Amos 3:1 kjv
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
Amos 3:1 nkjv
Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
Amos 3:1 niv
Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the LORD has spoken against you?against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:
Amos 3:1 esv
Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
Amos 3:1 nlt
Listen to this message that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel ? against the entire family I rescued from Egypt:
Amos 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 3:1 | "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt." | Amos 3:1 |
| Exod 4:22 | "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son.’" | God's firstborn son |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be his treasure, out of all the peoples on the face of the earth." | Chosen people |
| Ps 147:19-20 | "He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!" | Statutes to Israel |
| Jer 31:31-33 | "“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah..." | New Covenant promise |
| Matt 10:5-6 | "These twelve Jesus sent out, after instructing them, saying, 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'" | Ministry to Israel |
| John 1:11 | "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." | His own people |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the world." | Witnesses to the world |
| Rom 9:4-5 | "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption as sons, and the glory, and the covenants, and the law, and the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ..." | Spiritual privileges |
| 1 Cor 8:3 | "but if anyone loves God, he is known by God." | Known by God |
| Gal 4:8 | "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are no gods." | Knowing God |
| 1 Pet 1:14-16 | "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but as he who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct: because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" | Holy conduct |
| Amos 3:2 | "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." | Consequence of election |
| Hosea 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest to me..." | Rejection for lack of knowledge |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'" | Willful blindness |
| Micah 6:1-3 | "Hear now what the Lord says... For the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will plead his case against Israel." | God's indictment |
| Jer 7:2-7 | God speaks of judging them despite their outward worship. | Judgment despite worship |
| Ezek 20:5 | "and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I lifted up my hand to the offspring of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt..." | God's choosing in Egypt |
| Nahum 1:2 | "The Lord avenges and is wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies." | God's vengeance |
| Zeph 3:14-17 | "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!" | Joy in God's presence |
Amos 3 verses
Amos 3 1 Meaning
This verse signifies God's exclusive relationship with Israel. It declares that out of all the nations on earth, Israel alone was chosen and known by God. This election is not for favoritism alone but carries the weighty responsibility of obedience and faithfulness, carrying profound implications for their actions and future.
Amos 3 1 Context
Amos chapter 3 begins with a powerful declaration from God directed at the entire "family" of Israel, those He brought out of Egypt. The preceding verses, and indeed the whole book, set the stage for Amos’s pronouncements of judgment against Israel. The nation, despite enjoying a unique relationship with God, had succumbed to gross injustice, idolatry, and moral decay. This verse serves as a foundational statement, reminding Israel of their privileged position, which in turn makes their unfaithfulness all the more egregious. The historical context is the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity but inward spiritual corruption, likely around the 8th century BC, a period preceding significant Assyrian conquests.
Amos 3 1 Word Analysis
Hear (שִׁמְעוּ - shim'u): Imperative form of the verb "to hear." It's a call to attentive listening, not just casual hearing, implying obedience and reception of the message.
This (אֶת־הַדָּבָר־הַזֶּה - et-haddabar-hazzeh): "This word." Emphasizes the specificity and immediacy of God's message being delivered.
Word (דָּבָר - dabar): Refers to a spoken message, declaration, or utterance. Here it is God's specific indictment and pronouncement.
That (אֲשֶׁר - asher): Relative pronoun introducing the subordinate clause describing the word.
Has spoken (דִּבֶּר - dibber): Perfect tense of the verb "to speak," indicating a completed action with present relevance.
Against (עֲלֵיכֶם - aleykem): "Upon you" or "against you." Indicates the target and adverse nature of the message.
You (אַתֶּם - atem): Plural "you," referring to the people of Israel.
O people of Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל - b'yisrael): Directly identifies the recipients of God's word as the nation of Israel.
Against (עַל־כָּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה - al-kol-hamishpah): "Upon the whole family." Broadens the scope to include all descendants, not just a select group.
The whole family (כָּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה - kol-hamishpah): "Family" here refers to the entire nation descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It encompasses all the tribes.
That I brought up (אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלִיתִי - asher he'elit): "I lifted up" or "I brought up." God highlights His active role in their deliverance from Egypt, emphasizing His covenantal action.
Out of (מִן־אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם - min-erets-mitsrayim): "From the land of Egypt." Specifically points to the Exodus event, a foundational act of God's salvation and choosing for Israel.
Selected Group (Israel as God's unique possession): The phrase "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth" (implied context of the chapter's progression to verse 2) establishes Israel's distinctiveness. This is not merely a genealogical or national distinction but a spiritual one, established through God's sovereign choice and covenant.
Divine Awareness (God's intimate knowledge): The word "known" (יָדַע - yada') implies more than just intellectual recognition; it signifies an intimate, covenantal relationship. God knows Israel in a way He does not know other nations. This knowledge implies responsibility and accountability.
The Exodus as a Covenantal Act: The reference to bringing them up "out of the land of Egypt" is not merely historical recall but a reminder of the covenant God established with them at that time. This deliverance was a testament to His commitment and a foundation for His expectations.
Amos 3 1 Bonus Section
The emphasis on Israel as a singular entity brought out of Egypt underscores the collective nature of their covenant relationship and, by extension, their accountability. Amos's message here highlights that God's election is not a guarantee against judgment; rather, it heightens the accountability for His chosen people. The Lord's deliberate drawing of "the whole family" implies that every member shares in this special relationship and its resultant responsibilities. This is a critical concept in understanding biblical justice—God deals with nations and His people with specific standards based on His revealed will and covenantal interactions. The fact that Amos uses "family" (mishpachah) instead of "nation" or "people" could also be interpreted as emphasizing a familial bond and shared destiny within God's purposes.
Amos 3 1 Commentary
This opening verse of Amos 3 is a solemn summons. God commands Israel to "hear" His word. The divine speaking is directed specifically at the entirety of the nation, the "whole family" He redeemed from slavery in Egypt. This initial declaration emphasizes their unique relationship with God as His chosen people, a fundamental truth that underpins the subsequent pronouncements of judgment. Their special status means their sins carry greater weight. The very act of their deliverance from Egypt signifies God’s active engagement and election, a salvific act that now carries the obligation of covenant faithfulness. Their status as uniquely known and chosen by God mandates a higher standard of conduct.