Lexical Summary
Hoshea: Hoshea
Original Word:הוֹשֵׁעַ
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Howshea`
Pronunciation:ho-SHAY-ah
Phonetic Spelling:(ho-shay'-ah)
KJV: Hosea, Hoshea, Oshea
NASB:Hoshea, Hosea, Joshua
Word Origin:[fromH3467 (יָשַׁע - save)]
1. deliverer
2. Hoshea, the name of five Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Hosea, Hoshea, Oshea
Fromyasha'; deliverer; Hoshea, the name of five Israelites -- Hosea, Hoshea, Oshea.
see HEBREWyasha'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yashaDefinition"salvation," the name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationHosea (3), Hoshea (12), Joshua (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
salvation; on form, compare on pronunciation see Hpt
ZA ii, 261 Anm. 2 Jager
BAS i, 468) —
original name of Joshua according toNumbers 13:8,16 (P), , compareDeuteronomy 32:44 (J; probably error, see Dr), , see above
2 Kings 15:30;2 Kings 17:1,3,4,6;2 Kings 18:1,9,10, .
Hosea 1:1,2(twice in verse), .
1 Chronicles 27:20, ().
Nehemiah 10:24, , .
Topical Lexicon
Name Significanceהוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshea) means “salvation.” In every appearance the name draws attention to the saving purpose of God—whether through a faithful leader, a prophet’s message, or even the fall of a kingdom that refused to repent.
Hoshea son of Nun: From Spy to Savior-Leader
Numbers 13:8 first introduces “Hoshea son of Nun” as the Ephraimite spy. After the reconnaissance, “Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua” (Numbers 13:16), adding the divine element “Yah” (“the LORD saves”). Although Scripture continues to speak of him as Joshua,Deuteronomy 32:44 recalls the older name: “Then Moses came with Hoshea son of Nun and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people”.
1. Character: Unlike ten fearful spies, Hoshea/Joshua trusted the LORD’s promise—an early demonstration that true salvation is inseparable from faith.
2. Ministry: As successor to Moses he led Israel into the land, pre-figuring the greater “Joshua” (Jesus) who brings God’s people into eternal rest.
3. Theological thread: The change from Hoshea to Joshua shows that human “salvation” attains its goal only when the covenant name of the LORD is attached to it.
Hoshea son of Elah: The Final King of Northern Israel
This Hoshea ascended by assassination (2 Kings 15:30) and reigned nine years (2 Kings 17:1).
• Political setting: A vassal to Assyria, he courted Egypt and withheld tribute. “Shalmaneser king of Assyria advanced against him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute” (2 Kings 17:3). The subsequent rebellion (17:4) led to siege and captivity.
• Spiritual diagnosis: 2 Kings immediately links the downfall to covenant apostasy: “All this happened because the Israelites sinned against the LORD their God” (2 Kings 17:7).
• Historical outcome: Samaria fell in 722 BC, ending the northern kingdom. Hoshea disappears from the record, a sober reminder that political maneuvering cannot overturn divine judgment.
• Theological significance: The last man named “salvation” in Israel’s monarchy presided over its destruction—underscoring that no earthly king can accomplish what only the LORD can provide.
Hoshea son of Azaziah: Tribal Overseer under David
In David’s military and civic organization, “from Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah” (1 Chronicles 27:20) served as tribal chief. His quiet faithfulness contrasts sharply with his royal namesake; the Ephraimite tribe that once supplied Joshua now provides an able administrator for the united kingdom.
Hoshea after the Exile: Covenant Renewal
Among the signatories of Nehemiah’s covenant stands “Hoshea” (Nehemiah 10:23). He represents the restored community’s resolve to walk in obedience, illustrating that genuine salvation demands covenant commitment, not merely return to the land.
Hoshea the Prophet: Messenger of Covenant Love and Judgment
“The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri” (Hosea 1:1) launches one of Scripture’s most poignant prophetic books.
• Personal symbolism: “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution” (Hosea 1:2). The prophet’s marriage displays the LORD’s faithful love toward an unfaithful people.
• Core message: Israel’s infidelity will bring exile, yet divine compassion will triumph: “I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them” (Hosea 14:4).
• Relation to the name: Hosea proclaims that salvation flows from God’s steadfast love, not human merit.
Thematic Threads
1. Faith versus apostasy: Joshua-Hoshea embodies believing obedience; King Hoshea epitomizes rebellion.
2. Salvation and covenant: The name’s promise is realized only when joined to faithfulness (Joshua, post-exilic Hoshea) and forfeited when the covenant is spurned (King Hoshea).
3. Typology: The movement from Hoshea to Joshua anticipates Jesus, the ultimate “LORD-Salvation,” while Hosea’s marriage points to Christ’s redemptive love for the Church.
Summary of Occurrences
Numbers 13:8;Numbers 13:16;Deuteronomy 32:44;2 Kings 15:30;2 Kings 17:1, 3-4, 6;2 Kings 18:1, 9-10;1 Chronicles 27:20;Nehemiah 10:23;Hosea 1:1-2 (twice). Each reference, whether to leader, king, official, covenant signer, or prophet, adds a facet to the portrait of divine “salvation”—sometimes embraced, sometimes tragically abandoned.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּהוֹשֵׁ֑עַ בְּהוֹשֵׁ֜עַ בהושע הוֹשֵׁ֖עַ הוֹשֵׁ֗עַ הוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙ הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ הוֹשֵׁ֨עַ הושע וְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ והושע לְהוֹשֵׁ֗עַ לְהוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙ לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ להושע bə·hō·wō·šê·a‘ behoShea bəhōwōšêa‘ hō·wō·šê·a‘ hoShea hōwōšêa‘ lə·hō·wō·šê·a‘ lehoShea ləhōwōšêa‘ vehoShea wə·hō·wō·šê·a‘ wəhōwōšêa‘
Links
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