Amos 1:1

General Information:

God speaks through Amos using poetic language.

the shepherds from Tekoa, ... concerning Israel

Tekoa is the name of a town or village in Judah, but this message is primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel.

saw

If your language has a word for "see" that it uses only in poetry or mostly to indicate seeing in a vision or dream, you might want to use it here.

in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and also in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel

"when Uzziah was king of Judah, and also when Jeroboam son of Joash was king of Israel"

Amos 1:2

Yahweh will roar from Zion; he will raise his voice from Jerusalem

These two phrases share similar meanings. Together they emphasize that Yahweh shouts loudly as he prepares to judge the nation.

Yahweh will roar

The author speaks of the voice of Yahweh as if it sounded like the roar of a lion or the roar of thunder.

Yahweh

This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament.

Amos 1:3

For three sins of ... even for four

This indicates that the people had sinned repeatedly.

Damascus

"the people of Damascus"

I will not turn away punishment

"I will certainly punish those people"

they threshed Gilead with sharp threshing sledges of iron

"they treated the people of Gilead harshly, as if they were threshing grain with sharp iron tools"

Amos 1:4

Hazael ... Ben-Hadad

These are the names of men.

it will devour the fortresses of Ben-Hadad

it will burn down the fortresses of Ben-Hadad

Amos 1:5

cut off the man

"destroy the man" or "drive away the man"

the man who holds the scepter

"the man who rules"

Beth Eden

This is a place.

Kir

This is the name of a region from which the people of Aram originally came.

Amos 1:6

For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn away punishment

See how you translated similar phrases in verse 3.

Gaza

"the people of Gaza"

hand them over to

"deliver them up to" or "sell them to"

Edom

"the people of Edom"

Amos 1:7

it will devour her fortresses

"it will burn down Gaza's fortresses"

Amos 1:8

cut off the man ... who holds the scepter

See how you translated these phrases in verse 5.

I will turn my hand against Ekron

"I will strike Ekron" or "I will destroy Ekron"

Ekron

Edron was a city.

Amos 1:9

Tyre

"the people of Tyre"

their covenant of brotherhood

"the agreement they made to treat you as brothers"

Amos 1:11

Edom

"the people of Edom"

he pursued his brother

"they pursued their brothers, the people of Israel." The people of Edom and the people of Israel were the descendants of Esau and Jacob, who were brothers.

cast off all pity

"showed them no mercy"

His anger tore them apart continually

"He was angry and continued to do great harm to them." If your language has a word for "tear apart" that implies that the subject is an animal, you might want to use it here.

his wrath lasted forever

"he stayed angry forever"

Amos 1:12

Teman ... Bozrah

These are names of places.

Amos 1:13

enlarge their borders

"extend their boundaries" or "expand their territory"

Amos 1:14

with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind

"and the fighting will be like a great storm"

tempest ... whirlwind

These are two kinds of violent storms. A whirlwind is a strong wind that spins very quickly.

Amos 1:15

Their king will go into captivity

"Their enemies will capture their king and take him away as a prisoner"

Amos 2:1

For three sins of ... even for four

This means that the people sinned repeatedly. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.

Moab

"the people of Moab"

I will not turn away punishment

"I will certainly punish them." See how you translated this in Amos 1:4

he burned the bones ... to lime

"the people of Moab burned the bones ... to ashes"

Amos 2:2

Kerioth

This is the name of a city or town.

in an uproar

An uproar is a very loud noise.

Amos 2:3

the judge in her

"the ruler of Moab"

all the princes

"all the officials" or "all the leaders"

Amos 2:4

For three sins of ... even for four ... I will not turn away punishment

See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3 and 2:1.

Judah

"the people of Judah"

after which their fathers had also walked

"which their ancestors also followed" or "the same lies that their ancestors followed"

Amos 2:5

it will devour the fortresses of Jerusalem

"it will burn down the fortresses of Jerusalem." See how you translated a similar phrase in Amos 1:4.

