Amos 1 2

Amos 1:2 kjv

And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

Amos 1:2 nkjv

And he said: "The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers."

Amos 1:2 niv

He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers."

Amos 1:2 esv

And he said: "The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers."

Amos 1:2 nlt

This is what he saw and heard: "The LORD's voice will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem!
The lush pastures of the shepherds will dry up;
the grass on Mount Carmel will wither and die."

Amos 1 verses

Amos 1 2 Meaning

Amos 1:2 is a profound and impactful opening declaration, establishing the prophetic message. It proclaims that the sovereign Lord (Yahweh) is about to announce His divine judgment. This announcement is portrayed through the powerful imagery of a lion roaring from His holy dwelling place in Zion/Jerusalem. The immediate, terrifying consequence of this divine utterance is the desolation and mourning of the natural world – specifically the pastures, symbolizing sustenance and life, and Mount Carmel, renowned for its fertility and beauty. The verse sets a solemn tone, signifying that God's forthcoming judgment will be sweeping, devastating, and will originate from His holy presence, affecting both the spiritual and physical landscapes.

Amos 1 2 Context

Amos 1:2 immediately follows the superscription (verse 1) which identifies the prophet, the time frame, and the overarching theme of judgment. This verse serves as the powerful prolegomenon, the opening theological statement that sets the tone and introduces the dominant themes of divine authority and impending judgment for the entire book of Amos. Historically, Amos prophesied during a period of relative peace and material prosperity in both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (under Jeroboam II) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (under Uzziah). However, beneath this facade of affluence lay deep-seated social injustice, moral corruption, and religious apostasy, especially idol worship and nominal worship that lacked true obedience. Thus, this opening verse announces that despite the outward calm, God is about to intervene drastically and shatter their complacency.

Amos 1 2 Word analysis

• And he said: The 'he' refers to Amos, but this statement immediately transitions into a direct oracle, suggesting Amos is merely the messenger. This phrase indicates the start of a direct divine proclamation heard by the prophet, not merely a human observation. It establishes the prophetic authority behind the subsequent words.
• The Lord (יְהוָ֣ה – YHWH): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the personal name for God, emphasizing His relationship with His people yet also His ultimate sovereign authority and right to judge. This underscores that the judgment is not arbitrary but comes from the one true God.
• roars (יִשְׁאָ֑ג – yiš'aḡ): From the root sha'ag, meaning "to roar like a lion." This is a potent and terrifying sound, characteristic of a predator asserting its presence and impending attack. It is a primal, fear-inducing sound. When attributed to God, it signifies a direct, powerful, and unchallengeable divine pronouncement of wrath and impending judgment, not just an audible sound but a forceful decree of judgment.
• from Zion (מִצִּיּ֖וֹן – miṣṣîyyôn): Zion refers to the holy hill in Jerusalem, often synonymous with Jerusalem itself and representing the dwelling place of God, the place from which His law and word typically emanate. Its mention signifies that judgment originates not from a foreign power but from God Himself, from His very presence in the midst of His people.
• And utters His voice (וְקוֹל֖וֹ יִתֵּ֥ן – v'qôlô yittēn): Reinforces and explains "roars." While a roar is a loud sound, "utters His voice" implies specific, intelligible words are being pronounced, an oracle of judgment. It highlights that this is a deliberate and conscious declaration by God. The imagery combines the raw power of a lion's roar with the deliberateness of a spoken decree.
• from Jerusalem (מִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם – mîrūšālāyim): A parallel to Zion, further solidifying the specific origin point of God's word. Jerusalem was the political and religious capital of Judah, God's chosen city. The declaration of judgment coming from this sacred space intensifies its impact, making it undeniable and personally directed towards those who might otherwise feel secure.
• The pastures (נְאוֹת – nĕ'ōwt) of the shepherds (הָרֹעִים – hārōʿîm) mourn (אָבְל֨וּ – ’āḇlû): "Pastures" symbolizes sustenance, fertility, and the well-being of the land and its people. "Mourn" is personification, describing the direct impact of God's judgment, likely through drought or famine. It signifies a profound loss of life, vibrancy, and economic stability. It speaks to a reversal of blessings into desolation affecting the most basic livelihoods.
• And the top (וְרֹ֣אשׁ – v'rō’š) of Carmel (הַכַּרְמֶל – hakCarmel) withers (יָבֵֽשׁ – yāḇēš): Mount Carmel was renowned for its lush vegetation, fertility, and beauty, making it a symbol of abundance and natural splendor. Its "withering" signifies a complete, devastating desiccation, even of the most resilient and beautiful parts of the land. This indicates the cosmic and far-reaching effects of God's judgment, implying no place is immune to its impact.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The Lord roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem": This powerful pairing emphasizes divine authority. It positions God's holy dwelling as the source of His authoritative and terrifying proclamation. The imagery underscores God's active involvement in judgment, contrasting with any perception of Him as distant or indifferent. The twin references to Zion and Jerusalem intensify the solemnity and divine origin of the coming wrath.
• "The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers": These phrases together vividly describe the widespread and devastating natural consequences of God's judgment. They illustrate that divine wrath impacts not only the human inhabitants but also the very land itself, affecting the economy, food supply, and natural beauty. This points to a holistic judgment, where the environment mirrors the spiritual state.

Amos 1 2 Bonus section

The "roar" in Amos 1:2 is a pre-judgment announcement. It is not the execution of judgment itself, but the sound that precedes and signals it, creating profound dread. The prophet Amos, as described in Amos 3:8 ("A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?"), presents himself as a direct recipient of this terrifying divine roar, compelled to deliver God's message because he heard it directly. This immediate and vivid imagery at the very beginning of the prophecy serves to eliminate any sense of false security for the prosperous but corrupt society to whom Amos preached, emphasizing that divine justice would disrupt their perceived peace and abundance. It sets the expectation for the unfolding series of judgments against various nations that follow.

Amos 1 2 Commentary

Amos 1:2 functions as the overture to the entire book, immediately arresting the audience with its dramatic portrayal of God's immanent judgment. The primary imagery of "The Lord roars like a lion" conveys not only overwhelming power and terror but also an announcement of imminent, decisive action. The origin of this roar from "Zion" and "Jerusalem" underscores that judgment proceeds from God's holy habitation, making it divinely ordained and inexorable, impacting both Israel and surrounding nations. The resulting desolation of the "pastures" and "Carmel" highlights the immediate, tangible effects on creation, signaling that prosperity and natural blessings can quickly reverse under divine wrath, demonstrating the interconnectedness of human sin and cosmic consequences. This powerful opening firmly establishes God's absolute sovereignty and the inescapable reality of His impending reckoning for sin.