The book of Hosea is a labyrinth of juxtaposed images for God and God’s people, with such disparate metaphors as God the devouring lion and God the reviving dew. In Hosea’s God: A Metaphorical Theology, Mason D. Lancaster demonstrates that recent advances in metaphor theory help untangle these divergent portrayals of God. He analyzes fifteen metaphor clusters in Hosea 4–14 individually, then discerns patterns and reversals between the clusters. Finally, respecting the ancient value for emphasizing individual aspects of a depiction over a homogenized picture of the whole, the book identifies five characteristics of God prominent among the metaphors of Hosea. Based on this analysis, Lancaster asserts that Hosea’s metaphorical depiction of Yahweh ultimately derives from the primacy of Yahweh’s fidelity to Israel.

Hosea shows us how God feels about His people Hosea shows us how God feels about us Let God's passion stir your passion

Be thrilled, excited and challenged by God's unconditional, and surprising, love for His people.

In this twelve-session LifeGuide® Bible Study, Dale and Sandy Larsen lead you through the fascinating Old Testament story of Hosea, you'll see how a godly man's unfailing love for his wayward wife illustrates God's unconditional, "no-holds-barred" love for you, too.

Joy Philip Kakkanattu provides an exegetical and theological analysis of an important and difficult text of the Old Testament through a synchronic and diachronic reading. Detailed critical notes, which discuss the textual difficulties, accompany the translation of the text from Hebrew. In the detailed exegesis, special attention is given to study of the key terms theologically significant in Hos 11:1-11 against the context of the whole book. The exegesis shows that in Hos 11:8-9 it is not the repentance of Yahweh that causes the withholding of His anger against Israel, but Yahweh's constancy in His election of Israel as His son. More than a change of heart, the decision not to execute the deserved judgement witnesses Yahweh's divine nature. Special attention is dedicated to the parent metaphor employed in Hos 11:1-11. It is concluded that more than expressing the Yahweh-Israel relationship as a father-son relationship, the text speaks of it in terms of parent-child relationship. In the diachronic analysis, the author deals with the origin and formation of Hos 11:1-11.

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections: Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible. Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved. This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

An Inductive Study for the Purposes of Sanctification and Discipleship

One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike.

A 7-session Bible study to discover the God who cherishes you.