Amos 2:6

Israel

"the people of Israel"

the innocent ... the needy

"innocent people ... needy people"

Amos 2:7

trample

repeatedly step heavily or roughly

the poor ... the oppressed

"poor people ... oppressed people"

go to the same girl

"have sexual relations with the same girl" or "lie down with the same girl"

Amos 2:8

those who have been forced to pay a fine

"those whom they forced to pay a penalty"

Amos 2:9

the Amorite

"the Amorites" or "the Amorite people"

whose height was like the height of cedars; he was strong as the oaks

"who were tall like cedar trees and strong like oak trees"

Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below

"Yet I destroyed them completely"

Amos 2:10

General Information:

The words "you" refers to the people of Israel.

Amos 2:11

raised up

"appointed" or "sent"

Is it not so, people of Israel?

"You people of Israel certainly know that this is true!"

this is Yahweh's declaration

"this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared"

Amos 2:13

General Information:

The word "you" in these verses refers to the people of Israel.

Connecting Statement:

Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.

Look

This alerts the reader to pay attention to what follows. Alternate translation: "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"

I will crush you as a cart that is full of grain can crush someone

Yahweh compares his judgment on the people of Israel to crushing them with something very heavy.

Amos 2:14

Escape will perish from the swift

"Even people who can run fast will not be able to escape"

the swift ... the strong ... the mighty

"Swift people ... strong people ... mighty people" or "The swift person ... the strong person ... the mighty person"

Amos 2:15

The archer will not stand

Here "stand" means to keep one's place in battle.

Amos 2:16

flee naked

Possible meanings are "run away without his weapons" or "run away wearing no clothes."

in that day

"at that time"

Amos 3:1

Hear this word

"Hear this message" or "Listen to this message"

that Yahweh has spoken against you ... against the whole family

"that Yahweh has spoken about you ... about the whole family"

you, people of Israel ... the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt

These two phrases refer to the same group of people. God is speaking to the descendants of those he had taken out of Egypt.

the whole family

"the whole nation" or "the whole clan"

Amos 3:2

all the families of the earth

"all the nations of the earth" or "all the clans on the earth"

Amos 3:3

General Information:

Amos uses the questions in verses 3-6 to present examples of things that people already know concerning what causes things to happen.

Will two walk together unless they have made an appointment?

"Two people will walk together only if they have first agreed to walk together." or "You know that two people will walk together only if they have made an appointment to do that."

Amos 3:4

Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?

"A lion roars in the forest only when it has a prey."

Will a young lion growl from his den if he has caught nothing?

"A young lion growls from his den only if he has caught something."

Amos 3:5

Can a bird fall in a trap on the ground when no bait is set for him?

"A bird can fall into a trap on the ground only when someone has set bait for it."

Will a trap spring up from the ground when it has not caught anything?

"A trap springs up from the ground only when it has caught something." or "A trap closes only when it has caught something."

Amos 3:6

If a ram's horn sounds in a city, will the people not tremble?

"When the ram's horn sounds in the city, surely the people will tremble." or "When someone blows the ram's horn in the city, people will certainly be afraid." Blowing the ram's horn was a warning that enemies were about to attack.

If disaster overtakes a city, has Yahweh not sent it?

"If disaster overtakes a city, surely Yahweh has sent it." or "If something terrible happens to city, we know that Yahweh has caused it."

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing unless he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets

"So also, the Lord Yahweh will not do anything unless he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets" or "Surely the Lord Yahweh will reveal his plans to his servants the prophets before he does anything"

Amos 3:8

The lion has roared; who will not fear?

"The lion has roared; so of course people are afraid."

The Lord Yahweh has spoken; who will not prophesy?

"The Lord Yahweh has spoken; so of course the prophets prophesy."

Amos 3:9

Assemble yourselves

This command is to Israel's enemies in Ashdod and Egypt.

what great tumults are in her

"how the people in Samaria riot" or "how the people in Samaria fight against one another"

what oppression is in her

"how the leaders in Samaria oppress people" or "and how they cause people to suffer"

Amos 3:10

They store up violence and devastation

"They store up things that they have violently stolen"

Amos 3:11

An enemy will surround the land

"An enemy army will surround the land"

plunder your fortresses

"steal everything in your fortresses"

Amos 3:12

As the shepherd rescues ... so will the people of Israel ... be rescued

The Lord compares the people of Israel being rescued with an unsuccessful attempt to rescue an animal from a lion. They will not be completely rescued.

