In the prophet Hosea they were to say to their sisters in Israel, Ruhamah, 'having obtained mercy,' as in the margin. Hosea had in Hosea 1 called his daughter symbolically Lo-ruhamah, 'not having obtained mercy,' to signify the state of Israel; but in Hosea 1:11 he speaks of restoration, so that Ruhamah apparently refers to the remnant, those who entered into the spirit and mind of the prophet, and in that sense were his 'sisters.' Hosea 2:1 : cf. Matthew 12:50 .