Topical Encyclopedia Gomer, the wife of the prophet Hosea, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Hosea. Her life and actions serve as a powerful allegory for the relationship between God and the nation of Israel. Gomer's account is a poignant illustration of unfaithfulness and redemption, reflecting the spiritual adultery of Israel and God's enduring love and mercy.Biblical Account Gomer is introduced in Hosea 1:2-3, where God commands Hosea to marry "a promiscuous woman" as a symbolic act to represent Israel's unfaithfulness. The Berean Standard Bible states: "When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He said to him, 'Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by forsaking the LORD.' So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son." Gomer's marriage to Hosea is a direct command from God, intended to mirror the spiritual infidelity of Israel, which had turned away from God to worship idols and engage in pagan practices. Gomer's unfaithfulness to Hosea is a living parable of Israel's betrayal of their covenant with God. Children of Gomer Gomer bore Hosea three children, each with symbolic names that conveyed God's message to Israel. The first child, a son named Jezreel, signifies God's impending judgment on the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel (Hosea 1:4). The second child, a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, meaning "not loved" or "no mercy," symbolizes God's withdrawal of love and mercy from Israel (Hosea 1:6). The third child, a son named Lo-Ammi, meaning "not my people," represents the severing of the covenant relationship between God and Israel (Hosea 1:9). Symbolism and Allegory Gomer's infidelity is a central theme in the Book of Hosea, serving as a metaphor for Israel's spiritual adultery. Despite Gomer's unfaithfulness, Hosea's continued love and pursuit of her reflect God's unwavering commitment to His people. In Hosea 3:1, God instructs Hosea to "Go, show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." This command underscores the depth of God's love and His willingness to forgive and restore His people, despite their repeated transgressions. Hosea's actions in redeeming Gomer from her life of adultery and bringing her back into his home illustrate God's redemptive plan for Israel. Theological Implications Gomer's account is a profound testament to the themes of sin, judgment, love, and redemption. Her life serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unfaithfulness to God, while also highlighting the hope of reconciliation and restoration. The narrative of Hosea and Gomer emphasizes the seriousness of spiritual adultery and the pain it causes, yet it also reveals the boundless grace and mercy of God, who desires to restore His covenant relationship with His people. In the broader context of Scripture, Gomer's account foreshadows the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ, who reconciles humanity to God despite their sinfulness. The account of Gomer and Hosea remains a powerful reminder of God's enduring love and the call to faithfulness for all believers. Nave's Topical Index Hosea 1:2,3The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take to you a wife of prostitutions and children of prostitutions: for the land has committed great prostitution, departing from the LORD. Nave's Topical Index Hosea 3:1 Library The Section Chap. I. -iii. CHAPTER III. Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ... An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ... Resources What does the Bible say about women pastors? | GotQuestions.orgDo women have to remain silent in church? | GotQuestions.org Are men and women equal in God's eyes? | GotQuestions.org Women: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Women are Courteous to Strangers Women are Tender to Her offspring Women of the Body (Ekklesia) of Christ Women: A Persian Queen Sat on a Throne Beside Her King Women: Active in Instigating to Iniquity Women: As Prophets: Philip's Four Unmarried Daughters Women: Athaliah, in Destroying the Royal Household and Usurping the Throne Women: Bath-Sheba, in Her Adultery, in Becoming the Wife of Her Husband's Murderer Women: Consecrated Jewels to Tabernacle Women: Converted by Preaching of Paul Women: Could not Marry Without the Consent of Parents Women: Deborah, a Judge, Prophetess, and Military Leader Women: Delilah, in Her Conspiracy Against Samson Women: Difference in Ceremonies Made Between Male and Female Children Women: Dinah, in Her Fornication Women: Eve, in Yielding to Temptation and Seducing Her Husband Women: Fall of, and Curse Upon Women: First to Whom the Risen Lord Appeared Women: Fond of Self-Indulgence Women: Forbidden to Wear Men's Costume Women: Gomer, the Adulterous Wife of Hosea Women: had Separate Apartments in Dwellings Women: Haman's Wife, in Advising Him to Hang Mordecai Women: Hannah, the Mother of Samuel Women: Help in Defensive Operations Women: Herodias, in Her Incestuous Marriage With Herod Antipas Women: Herodius, by Indirectly Causing John the Baptist to be Decapitated Women: Jezebel, in Her Conspiracy Against Naboth, to Cheat Him out of his Vineyard Women: Jezebel, in Her Evil Counsels To, and Influence Over, Ahab Women: Jezebel, in Her Persecution and Destruction of the Prophets of the Lord Women: Jezebel, in Her Persecution of Elijah Women: Job's Wife, in Suggesting to Him That he Curse God and Die Women: Leah, in Her Imitation of Rachel in the Matter of Children Women: Lot's Wife, in Her Rebellion Against Her Situation, and Against the Destruction of Sodom Women: Michal, in Her Derision of David's Religious Zeal Women: Miriam, in Her Sedition With Aaron Against Moses Women: Not to be Given in Marriage Was Considered a Calamity Women: Patriotic: The Women of Israel Women: Patriotic: The Women of the Philistines Women: Peninnah, the Wife of Elkanah, in Her Jealous Taunting of Hannah Women: Potiphar's Wife, in Her Lascivious Lust and Slander Against Joseph Women: Property Rights of in Inheritance Women: Property Rights of To Sell Real Estate Women: Punishment for Seducing, when not Betrothed Women: Punishment to be Inflicted Upon Men for Seducing, when Betrothed Women: Purifications of After Childbirth Women: Purifications of After Menstruation Women: Rachel, in Her Jealousy of Leah Women: Rachel, in Stealing Images Women: Religious Privileges of, Among Early Christians Women: Required to Attend to the Reading of the Law of Moses Women: Rules for Dress of Christian Women: Sapphira, in Her Blasphemous Falsehood Women: Sarah, in Her Jealousy and Malice Toward Hagar Women: Silly, and Easily Led Into Error Women: Social Status of in Persia Women: Social Status of in Roman Customs Women: Sold for Husband's Debts Women: Solomon's Wives, in Their Idolatrous and Wicked Influence Over Solomon Women: Symbolical of Wickedness Women: Tended Flocks and Herds Women: The Cannibalistic Mothers of Samaria Women: The Daughters of Lot, in Their Incestuous Lust Women: The Midianite Woman in the Camp of Israel, Taken in Adultery Women: The Philippian Christians Women: The Shunammite Woman, Who Gave Hospitality to Elisha Women: The Sodomites of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) Women: The Widow Who Put Her Two Mite (Small Coins, Greek: Leptas) Into the Treasury Women: The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery and Brought to Jesus in the Temple Women: Took Part in Ancient Worship Women: Treated With Cruelty in War Women: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Women: Virtuous, Held in High Estimation Women: Wicked: Commits Forgery Women: Wicked: Full of Deceit and Licentiousness Women: Wicked: Silly and Wayward Women: Wicked: Zeal of, in Licentious Practices of Idolatry Women: Widow of Zarephath, Who Fed Elijah During the Famine Women: Worshiped in Separate Compartments Women: Zealous in Promoting Superstition and Idolatry Women: Zipporah, in Her Persecution of Moses on Account of his Religious Obligations Related Terms Women-servants (21 Occurrences) |
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