As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs only, or a piece of an ear

"As a shepherd tries to rescue an animal from the lion's mouth but is able to save only two legs or a piece of an ear"

Amos 3:13

the house of Jacob

"the descendants of Jacob"

this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts

"this is what the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts, has declared"

Amos 3:14

in the day that I punish the sins of Israel

"when I punish the sins of Israel"

I will also punish the altars of Bethel

"I will also destroy the altars at Bethel"

horns of the altar

People worshiped false gods at their altars. At the top corners of the altars there were pieces of metal shaped like bull horns. These horns were a symbol of the strength of their gods.

Amos 3:15

the winter house with the summer house

"the houses they live in during the winter and the houses they live in during the summer." Some of the wealthy people had two houses.

The houses of ivory will perish

"The houses of ivory will be destroyed" or "The houses that are decorated with ivory will collapse." Ivory comes from the teeth and tusks of large animals. It was very expensive, so only the wealthy people had it.

the large houses will vanish

"the large houses will exist no more" or "the large houses will be destroyed"

Amos 4:1

you cows of Bashan, you who are in the mountain of Samaria

"you wealthy women who live in the mountains of Samaria, you who are like the well-fed cows of Bashan"

you who oppress the poor

"you who oppress poor people"

you who crush the needy

"you who hurt needy people" or "you who harm people who need help"

Amos 4:2

The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness

"The Lord Yahweh has promised, and his holiness confirms it" or "The Lord is holy and he has sworn"

the days will come on you when they will take you away with hooks

"There will be a time when your enemies will take you away with hooks"

they will take you away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks

"they will capture you as people capture animals and take you all away"

Amos 4:3

breaks in the city wall

places where the enemy had broken down the city wall to enter

you will be thrown out toward Harmon

"they will throw you out toward Harmon" or "your enemies will force you to leave the city and go toward Harmon." Harmon is either the name of a place that we do not know, or it refers to Mount Hermon.

this is Yahweh's declaration

"this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared"

Amos 4:4

General Information:

The people of Israel only pretended to obey God's commands. So in verses 4 and 5, God gives several commands to show them that he is angry with them for not obeying him fully.

Go to Bethel and sin, to Gilgal and multiply transgression

"You go to Bethel to worship, but you sin. You go to Gilgal to worship, and you sin even more"

bring your sacrifices ... every three days

"You bring your sacrifices ... every three days, but it does no good"

Amos 4:5

announce them

"boast about them"

Amos 4:6

I gave you cleanness of teeth

Having clean teeth represents having no food in the mouth to make the teeth dirty. Alternate translation: "I kept food away from your teeth" or "I caused you to starve"

and lack of bread

"and I caused you not to have enough food"

you have not returned to me

"you have not submitted to me"

Amos 4:7

I also withheld rain from you

"I prevented the rain from falling on your crops"

One piece of land was rained on

"It rained on one piece of land" or "Some pieces of land got rain"

Amos 4:8

Two or three cities staggered

"The people of two or three cities staggered"

Amos 4:9

I afflicted you with blight and mildew

"I afflicted your crops with blight and mildew" or "I destroyed your crops with blight and mildew." Blight and mildew are diseases that kill plants.

Amos 4:10

I sent a plague on you as on Egypt

"I caused terrible things to happen to you as I did to Egypt"

I killed your young men with the sword

"I made your enemies kill your men in battle"

along with the captivity of your horses

"and I caused your horses to be taken captive or "and I made your enemies take your horses captive and kill them"

made the stench of your camp come up to your nostrils

"I made you smell the terrible odor of the dead bodies in your camp"

Amos 4:11

You were like a burning stick snatched out of the fire

"Some of you survived, like a burning stick that someone pulls out of a fire"

Amos 4:13

he who forms the mountains ... reveals his thoughts ... is his name

It is not clear whether Amos is speaking about God, or God is speaking about himself.

makes the dawn become darkness

"makes the morning dark"

treads on the high places of the earth

"walks on the high places of the earth" or "and marches on the high places of the earth"

Yahweh, God of hosts, is his name

By declaring his full name, Yahweh is declaring his power and authority to do these things.

