not My people’); for you are not My people, and I will not be your God.”

10“And still the number of the descendants of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people’, there it shall be said to them, ‘You are the sons of the living God.’ 11Then the descendants of Judah and of Israel shall be brought together, and appoint one leader for themselves, and they shall come up out of the land of exile; for great shall be the day of Jezreel (God shall sow, or plant – unlike v4).”