Gomer
“Completion”
Summary
The name of a son of Japheth whose descendants became the Cimmerians, and also the unfaithful wife of the prophet Hosea.
☩Son of Japheth
Gomer was the eldest son of Japheth and grandson of Noah, listed first among Japheth's descendants. His sons were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The Gomerites are generally identified with the Cimmerians, a people known to the Assyrians as Gimirrai, who dwelt originally north of the Black Sea before migrating into Asia Minor. In Ezekiel's prophecy, Gomer and all his bands appear among the northern allies of Gog.
☩Wife of Hosea
God commanded the prophet Hosea to take a wife of whoredoms as a living parable of Israel's unfaithfulness. He married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, who bore him three children with prophetic names: Jezreel (God scatters), Lo-ruhamah (not pitied), and Lo-ammi (not my people). Whether Gomer was already immoral or became so after marriage is debated, but she clearly represented Israel's adultery against her covenant Lord.
☩Redemption from Slavery
After Gomer left Hosea for her lovers, the prophet was commanded to love her again, as the Lord loves Israel despite her adultery. Hosea bought her back from slavery for fifteen pieces of silver and a quantity of barley, then required her to remain faithful to him. This redemption portrayed God's persistent love for wayward Israel.
Related Verses6 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Gomer," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Gomer," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Gomer," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Gomer," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 5.George Morrish, "Gomer," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).