Hosea 1:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Additionally, the prophet Isaiah confirms this, declaring: "As every garment that is gathered together by flattery shall be given up, and they shall want to be burnt with fire. For unto us a child shall be born, and His name shall be called: great is the counsel of the angel" (Isaiah 9:5-6).

The nature of revelation afforded to the saints is such that it transcends physical senses and is not communicated through spoken words like it is among us; Paul affirms this with: "You seek temptation from Christ who speaks in me" (2 Corinthians 13:3). Thus, when it is stated that the word of God was 'in Hosea', it signifies that a revelation was 'in Hosea,' illuminating understanding about the future, not through the physical sight but through the mind and heart. Moreover, the phrase 'And the Lord spake unto Hosea' evokes a particular consideration. The directives given to him were not meant for all readers of his prophecy, nor were they intended for universal adherence; they were uniquely addressed to Hosea. Although the command, "Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not learn by the way of tongues, neither shall ye be afraid of the signs of heaven," bears general application, the instruction, "Thou shalt put away the wife of whoredoms, and the children of whoredoms," cannot be regarded as broadly beneficial. The former command can apply to everyone, while the latter was likely spoken exclusively to the prophet. To say, "and He spake unto Hosea," suggests that this message was intended specifically for him; what was instructed to one for the purpose of divine construction was not meant to lead to disgraceful conduct among many. Therefore, what was it that God communicated to the blessed Hosea?

Some propose that Hosea was not the initial prophet, but that the phrase ‘The beginning of the word of the Lord through Hosea’ merely indicates that the subsequent messages were first delivered to him by the Lord. The Lord commanded Hosea to “Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms.” The Hebrew term used does not translate directly to ‘harlot’ or ‘whoredom’ as is commonly believed, but rather implies multiple acts of unfaithfulness. This denotes that the woman the prophet marries has a history of repeated infidelity, suggesting that the more sinful she is, the greater the compassion the prophet extends toward her. Coinciding with this, it states, “And the children of whoredoms; for by whoredoms shall the earth be whored, having departed from the Lord.” This alludes to taking not only a wife of infidelity but also children born out of such unions, indicating a lineage steeped in impurity. In a historical context, the prophet should not be condemned for transforming a harlot into a virtuous individual, but rather commended for bringing good out of bad. A person who remains virtuous can corrupt themselves by associating with the unworthy, yet the sinful can find redemption through good role models. Hence, we observe that Hosea did not lose his purity by uniting with the harlot; instead, she gained a new purity that she previously lacked, especially since Hosea's actions were driven by obedience to God’s directive rather than base desires. This literal account serves to illustrate a deeper spiritual truth concerning God's relationship with Israel. The Lord addresses the wayward Jewish people, who have turned to immoral acts, as evident in Ezekiel’s words regarding their former state of defilement. Despite being showered with blessings, they neglected the kindness of their Heavenly Husband and pursued their lovers, represented by neighboring nations. Earlier, we noted that Hosea, as a type of the Savior and the Church, took as his wife a harlot who had once worshipped idols. Should anyone, particularly among the Gentiles, resist accepting this as a metaphorical lesson and mock the prophet’s union with a harlot, we could counter with examples celebrated in Greek philosophy. Consider Xenocrates, who transformed the wayward Polemon, or Socrates, who rescued Phaedon from a life of debauchery, both celebrated for their roles in leading their disciples to wisdom. These comparisons stand in support of the prophet. We offer this defense to those with hardened hearts, while to our own who seek understanding, we clarify that the statement ‘For the earth shall commit whoredom by whoredom, having departed from the Lord’ points to a broader truth: it is not merely Hosea’s personal union that signifies the issue at hand, but rather a depiction of humanity's alienation from God. The term ‘earth’ can be understood in the context of Judah, Samaria, or even Israel as a whole, particularly during the time when this message was delivered, reflecting their apostasy from the Lord.