Amos 5:1

house of Israel

"people of Israel"

Amos 5:2

The virgin Israel has fallen ... no one to raise her up

"The nation of Israel is like a woman who has fallen ... no one to help her get up"

she is abandoned on her land

"People have abandoned her" or "they have left her"

Amos 5:3

The city that went out with a thousand

"The city out of which a thousand soldiers went to fight" or "Cities that sent out a thousand soldiers to fight"

will have a hundred remaining

"will have only a hundred soldiers still alive"

Amos 5:4

Seek me

"Come to me" or "Ask me for help"

Amos 5:5

Do not seek Bethel

"Do not go to Bethel to ask for help"

nor enter Gilgal

"and do not enter Gilgal"

Bethel ... Gilgal ... Beersheeba

These were all cities.

For Gilgal will surely go into captivity

"For the people of Gilgal will surely be captured and taken away" or "For your enemies will surely capture the people of Gilgal and take them away"

Amos 5:6

he will break out like fire

"he will become like a fire that breaks out suddenly and destroys everything" or "he will destroy everything like a fire"

the house of Joseph

"the descendants of Joseph" or "Israel"

It will devour

"The fire will destroy everything"

there will be no one to quench it

"there will no one to stop the fire"

Amos 5:7

turn justice into a bitter thing

"say that they are doing what is just, but instead they harm people" or "refuse to do what is just and harm people instead"

throw righteousness down to the ground

"treat righteousness as though it were as unimportant as dirt" or "you despise what is righteous"

Amos 5:8

the Pleiades and Orion

"the groups of stars called Paeides and Orion" or "the stars"

he turns deep darkness into the morning ... day dark with night

"he makes the night become morning, and he makes the day become night."

calls for the waters ... on the surface of the earth

"he takes the waters of the sea and makes them rain down on the surface of the earth"

Yahweh is his name!

By declaring his name, Yahweh is declaring his power and authority to do these things.

Amos 5:9

He brings sudden destruction on the strong

"He suddenly destroys the strong people" or "He suddenly destroys the soldiers"

so that destruction comes on the fortresses

"so that the fortresses are destroyed" or "and he destroys the fortresses"

Amos 5:10

They hate anyone

"The people of Israel hate anyone"

Amos 5:11

you trample down the poor

"you oppress the poor person" or "you oppress poor people"

seize a tribute of wheat from him

"take some of their wheat as taxes"

worked stone

"cut stones" or "stones that people have cut"

you will not drink their wine

"you will not drink the wine from the grapes in your vineyards"

Amos 5:12

the just

"just people" or "righteous people"

take bribes

"let people pay you to do bad things"

and turn aside the needy in the city gate

"and tell needy people who come to the city gate to go away" or "and do not allow needy people to bring their cases to the judges in the city gate"

Amos 5:13

any prudent person is silent

"wise people keep quiet." They do not speak because they fear evil people might harm them.

for it is an evil time

"for it is a time when people do evil things"

Amos 5:14

Seek good and not evil

"Choose to do what is good and not what is evil"

Amos 5:15

Hate evil, love good

"Hate evil actions, and love good actions"

establish justice in the city gate

"make sure that justice is done at the city gates" or "make sure that the judges make just decisions in the city gates"

the remnant of Joseph

"the descendants of Joseph who are still alive" or "those of Israel who survive"

Amos 5:16

Wailing will be in all the squares

"People will wail in all the town squares" or "people will cry loudly in all the outdoor gathering places"

and those who know lamentation to wailing

"and they will call those who know lamentation to wailing" or "and they wil call professional mourners to wail"

Amos 5:17

I will pass through your midst

"I will come and punish you"

Amos 5:18

Why do you long for the day of Yahweh?

"Why do you want the day of Yahweh to come?"

It will be darkness and not light

"It will be a time of darkness and disaster, not of light and blessing"

Amos 5:20

Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness and not light?

"The day of Yahweh will certainly be darkness and not light!"

Gloom and no brightness?

"Will it not be a time of gloom and no brightness?" or "It will be a time of gloom without any brightness."

