Gomer (wife of Hosea)

Illustration of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible Historiale, 1372

Gomer (Hebrew: גומר, romanizedGōmer) was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Hosea (1:3). English translations of Hosea 1:2 refer to her alternatively as a "promiscuous woman" (NIV), a "harlot" (NASB), and a "whore" (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.

Children

Hosea 1 relates how Hosea has three children, a son called Jezreel, a daughter Lo-Ruhamah and another son Lo-Ammi. All the names are described in the text as having symbolic meaning, reflecting the relationship between God and Israel. Jezreel is named after the valley of that name. Lo-Ruhamah is named to denote the ruined condition of the kingdom of Israel and Lo-Ammi is named in token of God's rejection of his people.[1][2] Although the latter two children are not specifically said to be Hosea's, James Mays says that this is "hardly an implication" of Gomer's adultery.[3] In Hosea 3:1, however, it says that she is "loved by another man and is an adulteress" (NIV). Hosea is told to buy her back, and he does so for 15 shekels and a quantity of barley.

Cultural references

  • In the 1969 film The Milky Way by Luis Buñuel, the two protagonists encounter a man in a black cape who tells them to sleep with a prostitute, have children with her and name them "Ye Are Not My People" and "No More Mercy". Afterwards they meet a prostitute who wants to become pregnant and gives the same names for the children as those predicted by the man in the cape.
  • Brooke Fraser has a song called "Hosea's Wife" in her album Albertine.
  • Third Day has a song called "Gomer's Theme" on their album Conspiracy No. 5, which is the source of their fans calling themselves "Gomers."
  • Francine Rivers' 1991 novel Redeeming Love tells the story of a prostitute named Angel in the 1850s American West, based on the story of Gomer.
  • Michael Card has a song called "Song Of Gomer" on his album The Word.
  • Estonian writer Ain Kalmus' 1950 novel Prophet tells the tragic love story of Gomer and Hosea.
  • Mesu Andrews' 2013 novel Love In A Broken Vessel features Gomer as a main character as well as her marriage to Hosea.
  • In the film Walk on the Wild Side, character Dove Linkhorn relates the tale of Hosea and Gomer to explain how he will deal with his girlfriend Hallie.
  • The 2012 film Amazing Love is a retelling of the Book of Hosea and features Gomer prominently as one of the central characters.[4]

References

  1. ^ Hosea 1
  2. ^ "www.Bibler.org - Dictionary - Gomer". 2012-09-01. Archived from the original on 9 Oct 2014.
  3. ^ Mays, James L. (1969). Hosea. SCM. p. 28.
  4. ^ Downes, Kevin (2012-11-06), Amazing Love (Drama), Hosea Productions, retrieved 2023-01-25