Amos7
New King James Version
1Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings.
2And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!”
3So the Lord relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord.
4Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, the Lord God called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory.
5Then I said: “O Lord God, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!”
6So the Lord relented concerning this. “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.
7Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.
8And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.
9The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.”
10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.
11For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, And Israel shall surely be led away captive From their own land.’ ”
12Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy.
13But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king’s sanctuary, And it is the royal residence.”
14Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit.
15Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’
16Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’
17“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own 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