הוֹשֵׁעַ (ho.she.a)
ho.she.a
Hoshea
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Hoshea means "salvation," a meaning shared by its more famous variant, Joshua (Hoshea was likely short for Yehoshua). In the Old Testament, this name appears in several distinct contexts, most notably identifying the final king of the northern kingdom of Israel and the prophet Hosea. The sources list five bearers of this name, ranging from a royal figure to leaders who sealed covenants with Nehemiah.
As the 19th and last king of Israel, Hoshea son of Elah reigned during a turbulent period when Assyria was expanding its power (2 Kings 15:30). His reign ended with the fall of Samaria, marking the end of the northern kingdom. The prophet Hosea, son of Beeri, also bore this name and delivered messages of judgment and restoration to the same people. Though distinct individuals, their shared name underscores a theological theme: that true deliverance comes from God alone, even when human kings fail.
Translators typically render the name as "Hoshea" for the king and "Hosea" for the prophet, distinguishing them by convention rather than spelling. The variation reflects common Hebrew phonetic shifts in ancient times. The occurrence of this name across different roles—king, prophet, and covenant-sealer—highlights its significance in Israel’s history as a reminder of divine salvation amid political instability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hoshea carries the simple, powerful meaning of "salvation." In Scripture, this word appears in the lives of ordinary leaders and kings who faced extraordinary political storms. When we read about these figures, we see that human rulers often fail to provide true security. Their efforts to maintain power or negotiate peace with empires could not save their people from exile.
Yet the name itself points us toward a deeper hope. It reminds us that deliverance is not found in military strength or diplomatic treaties, but in God alone. Whether referring to the spy who became Joshua or the prophet warning of judgment, the name serves as a quiet witness to divine faithfulness. We can trust that God remains our ultimate refuge when all other foundations shake.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hoshea5×
- of/ Hoshea4×
- Hosea2×
- in/ Hoshea1×
- by/ Hosea1×
- and/ Hoshea1×
- <to>/ Hoshea1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ3×
- הוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙2×
- לְ/הוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙1×
- לְ/הוֹשֵׁ֗עַ1×
- וְ/הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ1×
- הוֹשֵׁ֨עַ1×
- הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ1×
- הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ1×
- הוֹשֵׁ֗עַ1×
- הוֹשֵׁ֖עַ1×
- בְּ/הוֹשֵׁ֜עַ1×
- בְּ/הוֹשֵׁ֑עַ\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 13:16
These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.
This verse reveals the theological shift from Hoshea to Joshua, explicitly linking the concept of salvation to Moses' appointed leader.
-
II Kings 17:4
The king of Assyria discovered a conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria seized him, and bound him in prison.
Here the name marks a moment of political failure where human conspiracy leads to imprisonment rather than deliverance.
-
Hosea 1:1
Yahweh’s word 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.
The prophet's name introduces a message that true salvation requires repentance rather than reliance on foreign alliances.