Amos 5:21

I hate, I despise your festivals

"I hate your festivals very much"

I take no delight in your solemn assemblies

"Your solemn assemblies do not please me at all"

Amos 5:23

Remove from me the noise of your songs

"Stop singing your noisy songs"

Amos 5:24

let justice flow like water, and righteousness like a constantly flowing stream

"let there be so much justice that it is like flowing water, and let there be so much righteousness that it is like a constantly flowing stream" or "let justice abound like a flood, and let righteousness abound like a stream that never stops"

Amos 5:25

Did you bring me sacrifices ... Israel?

Possible meanings are "You did not bring me sacrifices ... Israel." or "It was not to me that your brought sacrifices ... Israel."

Did you bring

God speaks as though the Israelites he is speaking to were part of the group that wandered in the wilderness. Alternate translation: "Did your ancestors bring"

house of Israel

See how you translated this in Amos 5:1.

Amos 5:26

You have lifted up the images of Sikkuth ... and Kaiwan

"You have worshiped the images of Sikkuth ... and Kaiwan"

Sikkuth ... Kaiwan

These are the names of two false gods. The people had made images to represent them.

Amos 6:1

who are at ease

"who feel safe." The people are not concerned that God will judge them.

the notable men of the most important of the nations

"the respected men of the most important nation." or "you important people in the most important nation"

the house of Israel

"the people of Israel" or "the nation of Israel"

Amos 6:2

Kalneh

This was the name of a city.

Are they better than your two kingdoms?

"They are not better than your two kingdoms."

Is their border larger than your border?

"Their border is not bigger than your border." or "Their land is not bigger than yours."

Amos 6:3

to those who put off the day of disaster

"to those who refuse to believe that disaster will soon come to them"

and make the throne of violence come near

"and cause a reign of violence to come to them"

Amos 6:4

beds of ivory

"beds decorated with ivory." Ivory comes from the teeth and tusks of large animals. It was very expensive, so only the wealthy people had it.

Amos 6:5

they improvise on instruments

Possible meanings: 1) they invent new songs and ways of playing the instruments or 2) they invent new instruments.

Amos 6:6

drink wine from bowls

This implies that they drink a lot of wine because they drink it from a large bowl rather than a regular wine cup.

they do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph

"they do not grieve about the descendants of Joseph being destroyed" or "they do not care that enemies attack Israel." Here "Joseph" represents the people of Israel.

Amos 6:7

they will now go into exile with the first exiles

"they will be among the first ones to go into exile" or "I will send them into exile first"

the feasts of those who lounge about will pass away

"there will be no more feasts for people to lie around at ease"

Amos 6:8

this is the declaration of Yahweh, the God of hosts

"this is what Yahweh, the God of hosts, has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, the God of hosts, declare"

I detest the pride of Jacob

"I hate the descendants of Jacob because they have become arrogant"

Amos 6:9

if ten men remain in one house, they will all die

"if ten men stay in a house, even they will all die"

Amos 6:10

the one who burns him

This refers to a person whose duty was to burn the bodies of people who died and for some reason could not be buried.

in the inner room

This was a room further inside the house.

we must not mention Yahweh's name

The speaker was probably afraid that if the hearer mentioned Yahweh's name, both of them would also die.

Amos 6:11

look

"listen" or "pay attention"

the big house will be smashed to pieces, and the little house to bits

"big houses and small housees will be smashed to pieces" or "the enemy will smash the big houses and the small house to pieces"

Amos 6:12

Do horses run on the rocky cliffs? Does one plow there with oxen?

"You know that horses do not run on rocky cliffs. You know that people do not plow with oxen on rocky cliffs."

Yet you have turned justice into poison

"Yet you have distorted justice so that it is like poisong" or "Yet what you call justice is like poison"

and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness

"and the fruit of rigteousness so it is like bitter plants" or "and what you call righteousness is like bitter plants"

Amos 6:13

Lo Debar ... Karnaim

These are names of towns.

Have we not taken Karnaim by our own strength?

"We captured Karnaim by our own power!"

Amos 6:14

look

"listen" or "pay attention"

house of Israel

"people of Israel" or "you people of Israel" See how you translated this in Amos 5:1.

