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.