Gomer

Overview

• Testament: Old
• Role: Hosea’s wife, living sign of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s covenant love
• Family: Daughter of Diblaim; wife of Hosea
• Key Books: Hosea

Biography

Gomer is the woman Hosea is commanded to marry as a prophetic sign-act. Her relationship with Hosea becomes an embodied parable of Israel’s spiritual adultery and the LORD’s wounded yet pursuing covenant love.

Hosea 3 portrays Hosea buying her back and calling her to remain with him, mirroring God’s promise to woo and restore his unfaithful people.

Key Events

• Marriage to Gomer commanded
• Three children named
• Buying back Gomer

Relationships

• Hosea - Husband and prophet
• Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi - Children whose names bear prophetic meaning

Important Verses

• Hosea 1:2-9
• Hosea 3:1-5

Cross-References

• Mentioned in: Hosea

Notes

Gomer’s story is painful because it refuses to leave covenant unfaithfulness abstract; Hosea must feel the metaphor he preaches.