Hosea 1:4 kjv
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.
Hosea 1:4 nkjv
Then the LORD said to him: "Call his name Jezreel, For in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, And bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Hosea 1:4 niv
Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
Hosea 1:4 esv
And the LORD said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Hosea 1:4 nlt
And the LORD said, "Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu's dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel's independence.
Hosea 1 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 9:7-8 | "For I will avenge the blood of My servants... and punish the house of Ahab." | Jehu's original commission for judgment. |
| 2 Kgs 9:30-37 | "Then Jehu rode to Jezreel... dog ate Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel." | Jehu's action at Jezreel against Jezebel. |
| 2 Kgs 10:1-11 | "Jehu wrote letters... killed all who remained to Ahab in Jezreel..." | Jehu's execution of Ahab's descendants. |
| 2 Kgs 10:29-31 | "However, Jehu did not turn away... nor walk in the law of the Lord." | Jehu's incomplete obedience and sin. |
| Gen 9:5-6 | "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed." | Principle of accountability for bloodshed. |
| Num 35:33 | "You shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood pollutes..." | Land defiled by blood requires atonement. |
| Deut 19:10 | "That innocent blood may not be shed in your land..." | Warning against bloodguilt. |
| Psa 9:12 | "He who avenges blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry..." | God's justice regarding blood. |
| Psa 89:30-32 | "If His sons forsake My law... then I will punish their transgression..." | Consequences for disobedience and rebellion. |
| Isa 1:20 | "But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword." | Rejection of God leads to destruction. |
| Isa 7:8 | "Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken..." | Prophecy of Northern Kingdom's end. |
| Jer 7:6 | "If you do not oppress... shed innocent blood..." | Divine judgment linked to social injustice. |
| Jer 11:10-11 | "They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers... bringing." | God brings calamity upon disobedience. |
| Ezek 7:23 | "The land is full of bloody crimes..." | God's reason for judging the land. |
| Ezek 33:8 | "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!'" | Divine judgment upon the unrighteous. |
| Amos 7:9 | "The high places of Isaac shall be desolated... I will rise against..." | Prophetic judgment against Israel's shrines. |
| 2 Kgs 17:6-18 | "The king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria... because of sins." | Historical fulfillment of the kingdom's end. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises kings." | God's sovereignty over nations and rulers. |
| Hos 2:22-23 | "And I will sow her for Myself in the earth... will say, 'You are My people'" | Jezreel's later meaning: God will "sow" for restoration. |
| Zec 10:6 | "For I will strengthen the house of Judah... and I will bring them back." | God's promise of future restoration for His people. |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness..." | Divine wrath against human sin. |
| Heb 10:30-31 | "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord... dreadfulness of falling." | God's ultimate authority to execute judgment. |
| Jas 5:4 | "Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields... cry out..." | Justice for those wronged, implies divine judgment. |
Hosea 1 verses
Hosea 1 4 Meaning
Hosea 1:4 proclaims God's command to the prophet Hosea to name his son Jezreel, signifying imminent divine judgment. This name points to a time when God will punish the ruling house of Jehu for the violence and bloodshed committed in Jezreel, leading to the termination of the kingdom of the Northern tribes of Israel. The verse marks a pivotal declaration of the Northern Kingdom's coming end due to its prolonged unfaithfulness and bloodguilt.
Hosea 1 4 Context
Hosea 1:4 introduces the first of Hosea's children, Jezreel, whose name symbolically prophesies the imminent judgment of God upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This occurs at the outset of the book, immediately following the Lord's command for Hosea to marry Gomer, an unfaithful woman, to parallel Israel's spiritual harlotry. The "house of Jehu" refers to the dynasty of King Jehu, who initiated a bloody purge against the house of Ahab and the worshippers of Baal in the Valley of Jezreel (2 Kgs 9-10). While Jehu was initially God's instrument to cleanse Israel, his actions went beyond divine command in their excess, or perhaps, he failed to root out the sin of Jeroboam's calves and relied on human policy, leading to future divine accountability. Historically, this prophecy points to the ultimate destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, which occurred approximately two decades after Hosea's ministry began.
