The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Hosea” in English means “Jehovah is help or salvation,” “salvation.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “repent,” particularly referring to Hosea 6:1 – Hosea 6:3. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)

“Hosea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts going away and returning, referring to Hosea going away and finding the prostitute Gomer to marry and then returning home with her (see Hosea 1:2 and Hosea 1:3).

“Hosea” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign thatrefers to the faithful acceptance of God’s inexplicable command (as one who is able, as it were, to swallow the evil—that is, to endure his wife’s infidelity — see Hosea 3:1). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)

“Hosea” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Hosea,” the second and third parts refer to “prophet” and “book” (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The following is a stained glass window of Hosea in the Augsburg Cathedral in Germany. It is part of the “Prophet windows of Augsburg ” from the 12th century which is assumed to be the oldest remaining set of church windows:

Photo by Hans Bernhard, hosted by Wikimedia Common under the GFDL-CC-BY-SA-all license

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

More information on Hosea .