5617. Hósée
Lexical Summary
Hósée: Hosea

Original Word: Ὡσηέ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Hósée
Pronunciation: ho-say-eh'
Phonetic Spelling: (ho-say-eh')
KJV: Osee
NASB: Hosea
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H1954 (הוֹשֵַׁע - Hoshea))]

1. Hosee (i.e. Hoshea), an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Osee.

Of Hebrew origin (Howshea'); Hosee (i.e. Hoshea), an Israelite -- Osee.

see HEBREW Howshea'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Hoshea
Definition
Hosea, an Isr. prophet
NASB Translation
Hosea (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5617: ὡσεη

ὡσεη (G T Tr, but R L Ὠσεη; see WH. Introduction § 408; Tdf. Proleg., p. 107) (הושֵׁעַ 'deliverance'), , Hosea, a well-known Hebrew prophet, son of Beeri and contemporary of Isaiah (Hosea 1:1f): Romans 9:25.

Topical Lexicon
Name and background

Ὡσηέ is the Greek form of the Hebrew prophet Hosea, whose name reflects the theme of “salvation” that pervades his message. The apostle Paul employs this Greek spelling once, in Romans 9:25, when he cites Hosea’s prophecy to demonstrate God’s redemptive purposes.

Biblical usage

Romans 9:25 is the sole New Testament occurrence:

Romans 9:25 – “As He says in Hosea: ‘I will call them “My people” who are not My people, and I will call her “Beloved” who is not beloved.’”

Here Paul draws from Hosea 2:23 and Hosea 1:10 to show that God’s saving intention includes those once estranged—Jew and Gentile alike—thus reinforcing the larger Romans argument of sovereign mercy.

Historical context of Hosea

Hosea ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel during the eighth century BC, a season marked by economic prosperity and spiritual infidelity. His marriage to Gomer, a woman who proved unfaithful, dramatized Israel’s covenant breach with the Lord. Yet Hosea’s oracles are threaded with promises of eventual restoration, revealing God’s willingness to reclaim His wayward people.

Paul’s theological appropriation

By citing Hosea, Paul demonstrates the continuity of God’s plan:
• Inclusion of Gentiles – The “not My people” become “My people” (Hosea 2:23), supporting Romans 3:29 and Romans 10:12.
• Preservation of a remnant – In Romans 9:27-29 Paul also invokes Isaiah, pairing Hosea’s restoration theme with the notion of a faithful remnant within Israel.
• Covenant mercy – Hosea’s message that judgment gives way to compassion parallels Paul’s proclamation that “mercy triumphs over judgment” in the gospel.

Theological significance

1. Divine covenant faithfulness – Hosea unveils God’s steadfast love (Hosea 11:8-9), echoed in Romans 9-11, where God’s promises to Israel stand unbroken despite unbelief.
2. Sovereign grace – The shift from “Lo-Ammi” (“not My people”) to “My people” illustrates grace rooted in God’s initiative, anticipating Ephesians 2:4-5.
3. Mission to the nations – Hosea’s restoration language foreshadows the global reach of the New Covenant, realized at Pentecost and advanced through Paul’s ministry.

Ministry application

• Call to repentance – Hosea 6:1-3 urges returning to the Lord; pastors may apply this to personal and corporate revival.
• Marriage as metaphor – Hosea’s union with Gomer models God’s redemptive pursuit; Christian marriages can mirror covenant fidelity (Ephesians 5:25-27).
• Hope for prodigals – The prophet’s imagery speaks encouragement to those praying for straying loved ones, affirming that no one is beyond God’s reclaiming grace.

Christological and ecclesiological threads

Hosea points forward to Christ, the faithful Bridegroom who purchases His bride at the cost of His own blood (Hosea 3:1-2; compare Ephesians 5:2). The Church, comprising both Jews and Gentiles, embodies the “beloved” once alienated but now reconciled, fulfilling Hosea’s promise and Paul’s exposition.

Related Scriptures

Hosea 1:10; Hosea 2:23; Hosea 3:5; Hosea 6:1-3; Isaiah 10:22-23; Romans 9:27-29; Romans 10:12; Ephesians 2:11-13; 1 Peter 2:10.

Forms and Transliterations
Ωσηε Ὡσηὲ Hosee Hoseè Hōsēe Hōsēè osee Ōsēe
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Romans 9:25 N
GRK: ἐν τῷ Ὡσηὲ λέγει Καλέσω
NAS: also in Hosea, I WILL CALL
KJV: also in Osee, I will call them my
INT: in Hosea he says I will call

Strong's Greek 5617
1 Occurrence


Ὡσηὲ — 1 Occ.

5616
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