Amos 2 5

Amos 2:5 kjv

But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

Amos 2:5 nkjv

But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."

Amos 2:5 niv

I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem."

Amos 2:5 esv

So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem."

Amos 2:5 nlt

So I will send down fire on Judah,
and all the fortresses of Jerusalem will be destroyed."

Amos 2 verses

Amos 2 5 Meaning

Amos 2:5 declares a specific divine judgment against the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It states that God Himself will send a destructive fire upon Judah, specifically targeting and consuming the prominent palaces within Jerusalem. This prophecy underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His impartial justice, extending even to His chosen people, whose unfaithfulness to the covenant, social injustice, and idolatry demanded severe retribution. The destruction of palaces symbolizes the collapse of the nation's human sources of power, security, and wealth, highlighting the vulnerability of all earthly structures before divine wrath.

Amos 2 5 Context

Amos 2:5 is part of a prophetic oracle delivered by Amos, an Old Testament prophet from Judah, to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Chapters 1 and 2 systematically condemn the nations surrounding Israel and Judah before turning the most severe judgments against Israel itself. The previous verses (Amos 1:3-2:3) detail God's judgment against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab, each for specific, severe transgressions. The pattern is "For three transgressions of X, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment..."

Verse 4 then dramatically shifts the focus to Judah, God's chosen people, residing in the Southern Kingdom. The indictment against Judah is unique and more profound: "Because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept His commandments; their lies lead them astray, those after which their fathers walked" (Amos 2:4). Unlike the other nations condemned for crimes against humanity or breaking natural moral law, Judah's sin is specifically against God's revealed law and covenant, a far greater offense given their privileged relationship with Him. Therefore, Amos 2:5 specifies the consequence of this deeper rebellion: divine fire on their political and royal centers in Jerusalem, symbolizing their impending downfall. This sets the stage for the extensive and even harsher condemnation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel that follows immediately from Amos 2:6 onwards, emphasizing that Israel's judgment would be greater due to their continued idolatry, social injustice, and rejection of prophetic warnings despite their unique covenant status.

Amos 2 5 Word analysis

• But (כִּי - kiy): This conjunctive particle serves as an emphatic transition, here introducing a contrasting and heightened point. It signals a shift in focus from the surrounding pagan nations to Judah, indicating that Judah's offense and consequent judgment are particularly significant and unavoidable, given their special relationship with God and access to His Law.
• I will send (וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי - wəšillachtî): From the root שָׁלַח (shalach), "to send, stretch out." This is a Hiphil perfect verb, which indicates direct and active causation. God is unequivocally and intentionally the subject who will initiate this destructive act, not a passive observer or distant force. The use of the perfect tense in a prophetic context often conveys the certainty and finality of the impending judgment – it is as good as done in God's decree.
• a fire (אֵשׁ - 'esh): A powerful and frequently used biblical metaphor for divine wrath, judgment, purification, holiness, and zeal. Here, it signifies a devastating, consuming force. This fire is not an accidental event but an instrument of God's righteous anger, leading to utter destruction.
• upon Judah (עַל־יְהוּדָה - 'al-Yəhûḏâ): Explicitly names the target of God's judgment, the Southern Kingdom. The preposition עַל ('al) signifies direction "upon" or "against," underscoring that this judgment is directly aimed at them. Despite being God's chosen covenant people and holding the promise of the Davidic line, Judah is held accountable and is not immune from divine punishment for their disobedience.
• and it shall devour (וְאָכְלָה - wəʾāḵəlâ): From the root אָכַל ('akal), "to eat, consume, destroy." This verb signifies complete destruction, not merely damage or harm. The fire will utterly consume, leaving nothing left of what it devours. This indicates the severity and totality of the impending judgment.
• the palaces (אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ - ʾarmənōṯeihā): Plural of אַרְמוֹן (armôn), referring to fortified palaces, citadels, royal residences, or fortresses. These structures were symbols of Judah's governmental power, military strength, wealth, pride, and perceived security. Their destruction signifies the dismantling of the nation's political and military infrastructure, and a direct assault on the centers of human trust and earthly reliance.
• of Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם - Yərušālaim): The capital city of Judah, the spiritual, political, and cultural heart of the kingdom. It was the site of the Temple and held significant theological meaning (Zion, City of David). The destruction of its palaces underscores the complete devastation and the shaking of foundations that Judah considered unshakeable, shattering their false sense of security derived from their sacred city or political stronghold, independent of true obedience to God.

Amos 2 5 Bonus section

The prophecy in Amos 2:5 reflects a direct polemic against the Judeans' belief in their inviolability simply by being God's chosen people or by possessing the Temple. They presumed their security was absolute because God's dwelling place was among them and Jerusalem was the city of the Great King. Amos shattered this presumption, revealing that covenant protection was conditional on obedience to God's law. Their spiritual "lies" likely refer to idolatry (trusting other gods), syncretism, and a formalistic religion divorced from genuine righteousness and justice (as seen more extensively in subsequent chapters regarding Israel). The "palaces" thus also represent the hub of national pride and security, which proved ultimately impotent against God's decree. The historical fulfillment of this judgment occurred with the Babylonian exile and the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC, proving that God's word, though spoken centuries in advance, is certain and unstoppable.

Amos 2 5 Commentary

Amos 2:5 concisely articulates the divine verdict against Judah, following the specific indictment for rejecting God's Law (v.4). This verse reveals a fundamental biblical truth: God's justice is impartial. Even Judah, with its unique covenant relationship, was not exempt from judgment when they willfully disobeyed the Law, substituted God's truth with their "lies," and adopted the sinful ways of their ancestors. The "fire" symbolizes God's pure, holy, and consuming wrath against sin. Its target, the "palaces of Jerusalem," signifies the dismantling of Judah's earthly sources of power and pride. This prophetic word directly challenged Judah's complacent trust in its perceived invincibility, often rooted in the presence of the Temple and the Davidic covenant, rather than in their covenant fidelity. The message serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual privilege without commensurate righteousness leads to greater accountability and more severe consequences. This prophetic act foreshadowed the historical destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon, an event demonstrating God's consistent application of justice across all peoples, beginning with His own house when it proved unfaithful.