God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman of unfaithfulness, as a picture of Israel's unfaithfulness. Their children are named Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah (not pitied) and Lo-ammi (not my people). Yet God promises that Israel's people will one day be called children of the living God.
1 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 .
2 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 .
3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim ; which conceived , and bare him a son .
4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel ; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu , and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel .
5 And it shall come to pass at that day , that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel .
6 And she conceived again , and bare a daughter . And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah : for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel ; but I will utterly take them away .
7 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 .
8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah , she conceived , and bare a son .
9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi : for ye are not my people , and I will not be your God.
10 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 .
11 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 .