Ruhamah

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

RUHAMAH . The second child (a daughter) of Gomer, Hosea’s wife, was called Lo-ruhamah , ‘unpitied’ (  Hosea 1:6;   Hosea 1:8 ). The name was given symbolically to indicate that God had ceased to pity Israel, and given her over to calamity. The return of God’s mercy is indicated in   Hosea 2:1 ‘Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi ( i.e. ‘my people,’ in opposition to Lo-ammi , ‘not my people’); and to your sisters, Ruhamah ’ ( i.e. ye are ‘pitied’). A similar play on the word is found in   Hosea 2:23 ‘I will have mercy on “her that had not obtained mercy” ( Lo-ruhamah ).’

W. F. Boyd.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

In the prophet Hosea they were to say to their sisters in Israel, Ruhamah, 'having obtained mercy,' as in the margin. Hosea had in  Hosea 1 called his daughter symbolically Lo-ruhamah, 'not having obtained mercy,' to signify the state of Israel; but in   Hosea 1:11 he speaks of restoration, so that Ruhamah apparently refers to the remnant, those who entered into the spirit and mind of the prophet, and in that sense were his 'sisters.'   Hosea 2:1 : cf.  Matthew 12:50 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ru'hamah or Ruha'mah. (Having Obtained Mercy).  Hosea 2:1. The name, if name it be, is symbolical, and is addressed to the Daughters of the people, to denote that they were still the objects of love and tender compassion.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(See Lo-Ammi .)  Hosea 1:6-7. Compassionated by God, as Israel shall be in the last days; in contrast to Lo-Ruhamah, "not compassionated," as now apparently Israel is by unbelief.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Romans 2:1 Romans 1:6 1 Peter 2:10

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Hosea 2:1

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

See Ammi

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

[some Ru, ‘ hamah] (Heb. Ruchamah', רֻחָמָה , Finding Mercy ; part. of רָחִ ם , To Be Merciful ; Sept. translates Ἐλεημένη , and so Vulg. Misericordium Consecuta ), a figurative title of Israel. When God directed Hosea to prophesy against the wickedness of Israel and Judah, he commanded him to take to wife a harlot, the symbol of idolatry, the spiritual harlotry of the Jews; and of her were born a daughter, named, after God's direction, Lo-ruhamah, "Not obtaining mercy," and a son named Lo-ammi, "Not my people" ( Hosea 1:6;  Hosea 1:9). Israel is represented by Lo-ruhamah, Judah by Lo-ammi. Perhaps Israel is typified by the female because that kingdom was the weaker of the two, and the more completely overthrown; and Judah by the male because from Judah the Messiah was to descend according to the flesh. Subsequently Hosea says (ii, 1), "Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi [my people]; and to your sisters, Ruhamah" [having obtained mercy], thus promising God's reconciliation to the people on their repenting and seeking him; saying that he will have mercy, and they shall be his people, thus indicating the restoration of the Jewish nation after much affliction. As the promises of grace to the obstinate Jews are transferred meanwhile to the believing Christians, Peter applied them to the Gentile proselytes, to whom he addresses his first epistle, telling them that in time past they "were not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" ( 1 Peter 2:10). Paul also distinctly applies the prophecy not to the Jews only, but to the Gentiles: "That he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy... even on us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people which were not my people, and her beloved which was not beloved" ( Romans 9:23-25). The wording in  Hosea 1:2 indicates the admission of the Gentiles into the participation of the promises made to the Jews. In the first instance, in the threats against Israel and Judah, it is a son, Lo-ammi, and a daughter, Lo-ruhamah. When the promises are given, the plural number is used; then it is brethren and sisters: not Jew only, but Jew and Gentile. (See Lo-Ruhamah).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rōō - hā´ma , rōō - ha´ma  : See Lo-Ruhamah , the symbolical name of Hosea's daughter ( Hosea 1:6 ,  Hosea 1:8 ).