Romans 9:25 – “As he says in Hosea: ‘I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one.’”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, Paul is quoting from the Old Testament book of Hosea to support his argument that God’s mercy extends beyond Israel to include the Gentiles. The original passage in Hosea (Hosea 2:23) was spoken to Israel when they had turned away from God. Though they had broken their covenant with Him, God promised to restore them and call them His people once again.

Paul applies this same principle to the Gentiles. The Jewish people were traditionally seen as God’s chosen nation, while the Gentiles were outsiders. But through Jesus, God was now calling people from every nation to be His own.

This verse highlights a major theme in the Bible: God’s mercy extends beyond human expectations. He takes those who were once far from Him and brings them into His family.

Historical Context

To fully understand this verse, we need to look at the book of Hosea. Hosea was a prophet sent to warn Israel about their unfaithfulness to God. Israel had turned to idol worship and abandoned their relationship with God. As a symbolic act, God told Hosea to marry a woman who would be unfaithful to him, representing Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.

• Hosea 1:9-10 – God told Hosea to name one of his children Lo-Ammi, meaning “not my people,” because Israel had turned away from Him.
• Hosea 2:23 – Later, God promises restoration: “I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people.’”

Paul takes this passage, originally directed at Israel, and applies it more broadly. Just as God was willing to restore Israel, He is also willing to bring Gentiles into His family.

For Paul’s audience—both Jews and Gentiles in Rome—this was a groundbreaking truth. Many Jewish believers had difficulty accepting that Gentiles could be included in God’s promises, but Paul is making it clear that God’s plan has always been about mercy, not just nationality.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several important truths:

1. God’s Mercy is Greater Than Our Failures – Even those who were once far from God can be brought into His family.
2. God’s Plan Always Included the Nations – Salvation was never just for Israel; it was always meant to extend to the whole world.
3. God’s Love is Transformative – He takes people who were once “not His people” and makes them His own.

Paul’s use of Hosea shows that God’s heart has always been for restoration—for Israel, for the Gentiles, and for all who believe in Jesus.

Literary Analysis

Paul is using Old Testament prophecy to prove a New Testament reality. By quoting Hosea, he is demonstrating that God’s plan to include the Gentiles is not a new idea—it was foreshadowed in Scripture.

The contrast in this verse is key:

• “Not my people” → “My people”
• “Not my loved one” → “My loved one”

This reversal reflects how God’s grace works. He takes those who seem rejected and welcomes them into His family. The wording highlights the radical nature of God’s love—it reaches the unworthy, the lost, and the outsider.

Biblical Cross-References

• Hosea 2:23 – “I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”
• 1 Peter 2:10 – “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
• Ephesians 2:12-13 – “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ… But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

These passages confirm that God’s mercy extends beyond Israel to all who trust in Christ.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is a powerful reminder that God’s love is for everyone, regardless of background, past mistakes, or status.

• If you feel like an outsider, God welcomes you. His love is not based on where you come from but on His mercy.
• If you struggle with past sins, God’s grace is bigger. He calls the undeserving into His family.
• If you are already a believer, remember that your faith is a gift of God’s mercy. You were once far from Him, but He brought you near.

This verse also challenges believers to reflect God’s love. If He calls the unlikely and the undeserving, we should also welcome others into His family, sharing the gospel with all people.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

Some might think of God as harsh or exclusive, but this verse shows the opposite. God is a God of restoration.

• His love reaches the outcast.
• His mercy extends to those who once rejected Him.
• His grace transforms lives.

This verse is proof that God does not give up on people. Even when they have walked away, He calls them back. His love is greater than our failures.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise.

• Jesus made it possible for those “not my people” to become children of God. Through His death and resurrection, He opened the way for all people to be saved (John 1:12).
• Jesus specifically reached out to outsiders. He ministered to Gentiles, tax collectors, and sinners, showing that no one is beyond God’s love (Luke 5:32).
• Through Jesus, God’s promise in Hosea is fully realized. In Christ, we are no longer strangers but members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19).

Without Jesus, we would still be outsiders. But because of Him, we are God’s people, His loved ones, prepared for glory.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Have you ever felt like an outsider to God’s love? How does this verse encourage you?
2. What does it mean to you personally that God calls people “who were not His people” to be His own?
3. How does this verse challenge the way we view others, especially those who seem far from God?
4. In what ways can you reflect God’s love and mercy toward those who feel rejected or unworthy?
5. How does this verse deepen your understanding of God’s plan for salvation through Jesus?