The prophet Hosea uses his adulterous wife Gomer as a metaphor for God as the faithful husband to Israel. Gomer and Hosea’s relationship shows how women were ostracized for extramarital sex while such behavior was tolerated if not encouraged in men, paralleling the relationship between Israel and God. It is difficult, however, to separate historical facts about the couple’s domestic problems from the theological message expressed through them.

According to the Rabbis, God commanded Hosea to marry Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, to teach him proper conduct for one who was to prophesy to Israel. Despite Gomer’s harlotry, the rabbis interpret her story as proof that, even when God is angry with Israel, God still loves Israel.