Amos 1 14

Amos 1:14 kjv

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

Amos 1:14 nkjv

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.

Amos 1:14 niv

I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day.

Amos 1:14 esv

So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour her strongholds, with shouting on the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;

Amos 1:14 nlt

So I will send down fire on the walls of Rabbah,
and all its fortresses will be destroyed.
The battle will come upon them with shouts,
like a whirlwind in a mighty storm.

Amos 1 verses

Amos 1 14 Meaning

Amos 1:14 prophesies the impending judgment of God upon Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites. The verse declares that God Himself will ignite a destructive fire within the city's fortified walls, which will consume its mighty citadels or palaces. This devastating destruction will occur amidst the overwhelming sounds and chaos of war – characterized by loud battle cries and the tumultuous force of a violent tempest or whirlwind, symbolizing swift and irresistible divine power. The message emphasizes the certainty and totality of God's vengeance for the Ammonites' extreme cruelty described in the preceding verse.

Amos 1 14 Context

Amos chapter 1 initiates a series of prophetic pronouncements by the prophet Amos against various nations surrounding Israel and Judah, followed by pronouncements against Judah and then Israel. Each judgment follows a fixed pattern: "For three transgressions... and for four," specifying a grave sin that pushes divine patience to its limit, followed by an announcement of certain punishment by fire. Amos 1:13 details the specific sin of the Ammonites: their barbaric cruelty in ripping open pregnant women of Gilead. This act was driven by their greedy desire to expand their territory eastward into Gilead. Verse 14 directly announces the consequence of this extreme atrocity, focusing the divine judgment specifically on Rabbah, their capital. The historical context places Amos's prophecy during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel, a time of outward prosperity but deep-seated social injustice and moral decay. The prophecy of destruction on Rabbah reflects the historical reality of inter-state warfare and divine judgment mediated through conquering empires like Assyria.

Amos 1 14 Word analysis

• But I will kindle (וְהִצַּתִּי - wəhiṣṣaṭṭî): From the Hebrew root yāṣat (יָצַת), meaning "to kindle, set on fire." The active Qal perfect tense strongly emphasizes God's direct and personal agency in initiating the judgment. It's not a random occurrence but a deliberate act of divine wrath. This highlights God's sovereignty over the fate of nations.
• a fire (אֵשׁ - ʾēš): Common Hebrew word for fire. In biblical prophecy, fire frequently symbolizes God's wrath, destructive judgment, and purification. Here, it denotes utter destruction, an consuming force from which there is no escape.
• in the wall (בְּחֹומַת - bəḥōmat): Ḥōma (חֹמָה) means "city wall" or "fortification." Attacking the wall indicates a frontal assault, aiming at the very defense and security of the city. A fire within the wall could imply either an internal uprising ignited by God, or the thoroughness of the external judgment penetrating the city's defenses.
• of Rabbah (רַבָּה - rabbat): The capital city of the Ammonites. Its destruction signifies the overthrow of the Ammonite kingdom's power, prestige, and central authority. It was strategically important and heavily fortified.
• and it shall devour (וְאָכְלָהּ - wəʾākəlāh): From ʾākal (אָכַל), "to eat, consume, devour." This verb paints a vivid picture of total consumption, implying nothing will be left standing. The fire will completely destroy and consume the city's key structures.
• her citadels (אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ - ʾarmənōṯeihā): From ʾarmon (אַרְמוֹן), usually translated "palace," but can also refer to fortresses, strongholds, or high fortified towers. The target is the very symbol of power, wealth, leadership, and defense, indicating a comprehensive and humiliating defeat for the Ammonites.
• with shouting (בִּתְרוּעָה - biṯrūʿāh): From təruʿah (תְּרוּעָה), meaning "loud cry, alarm shout, war cry, trumpet blast." It denotes the tumultuous sounds of battle—the roar of the attackers, the cries of the dying, the sounds of chaos and terror, not of celebration, but of complete disarray and destruction.
• in the day of battle (בְּיוֹם מִלְחָמָה - bəyōm milḥāmāh): Yom milhamah signifies a day of intense warfare, a period marked by military conflict and violence. This implies a definite historical event, albeit divinely orchestrated.
• with a tempest (בְּסַעַר - bəsaʿar): Saʿar (סַעַר) means "storm, tempest, whirlwind." It connotes a powerful, uncontrollable force of nature, often used metaphorically for sudden and overwhelming judgment or God's powerful manifestation. It suggests the rapidity and overwhelming nature of the coming destruction.
• in the day of the whirlwind (בְּיוֹם סוּפָה - bəyōm sūpāh): Sūpāh (סוּפָה) is another word for "storm" or "whirlwind," often carrying the connotation of violent, destructive winds that sweep away everything in their path. The repetition of similar imagery (saʿar and sūpāh) emphasizes the intensity, comprehensive nature, and chaotic power of the impending judgment. It underscores God's ability to orchestrate destruction on a grand, uncontrollable scale.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah": This phrase directly attributes the destruction to God's initiative, indicating it's not merely a human conflict but divine judgment. The "wall of Rabbah" as the specific target emphasizes the strategic and symbolic core of their strength and identity.
• "and it shall devour her citadels": The fire, ignited by God, acts as a consuming agent, eradicating the Ammonites' places of power and wealth, their ultimate defense, ensuring their humiliation and collapse. This signifies a thorough and total destruction.
• "with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind": These two parallel clauses use vivid imagery and sounds to depict the brutal chaos accompanying the judgment. The "shouting" describes the terrifying auditory experience of war, while the "tempest" and "whirlwind" describe its overwhelming, destructive force. The repetition underscores the intensity and finality of God's divinely orchestrated wrath. This also connects to "the Day of the Lord" motif often associated with such natural and martial upheavals.

Amos 1 14 Bonus section

The fulfillment of this prophecy often points to historical invasions by great empires, particularly Assyria and later Babylon. These foreign powers, though unwitting instruments, served God's purpose in executing judgment. The imagery of fire and tempest links this judgment directly to common biblical depictions of the "Day of the Lord," an appointed time when God intervenes in human history to judge sin and restore righteousness, although for foreign nations like Ammon, it typically meant utter destruction with little promise of restoration compared to Judah/Israel. The emphasis on the "wall" and "citadels" signifies an attack not just on the populace, but on the very symbols and practicalities of the kingdom's sovereignty and defensive strength. The precision of God's judgment here contrasts with human arbitrariness, as it is a direct consequence of a specific and egregious transgression, namely, the barbaric practice against Gilead.

Amos 1 14 Commentary

Amos 1:14 stands as a testament to God's universal justice, proving that His moral law extends beyond Israel to all nations. The fire against Rabbah is not just literal destruction but a metaphor for divine wrath consuming the heart of Ammonite power in response to their egregious acts of inhumanity (Amos 1:13). God, as the righteous judge, brings about a judgment characterized by His direct intervention ("I will kindle"), total annihilation ("devour her citadels"), and overwhelming chaos ("shouting," "tempest," "whirlwind"). The specifics of "day of battle" and "day of the whirlwind" underline the certainty of the timing, orchestrated by God Himself, even if fulfilled through earthly armies. It's a forceful reminder that nations that disregard the sanctity of life and humane conduct will face inevitable divine reckoning. For us, this highlights God's abhorrence of extreme cruelty and His commitment to justice, reassuring His people that even the strongest and most wicked nations will ultimately answer to Him.