HOSEA
("Prophets Hosea and Jonah." National Gallery of Art. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.nga.gov/artworks/74167-prophets-hosea-and-jonah.)
Can a nation be forgiven?
786 to as late as 721 B.C. · Kingdom of Israel
Hosea, a minor prophet, wrote the first of the twelve prophetic books of the Old Testament. He preached in the kingdom of Israel about the same time as Amos, although perhaps for a bit longer. The main theme of his book is God’s power of forgiveness for the sins of Israel.
Hosea’s message to Israel
- A minor prophet: Author of the first of the twelve prophetic books of the Old Testament
- Preached in: The kingdom of Israel
- Active: From 786 B.C. to perhaps as late as 721 B.C.
- Contemporary of: Amos, though Hosea may have preached a bit longer
- Main theme: God’s power of forgiveness for the sins of Israel
What does it take for a nation to be redeemed?
Hover or tap each idea to look closer
- God’s Power to ForgiveThe main theme of Hosea’s book is God’s power of forgiveness for the sins of Israel, as witnessed in his redemption of Hosea.
- Wrath for IdolatryHosea argued that Israel would certainly feel the wrath of God for her sinful encounter with Canaanite idolatry.
- Forgiven and RedeemedYet Israel would ultimately be forgiven and redeemed.
- A Voice Beside AmosHosea preached in the kingdom of Israel about the same time as Amos, although perhaps for a bit longer, from 786 B.C. to as late as 721 B.C.
Israel would ultimately be forgiven and redeemed.
Hosea’s book, the first of the twelve prophetic books of the Old Testament, centers on God’s power of forgiveness. Israel would feel God’s wrath for its idolatry, Hosea warned, but wrath would not be the final word.
Where to read more about Hosea.
- 1980Hosea: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Yale Bible 24)Andersen, Francis I., and David Noel Freedman · Doubleday · later republished by Yale University PressA foundational, exhaustive critical commentary.
- 1984Hosea: An Israelite Prophet in Judean Perspective (JSOT Supplement Series 28)Emmerson, Grace I. · JSOT PressExplores the influence of Judean editing and tradition on Hosea.
- 1987Hosea–Jonah (Word Biblical Commentary 31)Stuart, Douglas · Word BooksA widely used, accessible, and thorough scholarly commentary.
- 2010The Book of Hosea (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)Dearman, J. Andrew · EerdmansBalances historical, exegetical, and theological insights.
- 2017Hosea: A Textual CommentaryGruber, Mayer I. · Bloomsbury T&T ClarkA recent, detailed textual commentary with critical perspectives on key passages.
- The Book of HoseaFound in any standard Bible, and online in several translations.Bible GatewayInternet Sacred Text ArchiveProject Gutenberg (KJV)
- HathiTrust Digital LibrarySearch for editions of the Anchor Yale Bible and Word Biblical Commentary volumes on Hosea. Some content is limited or preview-only.hathitrust.org
- Google BooksPreviews of many of the commentaries listed above.books.google.com
("Hosea Icones Prophetarum Veteris Testamenti (serietitel)." Wikimedia Commons. Ca. 1550. Accessed October 5, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hosea_Icones_Prophetarum_Veteris_Testamenti_(serietitel),_RP-P-1963-214.jpg.)
A 16th-century Dutch print from the series Icones Prophetarum Veteris Testamenti, illustrating Hosea with a turban and scroll in an oval frame.
(Amos - AI-generated image)
The vision of Prophet Amos, standing in awe as a radiant divine figure and celestial beings lower a plumb line from the heavens over a serene valley, signifies his profound role as the Oracle of Justice, delivering God's call for righteousness and condemning social injustice in ancient Israel.
(Duccio di Buoninsegna. "Hosea." Wikimedia Commons. 1309. Accessed October 5, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Hosea_-_WGA06767.jpg)
Duccio di Buoninsegna's tempera panel from the Maestà altarpiece, depicting Hosea as a prophetic figure with a book.