Ammi
“My people”
Summary
A Hebrew term meaning 'my people,' used prophetically by Hosea to signify Israel's restoration to covenant relationship with God.
☩Symbolic Naming
God commanded Hosea to name his third child Lo-ammi ('not my people'), symbolizing Israel's broken covenant relationship: 'for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.' This represented the lowest point of Israel's apostasy and God's rejection. But through the same prophet came the promise of restoration: 'Say to your brothers, Ammi ('my people'), and to your sisters, Ruhamah ('having received mercy').'
☩New Testament Fulfillment
The apostle Paul quotes Hosea's prophecy to demonstrate God's inclusion of the Gentiles: 'I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.' Peter similarly applies this restoration language to the church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles: 'which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.'
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ammi," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ammi," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).