Hosea 1:11

Authorized King James Version

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Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Original Language Analysis

וְ֠נִקְבְּצוּ be gathered H6908
וְ֠נִקְבְּצוּ be gathered
Strong's: H6908
Word #: 1 of 17
to grasp, i.e., collect
וּבְנֵֽי Then shall the children H1121
וּבְנֵֽי Then shall the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 2 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יְהוּדָ֤ה of Judah H3063
יְהוּדָ֤ה of Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 3 of 17
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וּבְנֵֽי Then shall the children H1121
וּבְנֵֽי Then shall the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 4 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 5 of 17
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יַחְדָּ֔ו together H3162
יַחְדָּ֔ו together
Strong's: H3162
Word #: 6 of 17
properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly
וְשָׂמ֥וּ and appoint H7760
וְשָׂמ֥וּ and appoint
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 7 of 17
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
לָהֶ֛ם H0
לָהֶ֛ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 8 of 17
רֹ֥אשׁ head H7218
רֹ֥אשׁ head
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 9 of 17
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
אֶחָ֖ד themselves one H259
אֶחָ֖ד themselves one
Strong's: H259
Word #: 10 of 17
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
וְעָל֣וּ and they shall come up H5927
וְעָל֣וּ and they shall come up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 11 of 17
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 12 of 17
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָאָ֑רֶץ out of the land H776
הָאָ֑רֶץ out of the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 13 of 17
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 14 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
גָד֖וֹל for great H1419
גָד֖וֹל for great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 15 of 17
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
י֥וֹם shall be the day H3117
י֥וֹם shall be the day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 16 of 17
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ of Jezreel H3157
יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ of Jezreel
Strong's: H3157
Word #: 17 of 17
jizreel, the name of two places in palestine and of two israelites

Analysis & Commentary

The reversal promise: 'Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.' Despite three names of judgment, hope emerges. The divided kingdoms (split since 931 BC) will reunite under 'one head'—ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who gathers scattered Israel and makes Jews and Gentiles one (John 10:16, Ephesians 2:14-16). 'Come up out of the land' references both exodus from Egypt and return from exile, prophetically fulfilled in the greater Exodus accomplished by Christ (Luke 9:31, Greek 'exodus'). 'Great shall be the day of Jezreel' transforms the name from scattering to sowing (God sows His people in the earth, 2:23). This demonstrates God's redemptive pattern: judgment isn't His final word; restoration follows for those who repent. The cross makes possible what seemed impossible: rebels becoming children, exiles coming home, scattered people regathered.

Historical Context

Politically, Israel and Judah never reunited. The northern kingdom disappeared in 722 BC; Judah fell in 586 BC. Return from Babylon (538 BC onward) involved only Judah, Benjamin, and Levites. Yet prophecy's fulfillment transcended political expectations: Jesus gathered disciples from all tribes, and Pentecost inaugurated the reunited people of God (Acts 2). Early church included both Jews and Samaritans (descendants of northern kingdom remnant, John 4, Acts 8). The 'one head' is Christ (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18), who creates one new humanity (Ephesians 2:15). Jezreel's transformation from judgment to blessing illustrates Romans 8:28: God works all things for good, even using judgment redemptively.

Questions for Reflection