Amos 1 10

Amos 1:10 kjv

But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

Amos 1:10 nkjv

But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces."

Amos 1:10 niv

I will send fire on the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses."

Amos 1:10 esv

So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour her strongholds."

Amos 1:10 nlt

So I will send down fire on the walls of Tyre,
and all its fortresses will be destroyed."

Amos 1 verses

Amos 1 10 Meaning

Amos 1:10 declares the Lord's coming judgment upon Tyre. The "fire" signifies divine destructive power that will be sent against the formidable defenses ("wall") of this wealthy Phoenician city. The judgment is so complete that it will "devour the palaces," indicating the obliteration of Tyre's leadership, wealth, and pride, demonstrating God's sovereign power over even the most secure and prosperous nations.

Amos 1 10 Context

Amos 1:10 is part of the prophet Amos's opening series of judgments, specifically directed at nations surrounding Israel. These "oracles against the nations" (Amos 1:3–2:3) demonstrate God's universal sovereignty and moral authority over all peoples, not just Israel. Each oracle follows a pattern, citing "for three transgressions and for four," signifying that the sins have reached a cumulative, intolerable measure, leading to inevitable judgment. For Tyre, the primary offense mentioned in Amos 1:9 is its breaking of a "covenant of brothers" by engaging in slave trade, selling complete populations of captives (likely Israelites or Judeans) to Edom. Tyre, a prominent Phoenician maritime power, was renowned for its wealth and virtually impregnable island fortifications, making its judgment by a "fire" from the Lord a powerful statement of God's unmatched authority.

Amos 1 10 Word analysis

• וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי (v'shillachti): "But I will send" or "And I will dispatch." The first-person singular verb emphasizes Yahweh as the active subject, personally initiating and executing the judgment. It conveys an intentional and decisive act from the divine will.
• אֵשׁ (esh): "fire." In biblical prophecy, "fire" is a frequent metaphor for divine wrath, judgment, destruction, or purification. It signifies an overwhelming and consuming force that brings ruin. While it could manifest literally, it broadly represents irresistible destructive power.
• בְּחוֹמַת (b'chomat): "upon the wall of." The Hebrew word חוֹמָה (chomah) refers to a protective wall, a fortification. Tyre was famous for its strong, seemingly impregnable walls, particularly its island fortress. The judgment targeting the "wall" implies that no human defense, however strong, can withstand God's decreed punishment.
• צֹר (Tsor): "Tyre." This refers to the ancient Phoenician city-state, known for its extensive trade networks, immense wealth, purple dye, and naval power. Its name literally means "rock," highlighting its perceived solidity and impregnability.
• וְאָכְלָה (v'akh'lah): "and it shall devour" or "and it shall consume." From the verb אָכַל (akhal), "to eat." This is an anthropomorphic or zoomorphic image for the fire, showing its active, total consumption of what it targets, leaving nothing remaining. It indicates utter destruction, not merely damage.
• אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ (arm'noteyha): "its palaces." The Hebrew word אַרְמוֹן (armon) refers to a fortified palace or citadel, a residence of royalty or powerful elites. "Palaces" represent the seat of power, wealth, luxury, and the very symbol of a city's grandeur and authority. Their destruction signifies the complete downfall of Tyre's elite and its socio-political structure.

• "I will send a fire": This phrase underlines God's direct, personal, and decisive involvement in the judgment. It is not a natural disaster but a divine act.
• "upon the wall of Tyre": This pairing directly confronts Tyre's physical pride and perceived invincibility. God's judgment penetrates the strongest points of human security.
• "and it shall devour the palaces thereof": This emphasizes the thoroughness and comprehensiveness of the judgment, striking at the very heart of Tyre's power, wealth, and its elite, signaling its complete ruin.

Amos 1 10 Bonus section

• The "Covenant of Brothers": While Amos 1:10 speaks of the consequence, Amos 1:9 indicates the sin: breaking the "covenant of brothers." This likely refers to the long-standing, seemingly amicable relationship between Phoenicia (of which Tyre was a leading city) and Israel, evidenced in their alliance during King David and Solomon's reigns (e.g., Hiram of Tyre assisting Solomon in temple building, 1 Kings 5). Tyre's subsequent act of selling Israelite captives as slaves was a grave violation of this established brotherhood, marking a profound treachery that ignited God's wrath.
• Historical Fulfillment: While specific immediate "fire" events are difficult to pinpoint from historical records for all details, Tyre faced significant destructions over centuries. Nebuchadnezzar besieged it for thirteen years, weakening its mainland strength, and Alexander the Great's monumental siege (332 BC), which involved building a causeway to the island city, eventually led to its definitive fall and devastation. These historical events demonstrate the fulfilling trajectory of God's prophetic judgments, showing that divine declarations against even seemingly impenetrable fortresses ultimately come to pass.
• Moral rather than Ritual Violation: Unlike the later judgments against Judah and Israel in Amos, where religious idolatry and ritual abuses are prominent, the foreign nations like Tyre are judged primarily on their egregious violations of basic human decency and international ethics (like war crimes or slave trading). This highlights God's justice being founded on universal moral principles that apply to all humanity, not solely to those under a specific Mosaic covenant.

Amos 1 10 Commentary

Amos 1:10 articulates God's coming judgment against Tyre, an economically powerful city, showcasing divine justice over all nations. The "fire" is symbolic of an inescapable, divinely orchestrated devastation that will not only breach Tyre's famed "wall"—its renowned fortifications representing security and pride—but will also "devour the palaces," signifying the complete eradication of its leadership, wealth, and established power. This judgment on Tyre, a non-covenant nation, underscores that God holds all peoples accountable for their moral failings, particularly those involving human cruelty like the slave trade (mentioned in Amos 1:9), thus highlighting God's universal moral governance. It also demonstrates that no earthly power, however mighty or well-defended, can withstand the righteous judgment of the Almighty. For instance, just as a wildfire consumes dry forests, leaving desolation, God's judgment leaves the mighty and prosperous Tyre utterly undone.