Old Testament
The Book of Hosea
The Book of Hosea is the thirty-third of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 14 chapters and 198 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it Osee.
About Hosea
About Hosea · Prophetic oracles
Hosea preached to the northern kingdom in its last prosperous decades, and his message came through his own broken marriage: commanded to love an unfaithful wife, he learned in his flesh what Israel's idolatry does to God. His book, the first of the twelve minor prophets, was written to name religious betrayal as adultery — and to reveal a God who, wronged beyond excuse, still refuses to give his people up. Its promise of mercy after ruin echoes throughout the New Testament.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 33 of 46, 33 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 14 |
| Verses | 198, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | Osee |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 14 chapters · 33 notes |
| Catechism | 14 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 14 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Hosea 1
11 versesBy marrying a harlot, and by the names of his children, the prophet sets forth the crimes of Israel and their punishment. He foretells their redemption by Christ.
Hosea 2
24 versesIsrael is justly punished for leaving God. The abundance of grace in the church of Christ.
Hosea 3
5 versesThe prophet is commanded again to love an adulteress; to signify God's love to the synagogue. The wretched state of the Jews for a long time, till at last they shall be converted.
Hosea 4
19 versesGod's judgment against the sins of Israel: Juda is warned not to follow their example.
Hosea 5
15 versesGod's threats against the priests, the people, and princes of Israel, for their idolatry.
Hosea 6
11 versesAffliction shall be a means to bring many to Christ, a complaint of the untowardness of the Jews. God loves mercy more than sacrifice.
Hosea 7
16 versesThe manifold sins of Israel, and of their kings, hinder the Lord from healing them.
Hosea 8
14 versesThe Israelites are threatened with destruction for their impiety and idolatry.
Hosea 9
17 versesThe distress and captivity of Israel for their sins and idolatry.
Hosea 10
15 versesAfter many benefits, great affliction shall fall upon the ten tribes, for their ingratitude to God.
Hosea 11
12 versesGod proceeds in threatening Israel for their ingratitude: yet he will not utterly destroy them.
Hosea 12
14 versesIsrael is reproved for sin. God's favours to them.
Hosea 13
15 versesThe judgments of God upon Israel for their sins. Christ shall one day redeem them.
Hosea 14
10 versesSamaria shall be destroyed. An exhortation to repentance: God's favour through Christ to the penitent.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
1 quotation from 1 saint linked to passages of Hosea in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. John Chrysostom · on Hosea 4:6
On this theme
Ignorance of the Scriptures is a great cliff and a deep abyss.
Homily on Genesis, 2, c. 388
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Hosea is read at the principal Mass on 3 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday of the Third Week of Lent | First Reading | Hosea 14:2-10 | |
| Saturday of the Third Week of Lent | First Reading | Hosea 6:1-6 | |
| computed | Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | First Reading | Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9 |
| computed | Friday of the Third Week of Lent | First Reading | Hosea 14:2-10 |
| computed | Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22 |
| computed | St. Benedict, Abbot | First Reading | Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 |
| computed | Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9 |
| computed | St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin | First Reading | Hosea 14:2-10 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.