To Hosea, Yahweh was a God of love and mercy. This means that Hosea believed that God was compassionate and forgiving, even when his people sinned against him. Hosea believed that God's love for his people was unconditional and that he would always forgive them if they repented and turned back to him. This idea of a loving and merciful God is a central theme in Hosea's book, and it reflects his belief in God's grace and compassion towards his people, despite their waywardness and disobedience.