Amos 7:1

Look ... look

The writer is telling the reader that he is about to say something surprising. Your language may have a way of doing this.

locust

See how you translated this in Amos 4:9.

after the king's harvest

"after the king takes his share from the harvest"

Amos 7:2

please forgive

"please forgive your people" or "please forgive us"

how will Jacob stand? For he is so small.

"how will Istrael survive? We are so small and weak!" Here, "Jacob" refers to the nation of Israel.

Amos 7:4

the Lord Yahweh called on fire to judge

"the Lord Yahweh used fire to punish the people"

Amos 7:5

how will Jacob stand? For he is so small.

See how you translated this in Amos 7:2.

Amos 7:7

a plumb line

a thin rope with a weight at one end. Builders hod it by a wall to make sure the wall stands straight up and down.

Amos 7:8

what do you see?

"tell me what you see."

I will put a plumb line among my people Israel

"I will hold a plumb line next to my people Israel" or "I will test my people Israel like a builder with a plumb line"

Amos 7:9

Isaac ... Israel

"the descendants of Isaac ... the people of Israel"

the house of Jeroboam

"Jeroboam's family" or "Jeroboam's dynasty"

Amos 7:10

Amaziah

This is the name of a man.

Amos has conspired against you in the middle of the house of Israel

"Amos is right here among the people of Israel, and he is planning to do bad things to you"

The land cannot endure all his words

"What he is saying will cause trouble among the people in this land"

Amos 7:11

Jeroboam will die by the sword

Jeroboam will be killed with a sword

Amos 7:12

there eat bread and prophesy

"earn your bread and prophecy there" or "earn a living by prophesying there"

Amos 7:13

for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal house

"this is where the national temple is, the place where the king worships"

Amos 7:14

herdsman

"one who takes care of sheep" or "sheperd"

Amos 7:17

your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword

"enemies will kill your sons and daughters"

your land will be measured and divided up

"other people will take your land and divide it up among themselves"

an unclean land

"a pagan country" or "a foreign land." An unclean land is a country of people who are unacceptable to God.

Amos 8:1

Look, a basket of summer fruit!

"a basket of ripe fruit."T he word "look" shows that Amos saw something interesting.

Amos 8:2

What do you see, Amos?

"Tell me what you see, Amos."

Amos 8:3

in that day

"at that time"

Silence!

Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh is to telling the people to be silent as they hear about the severity of his punishment or 2) the people will be silent because of their grief after Yahweh's punishment.

Amos 8:4

you who trample the needy and remove the poor of the land

"you who trample those who are in need and remove those in the land that are poor" or "you who oppress needy people and destroy poor people"

Amos 8:5

They say, "When will the new moon be over, so we can sell grain again? When will the Sabbath day be over, so that we can sell wheat?

"The are always asking when the new moon will finish or the Sabbath will finish so that can sell their grain and wheat again."

Amos 8:6

and the needy for a pair of sandals

"and buy needy people for a pair of sandals"

Amos 8:7

Yahweh has sworn by the pride of Jacob

"Yahweh has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob" or "Yahweh has sworn by himself, the excellence of Israel"

Amos 8:8

Will not the land quake for this, and everyone who lives in it mourn?

"Because of this, the land will shake, and everyone who lives in it will mourn."

river of Egypt

This is another name for the Nile River.

Amos 8:9

It will come in that day

"It will happen at that time"

Amos 8:10

have baldness on every head

"cause you all to shave your heads." People would shave their heads to show that they were grieving.

like mourning for an only son

"like mourning for an only son who has died"

and a bitter day to its end

"and everything that happens at that time will cause you great sorrow"

Amos 8:11

the days are coming

"there will be a time" or "in the future"

when I will send a famine in the land ... but for hearing the words of Yahweh

"when I will cause something like a famine in the land ... but for hearing the words of Yahweh"

Amos 8:12

from sea to sea

"from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea" or "from the eastern sea to the western sea"

Amos 8:14

by the sin of Samaria

Here "sin" represents the false god the people worshiped in Samaria. Alternate translation: "by the false god of Samaria"

As your god lives, Dan ... As the way to Beersheba exists

The people would declare that it is certain that Dan's god is alive or that the road to Beersheba exists to emphasize that they would certainly do what they promised to do.

they will fall

"they will die"

Amos 9:1

Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds will shake

It is implied that Yahweh is speaking about the pillars and thresholds of a temple.

