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Hoshea

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Last king of Israel, deposed by Assyria after a brief, rebellious reign

Detailed Definition
Hoshea (not to be confused with the prophet Hosea) stopped paying tribute to Assyria, leading to Samaria’s fall and Israel’s exile (2 Kings 17). In poetry, Hoshea symbolizes national apostasy, the futility of last-minute rebellion without repentance, and the tragic end of a divided kingdom.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Hoshea (Joshua’s original name, Numbers 13:16) illustrates the power of renamed identity; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Hoshea’s transformation to Joshua prefigures salvation; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Hoshea’s spy mission models faith under pressure; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Hoshea represents the leader prepared by God; In Christina Rossetti’s "Advent," Hoshea’s name (“salvation”) anticipates Christ; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Hoshea’s journey prefigures crossing into promise.
Additional Notes
Hoshea: Last king of Israel, deposed by Assyria (2 Kings 17); also Moses’ original name for Joshua (Numbers 13:16). In poetry, distinguish contexts: the king Hoshea (“salvation”) tragically fails to save his nation; the renamed Joshua (“Yahweh saves”) leads conquest. This duality invites reflection on naming, destiny, and the difference between human and divine agency—ideal for poems on identity, failure, or the power of renaming.
Also Known As
Hoshea king of Israel Hoshea son of Elah
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