Amos 1 7

Amos 1:7 kjv

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

Amos 1:7 nkjv

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

Amos 1:7 niv

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

Amos 1:7 esv

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

Amos 1:7 nlt

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

Amos 1 verses

Amos 1 7 Meaning

This verse declares the LORD's divine judgment against Gaza, a prominent Philistine city. It foretells that a destructive fire, symbolizing God's wrath, will be sent upon its protective fortifications and consuming its most significant structures—its palaces, which represent its power, wealth, and leadership. This judgment is a direct consequence of their actions, specifically against God's people.

Amos 1 7 Context

Amos 1:7 is part of a series of "Oracles Against the Nations" that opens the book of Amos. The prophet Amos, speaking in the 8th century BCE during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel, declares God's judgment upon six surrounding nations (Damascus, Philistia/Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab) before turning to Judah and finally, the northern kingdom of Israel. This structured literary device builds a strong theological argument: if God judges nations far from His covenant for their general inhumanity or specific crimes against His people, how much more will He judge Judah and Israel, who have greater knowledge of Him and yet continually transgress His laws and perpetrate social injustices. Gaza was a principal city of the Philistine Pentapolis, known for its strategic importance on the trade route and its formidable defenses. The Philistines were historical adversaries of Israel, and their transgressions included brutal acts and the selling of captives, likely referring to Israelites or other war captives, into slavery (Amos 1:6).

Amos 1 7 Word analysis

• "So I will send": (Hebrew: וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי, v'shillachti) – The initial "so" (Hebrew conjunction וְ, waw) connects this judgment to the prior declaration of Philistine sin (Amos 1:6). "I will send" emphasizes the LORD's direct, personal, and intentional agency in the coming judgment. It highlights His absolute sovereignty and control over nations, declaring an inevitable, decreed act. This is not a random event but a purposeful divine intervention.
• "a fire": (Hebrew: אֵשׁ, 'esh) – This is a frequent biblical metaphor for divine wrath, destruction, and cleansing judgment. It represents an unstoppable, consuming force. The imagery conveys thoroughness; the judgment will be complete and leave nothing untouched. Its swift and devastating nature signifies the severity of God's response to sin.
• "upon the wall of Gaza": (Hebrew: חוֹמַת עַזָּה, chomat 'azzah) – "Wall" signifies strength, defense, and security, representing what the city trusted in for its protection. Gaza (Hebrew: עַזָּה, 'azzah), itself means "strong," adding an ironic layer as God targets the symbol of its strength. The specific mention of "wall" shows that the judgment targets their fortifications and sense of impregnability, breaking their false confidence in human power rather than God.
• "which shall devour": (Hebrew: וְאָכְלָה, v'akhlah) – From the root meaning "to eat" or "to consume." It highlights the total, unsparing nature of the fire's action. It's not just a superficial burning but a complete consumption, signifying utter devastation and the elimination of the targeted structures. The fire is portrayed as an active, powerful agent.
• "the palaces thereof": (Hebrew: אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ, 'armenoteha) – Palaces represent the centers of power, wealth, prestige, and leadership within the city. Destroying them symbolizes the dismantling of the city's authority, prosperity, and governing structures, indicating a comprehensive collapse that affects the entire social and political fabric. It's judgment from the top down.

Words-group analysis:

• "I will send a fire": This phrase underscores God as the ultimate source and executor of judgment. It highlights His initiative and active role in history, orchestrating the downfall of rebellious nations.
• "upon the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof": This combination demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the judgment. It targets both the external fortifications (the city's defense) and the internal centers of power (its governance and wealth). This dual targeting implies that no aspect of the city's strength or identity will remain untouched by divine wrath, leading to total ruin.

Amos 1 7 Bonus section

This oracle against Gaza (and by extension, the Philistines in general) served a strategic purpose for Amos's original audience. By beginning with judgment against surrounding enemies, the prophet likely gained the ear of his listeners, who would readily agree with and perhaps even applaud the condemnation of their historical adversaries. This technique softens them for the eventual and more stinging message of judgment against Judah and Israel themselves, making it clear that God's justice is universal and impartial. The sin of Gaza, explicitly stated in Amos 1:6 as selling "a whole captivity" (likely Israelites captured in war or slave raids) to Edom, highlights God's particular concern for the enslavement and dehumanization of His people. The "fire" thus serves as a precise recompense for their specific cruelties.

Amos 1 7 Commentary

Amos 1:7 is a pronouncement of God's unsparing judgment upon Gaza, illustrating that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is sovereign over all nations. The "fire" is a standard biblical metaphor for divine judgment, signifying both destruction and the absolute purity of God's wrath against sin. By targeting "the wall" and "the palaces," God is specifically aiming at the symbols of Gaza's military strength and socio-political power. Gaza's name meaning "strong" makes the destruction of its wall a profound irony, highlighting the futility of relying on human defenses against divine decree. This verse demonstrates that God holds all nations accountable, even those outside of the Mosaic covenant, for their transgressions, particularly injustices committed against humanity and against His people. This divine accountability establishes a foundational premise in Amos's larger prophecy, preparing the audience to understand that if God judges outsiders so stringently, He will surely judge Israel, His own people, for their even greater failings.