Amos1
New American Standard
1The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he saw in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2And he said, “The Lord roars from Zion, And from Jerusalem He utters His voice; And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn, And the summit of Carmel dries up.”
3This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.
4So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael, And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.
5I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, And eliminate every inhabitant from the Valley of Aven, As well as him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden; So the people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” Says the Lord.
6This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they led into exile an entire population To turn them over to Edom.
7So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza And it will consume her citadels.
8I will also eliminate every inhabitant from Ashdod, As well as him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon; And I will direct My power against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” Says the Lord God.
9This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they turned an entire population over to Edom And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
10So I will send fire on the wall of Tyre, And it will consume her citadels.”
11This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword And stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, And he maintained his fury forever.
12So I will send fire upon Teman And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.”
13This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of the sons of Ammon, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead In order to enlarge their borders.
14So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah, And it will consume her citadels Amid war cries on the day of battle, And amid a storm on the day of tempest.
15Their king will go into exile, He and his princes together,” says the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Amos 1.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
עָמוֹס: Amos, an Israelite prophet
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
נֹקֵד: a spotter (of sheep or cattle), i.e. the owner or tender (who thus marks them)
תְּקוֹעַ: Tekoa, a place in Palestine
חָזָה: to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have avision of
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
עֻזִּיָּה: Uzzijah, the name of five Israelites
מֶלֶךְ: a king
Cross References
Amos 1Explicitly mentions the same historic earthquake during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct textual parallel: "the Lord shall roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem."
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel imagery of God roaring from on high and uttering His voice from His holy habitation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical fulfillment of Syria threshing Gilead like dust, under Hazael and Ben-hadad.
Supported by JFB
Direct historical fulfillment: the king of Assyria took Damascus and carried its people captive to Kir.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel prediction: "I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus... palaces of Ben-hadad."
Supported by JFB
Repeated judgment formula: "I will send a fire upon his cities... and devour palaces."
Supported by JFB
Illuminates the "brotherly covenant" violated by Tyre, referencing Solomon and Hiram's league.
Supported by JFB
Expands on Edom's severe guilt for violence and lack of pity toward brother Jacob.
Supported by JFB
Amos confirms his own identity as a simple herdman and gatherer of sycamore fruit.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Parallel imagery of God breaking the protective bars of a city's gates.
Supported by JFB
The origin of Edom's perpetual hatred and anger against his brother Jacob.
Supported by JFB
Historical parallel of the atrocious practice of ripping open pregnant women in war.
Supported by JFB
Parallel prophecy of judgment against Tyre, its power, and its destruction by fire.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts God's command not to abhor an Edomite brother with Edom's relentless hatred.
Supported by JFB