Minor prophets
The book of Hosea
God’s faithful love for unfaithful Israel, pictured in Hosea’s marriage to Gomer.
Hosea prophesied to the northern kingdom in the days of Uzziah to Hezekiah (Hosea 1:1). His own marriage became a living picture of the LORD’s love for a people who had turned away.
Kinds of writing
- Prophecy 100%
Key verses
Mercy rather than sacrifice. For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6 (World English Bible)
Out of Egypt I called my son. “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”
Hosea 11:1 (World English Bible)
People
Places
SamariaBethelGilgalJezreelAssyria
On the timeline
Hosea's ministry to IsraelThe flight to Egypt; Herod kills the boys of Bethlehem
The New Testament quotes or alludes to Hosea 8 times (counted in the site’s Old in the New).
Dating notes
Ussher: his ministry ran 790–725 BC. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.