Amos7
King James Version · Public Domain
1Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
2And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
3The Lord repented for this: It shall not be, saith the Lord.
4Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
5Then said I, O Lord God, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
6The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord God.
7Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
8And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
9And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
10Then Amaziah the priest of Beth–el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
11For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
12Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
13But prophesy not again any more at Beth–el: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
14Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
15And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
16Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
17Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Amos 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Visions of judgments to come upon Israel. (1–9). Amaziah threatens Amos. (10–17).
vv1-9
God bears long, but he will not bear always with a provoking people. The remembrance of the mercies we formerly received, like the produce of the earth of the former growth, should make us submissive to the will of God, when we meet with disappointments in the latter growth. The Lord has many ways of humbling a sinful nation. Whatever trouble we are under, we should be most earnest with God for the forgiveness of sin. Sin will soon make a great people small. What will become of Israel, if the hand that should raise him be stretched out against him? See the power of prayer. See what a blessing praying people are to a land. See how ready, how swift God is to show mercy; how he waits to be gracious. Israel was a wall, a strong wall, which God himself reared as a defence to his sanctuary. The Lord now seems to stand upon this wall. He measures it; it appears to be a bowing, bulging wall. Thus God would bring the people of Israel to the trial, would discover their wickedness; and the time will come, when those who have been spared often, shall be spared no longer. But the Lord still calls Israel his people. The repeated prayer and success of the prophet should lead us to seek the Saviour.
vv10-17
It is no new thing for the accusers of the brethren, to misrepresent them as enemies to the king and kingdom, as traitors to their prince, and troublers of the land, when they are the best friends to both. Those who make gain their godliness, and are governed by the hopes of wealth and preferment, are ready to think these the most powerful motives with others also. But those who have a warrant from God, like Amos, ought not to fear the face of man. If God, that sent him, had not strengthened him, he could not thus have set his face as a flint. The Lord often chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise and mighty. But no fervent prayers, or self-denying labours, can bring proud sinners to bear faithful reproofs and warnings. And all who oppose or despise the Divine word, must expect fatal effects to their souls, unless they repent.
Key Words
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
הִנֵּה: lo!
יָצַר: to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
גּוֹב: the locust (from its grubbing as a larvae)
לֶקֶשׁ: the after crop
תְּחִלָּה: a commencement; rel. original (adverb, -ly)
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
Cross References
Amos 7Repeats the definitive decree of divine judgment: 'I will not again pass by them any more.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The symbolic plumbline represents the absolute standards of divine justice and judgment.
Supported by JFB
Using a measuring line/plumbline to mark out walls for systematic destruction.
Supported by JFB
The line and plummet used as instruments of exact, measured judicial destruction of a city.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the identical distress of Amos: asking how Jacob can stand or be raised when desolate.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates God 'repenting' or relenting of a threatened judgment in response to intercessory prayer.
Supported by JFB
Classic parallel of God relenting of threatened disaster upon a change in circumstances or intercession.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the hostile silencing of prophets: 'Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy.'
Supported by JFB
Fulfillment of the sword against Jeroboam's house; his son Zachariah is assassinated.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrast: False prophets falsely claim to be mere husbandmen; Amos was a true herdsman called by God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Amos's word 'drop' (prophesy) matches Moses's metaphor of doctrine dropping as rain.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts Amos's divinely mandated prophecies with false prophets who prophesy out of their own hearts.
Supported by John Calvin
Establishes the historical context of the apostate golden calf priesthood of Bethel established by Jeroboam I.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the threat of exile to Assyria, where Israel must eat unclean food in a polluted land.
Supported by JFB