a prostitute: Some find it hard to believe that God would tell a prophet to marry a prostitute. Because of this, many interpret this story symbolically. Early church members often thought the marriage did not actually happen. They saw it as an allegory, with Hosea representing the Lord and Gomer representing Israel.
Today, most believe the marriage was real, but they have different views on Gomer’s job before marriage. Some think Gomer was a regular prostitute, while others believe she was a sacred prostitute in Canaanite fertility worship. Others think Gomer was a young woman who had not yet engaged in illicit sexual activity, but God knew she was likely to commit adultery and prostitution.