Who was Jezreel in the Bible?

Jezreel was the first son of the prophet Hosea, named as a prophetic sign from God. His name pointed to God's coming judgment on the dynasty of King Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel (Hosea 1:4).

What is the meaning of the name Jezreel in Hosea?

The name Jezreel means 'God sows' or 'God scatters.' In Hosea, it carries a dual meaning: judgment for past violence and a future promise of restoration for Israel (Hosea 1:11).

Why was Hosea's son named Jezreel?

God commanded Hosea to name his son Jezreel as a living prophecy. It signified that God would soon punish the house of King Jehu for the bloodshed at Jezreel and end the kingdom of Israel (Hosea 1:4-5).

Jezreel

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Jezreel was the name given to Hosea's son as a sign of God's judgment on the house of Jehu (Hos.1.4).

Jezreel

Biography

Jezreel was the firstborn son of the prophet Hosea, born to his wife Gomer during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (Hosea 1:3-4). By divine instruction, Hosea named the child Jezreel, meaning "God sows", as a prophetic sign of coming judgment. The name directly invoked the Valley of Jezreel, where Jehu had massacred the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9-10), and God declared through this naming that He would punish the house of Jehu for that bloodshed and bring an end to the northern kingdom. This child's very existence was transformed into a living oracle, his name proclaiming imminent divine reckoning. Yet the same name later carries redemptive promise in Hosea 1:10-11 and 2:22-23, where God declares He will sow Israel anew in the land.

Significance

Jezreel is one of the most theologically laden names in prophetic literature. As a sign-child, he embodies the intersection of history, prophecy, and divine sovereignty. His naming anticipates the Assyrian destruction of Israel in 722 BC, demonstrating God's moral consistency, even instruments of His judgment, like Jehu, are accountable for their own excesses. Yet Hosea 1:10-11 and 2:22-23 restore the name to a redemptive register: what was a name of judgment becomes a name of sowing and restoration. The apostle Paul cites this reversal in Romans 9:25-26 as a type of Gentile inclusion, giving Jezreel lasting eschatological significance in the history of redemption.

Authority Records

Wikidata VIAF GND

Fatherhttp://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/945f9eb4563a897bf347dd9dba7220d3MotherGomer

Verse Appearances (1)

Hosea

Hosea 1:4

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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