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 1:4KJV
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Hosea 1:4 (KJV)

What does Hosea 1:4 mean?

Hosea 1:4 uses the name of Hosea’s son as a warning about Israel’s future. The LORD announces that Jehu’s ruling family will answer for bloodshed at Jezreel and that the kingdom of Israel will come to an end.

The LORD gives Hosea the name after the birth in verse 3. Jezreel was a place associated with violent events during Jehu’s rise to power. The child’s name would bring those events to mind for those who heard the warning.

The Hebrew behind Hosea 1:4

  • “Jezreel” — יִזְרְעֶאל (yizreʿel): The name means “God sows.” Here it names both Hosea’s son and the place connected with the bloodshed.
  • “avenge” — פָּקַד (paqad): This word can carry the sense of calling someone to account. The verse uses it for the coming punishment of Jehu’s house.

Why Hosea 1:4 matters

  • “The house of Jehu” points to a ruling family, while “the kingdom of the house of Israel” points to the northern kingdom as a whole. The warning therefore reaches beyond one family to the kingdom it ruled.
  • The bloodshed at Jezreel had a history. Jehu killed members of King Ahab’s family there, as described in 2 Kings 9–10. That account also says Jehu acted against Ahab’s house as the LORD had directed, making Hosea’s later warning striking.
  • “Yet a little while” places the threatened reckoning in the near future for Hosea’s hearers. Hosea 1:5 adds a picture of Israel’s military strength being broken in the valley of Jezreel.

Where else these words appear

“kingdom” Hebrew H4468 · used in 9 verses

  • Joshua 13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
  • Joshua 13:27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.
  • 1 Samuel 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

“Jezreel” Hebrew H3157 · used in 32 verses

  • Joshua 15:56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
  • 1 Kings 18:45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
  • 2 Kings 9:36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:

“Jehu” Hebrew H3058 · used in 54 verses

  • 1 Kings 16:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
  • 2 Kings 9:22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
  • 2 Kings 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

“cease” Hebrew H7673 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
  • Jeremiah 48:33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.