Hosea 1:2 Meaning and Explanation
“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD commands Hosea to marry an unfaithful wife, making the prophet's own marriage a living picture of how the land has been unfaithful to God.
What Does Hosea 1:2 Mean?
Here the message truly begins. God gives Hosea a startling command: his marriage is to become a sign. The unfaithfulness of his wife will mirror the unfaithfulness of the nation, which has turned from the LORD to other gods. Hosea does not merely announce the message; he carries it in his own home and heart.
The word translated whoredom pictures a covenant betrayed, a love abandoned. God speaks as a wounded husband, not a distant judge. Yet even this hard assignment reveals tenderness: the LORD is willing to feel, in human terms, the pain of being forsaken so that His people might grasp how deeply they are still loved and longed for.
Hosea 1:2 in the Original Language
zanah (זָנָה), 'to commit whoredom' -- to break faith with the LORD by going after other gods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 1:2
What does Hosea 1:2 mean?
The LORD commands Hosea to marry an unfaithful wife, making the prophet's own marriage a living picture of how the land has been unfaithful to God.