Hosea is one of the more difficult books in which to identify a clear structure. It lacks some common structural markers often found in the prophetic writings. For example, Hosea makes no use of the popular prophetic introduction (Thus says the Lord
) to a literary unit.1 Thankfully, Hosea 1:1 – 3:5 is fairly straightforward, with almost all commentators in agreement with the following outline:
Superscription (Hosea 1:1)
Hosea and his family: a parable of the Lord and Israel (Hosea 1:2 – 3:5)
Hosea 1:2 – 2:1
Hosea 2:2–23
Hosea 3:1–5
That said, Hosea 4–14 has the opposite problem, with almost no two commentaries being the same. Even when it comes to the most commonly recognized division in these chapters (the division between Hosea 11:11 and Hosea 11:12), it is still keenly debated whether this is the start of a second prophetic cycle or a continuation of the first. Therefore, we have opted for a broad brush approach following the guidance of Dearman and Hwang, who largely overlap.2,3
The Lord’s contentions with his people (Hosea 4:1–11:11)
Hosea 4:1 – 5:7
Hosea 5:8 – 7:16
Hosea 8:1 – 9:9
Hosea 9:10 – 11:11
The Lord’s contentions with his people (Hosea 11:12–14:8)
Hosea 11:12 – 12:14
Hosea 13:1–16
Hosea 14:1–8
The plea for wisdom (Hosea 14:9)
1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.