OET interlinear HOS 1:1

Section 1:1: Preface/Introduction

This opening verse introduces the whole book. It tells us that this book was a message from the LORD to his people through the prophet Hosea. It also tells when Hosea received this message from the LORD.

In Hebrew, this first verse serves as a title for the whole book.Andersen and Freedman (pages 142–149). Most English versions have a separate book title, such as “Hosea,” followed directly by 1:1. There are two ways to show the relationship of 1:1 to the rest of the book:

• Place a section heading before 1:1. Here are some other examples of section headings:

  The beginning of the book

  The LORD gave a message to Hosea

• Do not place any heading before 1:1. Instead, place the first heading before 1:2. See the examples in the note on Section 1:2–9.

This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri

• ¶ This is the message that Yahweh gave to Hosea, Beeri’s son,

• ¶ This book contains the words that Yahweh made known to Hosea, the son/child of Beeri.

• ¶ In this book are the words that Yahweh spoke to Hosea, the son/child of Beeri.

combined/reordered

• ¶ During the time that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled in Judah, and Jeroboam the son of Jehoash ruled in Israel, Yahweh spoke this message to Hosea the son of Beeri.

in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah,

• while Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.

• Yahweh made these words known during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled as kings of Judah,

• Yahweh spoke these words during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled as kings in the country of Judah,

and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

• During this same time, Jeroboam, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel.

• and while Jeroboam, son of Jehoash, ruled as king in the country of Israel.

General Comment on 1:1a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse. The CEV has reordered some of the verse parts using the first person pronouns “I” and “me.”

^1aI am Hosea son of Beeri. ^1bWhen Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah, ^1cand when Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel, ^1athe Lord spoke this message to me.

For a way to reorder the parts of this verse using third person forms, see 1:1a–c (combined/reordered) in the Display. Use an order that is natural in your language.

In chapters 1–3, Hosea’s relationship with Gomer illustrates the LORD’s relationship to his people, the Israelites. Hosea married Gomer, but she was not faithful to him. Instead, she left him and lived with other men. In a similar way, the LORD had made an agreement with the people of Israel that he would be their God and they should worship only him. But they were not faithful to obey that agreement. Instead, they turned away from him and worshiped false gods. The LORD punished Israel because of their unfaithfulness, but eventually he was merciful and restored their relationship. In a similar way, Hosea was merciful to Gomer and restored their relationship.