Oséias 1:3

3. The prophet followed the command.

Gomer Various efforts have been made to find a symbolic meaning in this name as well as in that of the father, Diblaim, but without success. Both are to be understood literally. In time a son was born; to him the prophet gave a name symbolic of one important truth he was commissioned to teach. In a similar manner Isaiah gave to his sons the symbolical names Shear-jashub and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 8:3). There is no reason to suppose that this son was the offspring of adulterous intercourse and that Hosea recognized him as his son “for his mother’s sake.” It is probable that Hosea did not find out the true character of his wife, or at least the hopelessness of the case, until after the birth of the three children.