Gomer (wife of Hosea)

Gomer (go'-mer) was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Hosea (1:3). Hosea 1:2 refers to her alternatively as a "promiscuous woman" (NIV), a "harlot" (NASB), and a "whore" (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.

Illustration of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible Historiale, 1372.

Children

Hosea 1 relates how Hosea has three children, a son called Jezreel, a daughter Lo-Ruhamah and another son Lo-Ammi. All the names are described in the text as having symbolic meaning, reflecting the relationship between God and Israel. Jezreel is named after the valley of that name. Lo-Ruhamah is named to denote the ruined condition of the kingdom of Israel and Lo-Ammi is named in token of God's rejection of his people.[1][2] Although the latter two children are not specifically said to be Hosea's, James Mays says that this is "hardly an implication" of Gomer's adultery.[3] In Hosea 3:1, however, it says that she is "loved by another man and is an adulteress" (NIV). Hosea is told to buy her back, and he does so for 15 shekels and a quantity of barley.

According to Kirsten Abbott, feminist interpretation regards the story of Hosea and his relations with his wife Gomer as a metaphor for the conflict between a Covenant Theology (Israel violating the covenant relationship with YHWH) and a Creation Theology (YHWH will undo the fertility of the earth in response to Israel following other fertility gods).[4]

Cultural references
  • Brooke Fraser has a song called "Hosea's Wife" in her album Albertine.
  • Third Day has a song called "Gomer's Theme" on their album Conspiracy No. 5, which is the source of their fans calling themselves "Gomers."
  • Francine Rivers' 1991 novel Redeeming Love tells the story of a prostitute named Angel in the 1850s American West, based on the story of Gomer.
  • Michael Card has a song called "Song Of Gomer" on his album The Word.
  • Estonian writer Ain Kalmus' 1950 novel Prophet tells the tragic love story of Gomer and Hosea.
  • (Mesu Andrews') 2013 novel "(Love In A Broken Vessel)" features Gomer as a main character as well as her marriage to Hosea.
  • Robert DeLong references "Hosea married Gomer..." in his song Mud in My Eyes
  • Bob Dylan's "Key West (Philosopher Pirate)" from Rough and Rowdy Ways seems to allude to the marriage of Hosea and Gomer: "Twelve years old, they put me in a suit /Forced me to marry a prostitute /There were gold fringes on her wedding dress."
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References
  1. Hosea 1
  2. "www.Bibler.org - Dictionary - Gomer". 2012-09-01.
  3. Mays, James L. (1969). Hosea. SCM. p. 28.
  4. "Kirsten Abbott "Creation Motifs in Hosea", Sea Changes Journal, December 2005". Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
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