Hosea 2:1

¶ Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.

Say {H559} ye unto your brethren {H251}, Ammi {H5971}; and to your sisters {H269}, Ruhamah {H7355}.

Say to your brothers, 'Ammi [My People]!' and to your sisters, 'Ruchamah [Pitied]!'

“Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’

Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.

Hosea 2:1 marks a pivotal moment in the prophetic book of Hosea, signaling a dramatic shift from God's pronouncements of judgment to promises of restoration and mercy. Following the symbolic naming of Hosea’s children in Chapter 1, which represented God's temporary withdrawal of favor from unfaithful Israel, this verse introduces a profound reversal.

Context

In the preceding chapter, God commanded the prophet Hosea to name his children as living parables of Israel's spiritual condition. His daughter was named Lo-ruhamah, meaning "not having obtained mercy," and his son Lo-ammi, meaning "not my people." These names symbolized God's judgment on Israel for their spiritual adultery and idolatry. However, Hosea 2:1 immediately introduces a divine promise of reconciliation, where God commands His people to declare a future where these judgments are reversed. This verse sets the stage for the themes of restoration and redemption that dominate the rest of the book, culminating in the promise that Israel will once again be called the "children of the living God".

Key Themes

  • Divine Reversal and Restoration: The verse powerfully illustrates God's capacity to reverse His judgments and restore His people. Despite their rebellion, God's ultimate plan is for reconciliation.
  • Unfailing Covenant Faithfulness: Even when Israel broke their covenant with God through idolatry, this verse underscores God's enduring faithfulness to His promises. His love is steadfast, leading to a renewed relationship.
  • Mercy and Redemption: The very names "Ammi" and "Ruhamah" embody God's renewed compassion and His redemptive work, signifying that His people will once again experience His tender mercy and be acknowledged as truly His own.

Linguistic Insights

The power of Hosea 2:1 lies in its direct linguistic contrast to the names given in Hosea 1:

  • Ammi: This Hebrew word means "my people." It is a direct and emphatic reversal of Lo-ammi (meaning "not my people"), declared in Hosea 1:9. It signifies God's renewed ownership and intimate relationship with Israel.
  • Ruhamah: This Hebrew word means "having obtained mercy" or "compassion." It reverses Lo-ruhamah (meaning "not having obtained mercy"), pronounced in Hosea 1:6. This name highlights God's renewed compassion and the restoration of His tender love towards His people.

These names are not merely labels but prophetic declarations of God's future redemptive work, emphasizing His desire to restore the broken relationship.

Practical Application

Hosea 2:1 offers profound hope for believers today. It reminds us of God's incredible grace and His willingness to forgive and restore, even when we have strayed. Just as Israel was called back into relationship, we too can find assurance in God's unfailing love and mercy. This verse encourages us to embrace God's forgiveness, knowing that He desires to call us "my people" and to show us "mercy." It is a testament to the fact that God's ultimate desire is always for reconciliation and the fulfillment of His promises, a truth echoed in the New Testament where God calls those who were not His people, His people, and those who had not obtained mercy, as having obtained mercy.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Peter 2:10

    Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  • Hosea 2:23

    And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to [them which were] not my people, Thou [art] my people; and they shall say, [Thou art] my God.

  • Ezekiel 11:20

    That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:1

    ¶ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief.

  • Jeremiah 32:38

    And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

  • Ezekiel 37:27

    My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back