Amos5
English Standard Version
1 this I take over you in , O of :
2 , to , is the ; on her , with to her up.
3For thus the God: The that a shall left, and that which went left to the of .
4 the Lord to the of : me and ;
5but do , and not into or over to ; for shall go into , and shall .
6 the Lord and , he out like in the of , and it , with to it for ,
7O you who to and down to the !
8He who the and , and into the and the into , who for the of the and them out on the of the , the Lord is his ;
9who makes forth the , so that the .
10They him who in the , and they him who the .
11 you on the and you of from him, you have of , but you shall in them; you have , but you shall their .
12 I how are your and how are your — you who the , who a , and the in the .
13 he who will a , it is an .
14 , and , that you may ; and the Lord, the of , will be you, as you have .
15 , and , and in the ; be that the Lord, the of , will be to the of .
16 the Lord, the of , the : In the there shall , and the they shall , ! ! They shall the to and to those who in ,
17and in there shall , for I will through your , the Lord.
18 to you the of the Lord! you have the of the Lord? It is , and ,
19as a a , and a him, or into the and his the , and a him.
20Is the of the Lord , and , and no in it?
21I , I your , and I take no in your .
22 you me your and , I will them; and the of your animals, I will not upon them.
23 away me the of your ; to the of your I will .
24But let down like , and like an .
25Did you to me and during the in the , O of ?
26You shall up your , and your - —your that you for yourselves,
27and I will send you into , the Lord, whose is the of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Amos 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Israel is called to seek the Lord. (1–6). Earnest exhortations to repentance. (7–17). Threatenings respecting idolatries. (18–27).
vv1-6
The convincing, awakening word must be heard and heeded, as well as words of comfort and peace; for whether we hear or forbear, the word of God shall take effect. The Lord still proclaims mercy to men, but they often expect deliverance from such self-invented forms as make their condemnation sure. While they refuse to come to Christ and to seek mercy in and by him, that they may live, the fire of Divine wrath breaks forth upon them. Men may make an idol of the world, but will find it cannot protect.
vv7-17
The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It behoves us to plead God's spiritual promises, to beseech him to create in us a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within us. The Lord is ever ready to be gracious to the souls that seek him; and then piety and every duty will be attended to. But as for sinful Israel, God's judgments had often passed by them, now they shall pass through them.
vv18-27
Woe unto those that desire the day of the Lord's judgments, that wish for times of war and confusion; as some who long for changes, hoping to rise upon the ruins of their country! but this should be so great a desolation, that nobody could gain by it. The day of the Lord will be a dark, dismal, gloomy day to all impenitent sinners. When God makes a day dark, all the world cannot make it light. Those who are not reformed by the judgments of God, will be pursued by them; if they escape one, another stands ready to seize them. A pretence of piety is double iniquity, and so it will be found. The people of Israel copied the crimes of their forefathers. The law of worshipping the Lord our God, is, Him only we must serve. Professors thrive so little, because they have little or no communion with God in their duties. They were led captive by Satan into idolatry, therefore God caused them to go into captivity among idolaters.
Key Words
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
קִינָה: a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
נָפַל: to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָסַף: to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
Cross References
Amos 5Stephen quotes Amos 5:25-27 in his speech to demonstrate Israel's long-standing history of idolatry.
Supported by JFB
Amos echoes the exact terminology of Job describing God as the Creator of the Pleiades and Orion.
Supported by JFB
Direct thematic and verbal parallel concerning God's sovereign control over the constellations Orion and Pleiades.
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Parallel contemporary prophetic warning against syncretistic worship at Gilgal and Beth-aven (Bethel).
Supported by Poole, JFB
The curse of building houses and planting vineyards without enjoying them fulfills Moses' covenant sanctions.
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Striklingly parallel divine rejection of formalistic feast days and sacrifices devoid of justice and righteousness.
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Internal repetition emphasizing the central exhortation of the chapter: seek the Lord and live.
Supported by Poole
The historical fulfillment of Israel's exile beyond Damascus under Shalmaneser and the Assyrians.
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