Hosea 1

Jehovah

LORD (small capitals) — renders the divine name Jehovah

The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. Hosea 1:1

Hosea's whole book is the word of the LORD, Jehovah. Latter-day Saints know Him as Jesus Christ before His birth, who spoke to the Old Testament prophets.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

The Faithful Husband of Israel

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. Hosea 1:2

Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful wife is meant as a picture: Israel has left the LORD the way an unfaithful wife leaves her husband. Hosea's patient love shows Jehovah's love. Christ is the Bridegroom who stays faithful to His covenant people even when they wander.

• interpreted by Hosea 3:1 — The marriage is 'according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel.'

Saved by the LORD Their God

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. Hosea 1:7

The Lord promises to save Judah by His own power, not with weapons. Salvation comes by the LORD, Jehovah, the One who would become the Savior. Some readers notice that God speaks here of saving 'by the LORD their God,' as if a second divine Person were the Deliverer.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Sons of the Living God

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Hosea 1:10

People who had been cast off ('not my people') will someday be called children of the living God. Paul and Peter say this is fulfilled when people, Gentiles included, come to God through Jesus Christ and are adopted into His family.

• quoted by Romans 9:26 — Paul quotes this verse about the calling of Jews and Gentiles through Christ.
• alluded to by 1 Peter 2:10 — 'Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.'

One Head over Gathered Israel

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:11

Judah and Israel, long divided, will be gathered as one people under one leader. Hosea later names that leader 'David their king,' the Messiah from David's line. Latter-day Saints see this in the gathering of Israel to Christ in the last days.

• interpreted by Hosea 3:5 — The gathered children of Israel seek the LORD and 'David their king' in the latter days.