Ammi

My people, a name given by Jehovah to the people of Israel (Hos. 2:1, 23. Comp. 1:9; Ezek. 16:8; Rom. 9:25, 26; 1 Pet. 2:10).

i.e., as explained in the margin of the Authorized Version, my people . (Hosea 2:1)

am'-i (`ammi, "my people"): A symbolic name given to Israel by Hosea (Ho 2:1; 2:3 in Hebrew text), descriptive of Israel in the state of restoration, and in contrast to sinful and rejected Israel, represented by Hosea's son, who was called Lo-ammi, "not my people," when born to the prophet (Ho 1:9,10). This restoration to the Divine favor is more fully described in Ho 2:21,23 in words quoted by Paul (Ro 9:25,26). The use of such figurative and descriptive names is frequent in the Old Testament; compare Isa 62:4,12.