Hosea 1 4 Word analysis
- Then the LORD said to him: This highlights God's direct, authoritative, and specific revelation to Hosea. "LORD" (יהוה, YHWH) emphasizes God's covenant name, underscoring His faithfulness and righteous judgment.
- Call his name Jezreel: (קרא שׁמו יזרעאל, qara shmo Yizre'el). The act of naming holds prophetic significance in the Bible. The name Jezreel itself has a dual meaning: "God scatters" or "God plants." Here, it primarily means "God scatters," pointing to dispersion and judgment.
- for in a little while: This indicates the imminence and certainty of the prophesied judgment, suggesting it would occur within Hosea's lifetime or shortly after.
- I will punish: (פקד, paqad). This Hebrew verb means "to visit," which can refer to visiting for good (blessing) or for ill (punishment). In this context, it unequivocally signifies punitive judgment and accountability.
- the house of Jehu: This refers to Jehu's dynastic line, which ruled Israel for five generations. Though initially chosen by God to execute judgment on the wicked house of Ahab, Jehu's actions in carrying out that judgment, particularly the extent of bloodshed, and his subsequent failure to fully eradicate idolatry from Israel (maintaining Jeroboam's golden calves), made his dynasty culpable.
- for the bloodshed of Jezreel: (דם יזרעאל, dam Yizre'el). "Bloodshed" (דם) implies responsibility for violent deaths. The phrase links the impending punishment directly to Jehu's actions at the specific location, the Valley of Jezreel. Scholars debate whether this refers to the excessive brutality beyond divine command or the general atmosphere of violence in Israel associated with Jehu's methods, or perhaps Jehu's ultimate failure to lead the nation fully back to God despite his divinely appointed initial mission.
- and I will put an end to: (אחית, akhit). This signifies a definitive cessation or termination. God Himself declares the end of the kingdom, asserting His sovereign control over nations.
- the kingdom of the house of Israel: This specifically refers to the Northern Kingdom, which had separated from Judah, signifying its impending dissolution as a political entity.
Hosea 1 4 Bonus section
The Valley of Jezreel was a highly strategic and fertile plain, a historical battleground (Judges 7, 1 Sam 29, 2 Kgs 9), and a symbol of power. For Jehu to commit his atrocities there, particularly against Ahab's family and later the worshippers of Baal, firmly imprinted "Jezreel" with an association of violent, revolutionary upheaval. While Jehu was commanded by God to cleanse Ahab's house (2 Kgs 9:7-10), his execution went beyond the letter, displaying a cruel zeal for his own glory or perhaps demonstrating an underlying self-serving motive rather than pure devotion to God's command. Later in Hosea (2:22-23), the name "Jezreel" takes on a redemptive connotation, signaling that God would again "sow" His people, this time for planting and restoration. This dual meaning of Jezreel is crucial, highlighting that even in divine judgment, God's ultimate plan often includes restoration and the planting of a faithful remnant. This initial negative prophecy thus holds a seed of future hope within its very terminology.
Hosea 1 4 Commentary
Hosea 1:4 unveils a chilling divine declaration, marking the beginning of the end for the Northern Kingdom. By naming his son Jezreel, Hosea delivers a living, prophetic sermon. The name itself becomes a double-edged sword: pointing to "God scatters" in immediate judgment, yet also holding the promise of "God plants" for future restoration, though that latter aspect is only fully revealed later in Hosea 2. The judgment against the "house of Jehu" is not a denial of God's earlier use of Jehu, but a rectification for his overreach or inadequate commitment to true worship, exemplified by his ruthless methods and failure to remove all forms of idolatry from the kingdom. God's judgment is not arbitrary; it targets specific acts and failures. The Jezreel valley, once a site of significant battles and Jehu's bloody coup, would now symbolize God's own scattering of Israel. This verse underscores the solemn principle of divine accountability: even those appointed by God must act in His righteousness, and entire nations face consequences for their unfaithfulness and bloodguilt. It illustrates God's unyielding justice and His power to bring down kingdoms, paving the way for the historical Assyrian captivity of Israel.