The study examines the redaction history of the whole of the Book of Hosea; starting from a nucleus in Hosea4-9, the book grew to its present form in a successive manner. Accordingly, the historical reviews from Hosea 9:10 on and the symbolic biographical actions in Hosea 1 and 3 represent later editorial layers. Thus a historical literary and theological link is formed spanning the period from the beginnings of prophetic writings in the 8th century BC to their reception in Qumran.