Break them in pieces on all of their heads

"Break the pillars so that the pieces fall on the heads of all of the people"

Amos 9:2

General Information

Yahweh uses an exaggerated image of people fleeing to Sheol or heaven to try to escape being killed.

Though they dig into Sheol, there my hand will take them.

"Even if they dig far down to the place of the dead, I will pull them up from there"

Amos 9:3

Though they hide on the top of Carmel ... Though they are hidden from my sight in the bottom of the sea

"Even if they were to hide on the top of the Carmel mountains ... Even if they tried to go the bottom sea, thinking that I would not see them"

the serpent

This was a fierce sea animal, not the snake in the garden of Eden and not a common snake.

Amos 9:4

Though they go into captivity, driven by their enemies before them

"Though enemies capture them and force them to go to a foreign land"

there will I give orders to the sword, and it will kill them

"there I will cause their enemies to kill them"

I will keep my eyes on them for harm and not for good

"I will watch closely and make sure only bad things happen to them and not good things"

Amos 9:5

all of it will rise up like the River, and sink again like the river of Egypt

All of the land will rise up like the Nile River, and it will sink again like the Nile River of Egypt" "

Amos 9:6

builds his steps

"his steps" or "his upper rooms" or "his palace"

and has established his vault over the earth

"and has set the sky over the earth"

He calls for the waters of the sea ... on the surface of the earth

"He takes the waters of the sea and makes them rain down on the surface of the earth." See how you translated this in Amos 5:8.

Yahweh is his name

By declaring his name, Yahweh is declaring his power and authority to do these things. See how you translated this in Amos 5:8.

Amos 9:7

Are you not like the people of Cush to me, ... Israel—this ... declaration—did I not bring up Israel ... the Philistines ... the Arameans from Kir?

"People of Israel, you are like the people of Cush to me" or "People of Israel, you are no greater than the people of Cush"

did I not bring up Israel out of the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Crete, and the Arameans from Kir?

"I brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Crete, and the Arameans from Kir."

Kir

See how you translated the name of this place in Amos 1:5.

Amos 9:8

the eyes of the Lord Yahweh are on the sinful kingdom

"I, the Lord Yahweh, see that the people of this kingdom are very sinful"

I will destroy it from the face of the earth

"I will completely destroy this kingdom"

the house of Jacob

"the descendants of Jacob." See how you translated this in Amos 3:13.

Amos 9:9

the house of Israel

"you people of Israel" or "the people of Israel"

a sieve

a surface with many small holes that allows small things to fall through the holes and keeps larger things on the surface

Amos 9:10

All the sinners of my people will die by the sword

"Enemies will kill all the sinners of my people"

Disaster will not overtake or meet us

"We will not experience disaster" or "Bad things will not happen to us"

Amos 9:11

I will raise up the tent of David that has fallen

"David's kingdom will be like tent that has fallen down, but I will raise it back up again"

and close up its breaches

"and repair its walls" or "and repair the holes in its walls"

I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old

"I will rebuild its ruins and make it like it was long ago"

Amos 9:12

the remnant of Edom

"the remaining part of Edom's territory"

all the nations that are called by my name

"all the nations that belong to me" or "all the nations claimed in my name." This may refer to nations that Israel had conquered.

Amos 9:13

the days will come ... when the plowman

"there will be a time ... when the plowman" or "in the future ... the plowman"

the plowman ... him who plants seed

"The one who plows the ground will catch up with the one who gathers the harvest, and the one who crushes grapes will catch up with the who who plants seeds." So much food will grow that people will still be gathering it when it is time to prepare the ground and plant the next crop.

The mountains will drip sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it

"Sweet wine will drip from the mountains and flow in the hills." This is a picture showing that there will be a great amount of grapes and wine.

Amos 9:15

I will plant them upon their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land

This picture shows that God will bring his people back to their land and keep them safe from enemies.

they will never again be uprooted from the land

"no one will ever again pull them up out of the land"