Amos 3 1

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 verses

Amos 3 1 meaning

Amos 3:1 presents a direct and severe message from God to the entire nation of Israel, urging them to hear an impending word of judgment. This divine pronouncement is not merely descriptive but is explicitly "against" them, underscoring their unique covenant relationship with God forged during the Exodus from Egypt. This foundational act of liberation, intended as the basis for their faithful obedience, now serves as the premise for their greater accountability and consequent indictment due to their continued transgressions. The verse acts as a solemn prelude, setting the stage for the specific accusations and pronouncements of judgment that follow in the book of Amos.

Amos 3 1 Context

Amos 3:1 inaugurates a new section within the book of Amos, following the initial pronouncements of judgment against surrounding nations and against Judah and Israel in chapters 1-2. Having established God's universal justice and demonstrated Israel's egregious violations alongside other nations, Amos now focuses explicitly and acutely on Israel's unique culpability. This verse is not an invitation to dialogue but a forceful demand to acknowledge a verdict already determined by their actions. Historically, Amos prophesied to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) during a period of considerable material prosperity under King Jeroboam II (mid-8th century BCE). This era was marked by severe social injustice, economic exploitation of the poor by the rich, and rampant religious syncretism, particularly the worship of golden calves at Bethel and Dan, alongside elements of Baal worship. The people often believed their covenant status with Yahweh afforded them special immunity from judgment, or they engaged in ritual without genuine heart commitment. Amos 3:1 directly challenges this false sense of security by invoking their election not as a shield, but as the very grounds for their impending judgment. The historical context highlights a society outwardly successful but inwardly corrupt, a stark contrast to the divine call for justice and righteousness that formed the basis of their covenant with the God who "brought [them] up from the land of Egypt."

Amos 3 1 Word analysis

• Hear (שִׁמְעוּ - shime'u): This is a plural imperative command, an urgent call to attention. It means not just to physically perceive sound but to listen, understand, and obey. It implies a demand for active reception and responsive action, which the audience had repeatedly failed to demonstrate.
• this word (הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה - haddāḇār hazzeh): "Word" (דָּבָר - dāḇār) in Hebrew signifies more than a mere sound; it conveys a dynamic, active force, often embodying the speaker's will and purpose. It is a communication, a message, an utterance, an event, or a matter. "This word" emphasizes the specific, singular, and authoritative nature of the immediate message to follow, distinct from general counsel.
• that the Lord (אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה - ʾăšer dibber YHWH): "The Lord" (יְהוָה - YHWH) refers to the covenant name of God, revealing His personal relationship with Israel, a relationship now being breached. The verb "has spoken" (dibber) highlights divine initiation and authority behind the message; it is a declaration, not a suggestion.
• against you (עֲלֵיכֶם - ‘ǎlêḵem): This preposition is crucial. While al can sometimes mean "about" or "concerning," in this context, especially with a preceding pronouncement, it carries the strong sense of "against," denoting a confrontational or accusatory posture. It immediately signals an impending indictment or judgment, directly challenging the people.
• O children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - bənê Yiśrāʾēl): A direct, personal address that identifies the specific audience. "Children of Israel" signifies their covenant identity as God's chosen people, heirs to promises and recipients of unique revelations, making their subsequent actions particularly egregious.
• against the whole family (עַל־כָּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה - ʿal-kōl-hammišpāḥāh): The preposition al here again suggests the sense of "against." "Whole family" emphasizes the corporate responsibility and shared destiny of the entire nation, not just a segment or a few individuals. It points to a pervasive moral and spiritual decay that implicates the collective body. The term mišpāḥāh refers to a larger clan or national group descended from a common ancestor.
• which I brought up from the land of Egypt (אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלֵיתִי מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - ʾăšer heʿĕlêtî mêʾereṣ Miṣrayim): This phrase invokes the foundational act of redemption in Israel's history – the Exodus. It highlights God's exclusive claim on them based on His miraculous deliverance from slavery. This act established the covenant relationship and was meant to cultivate perpetual gratitude and obedience. By referring to it here, God emphasizes that their sin is a direct betrayal of this monumental grace and covenant fidelity. It underlines the theme that great privilege comes with great responsibility, and unfaithfulness to a gracious God warrants severe consequences.
• saying (לֵאמֹר - lēʾmōr): This standard prophetic formula introduces the subsequent declaration, signaling that what follows is the exact content of God's direct, authoritative message.

Words-group analysis

• "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you": This phrase combines a demanding call for attention ("Hear") with a declaration of divine authorship and purpose ("the Lord has spoken"). The crucial "against you" sets the adversarial tone, revealing the pronouncement is not for comfort but for indictment, emphasizing that God is a participant against them, not just an observer or their unchallenged patron.
• "O children of Israel, against the whole family": This twin address clarifies the recipient: the chosen people (children of Israel) collectively and exhaustively (the whole family). It underscores that no part of the nation, from leaders to common people, is exempt from this divine scrutiny and forthcoming judgment.
• "which I brought up from the land of Egypt": This historical remembrance serves as the fundamental premise for God's claims. It is not just a historical fact but the covenant basis for their special status and, ironically, the reason for their heightened accountability. This act of divine grace becomes the very reference point for their unfaithfulness and subsequent judgment, turning privilege into a profound burden of responsibility.

Amos 3 1 Bonus section

The structure of Amos often utilizes rhetorical questions (Amos 3:3-8) to logically compel the audience to accept the prophet's message as coming from God. Verse 1 serves as the solemn preamble to this rhetorical strategy, laying the authoritative groundwork for the inescapable conclusions that follow. The singular address "this word" emphasizes the gravity and precision of the immediate divine communication, demanding specific attention to the coming charges rather than a general admonition. The repetition of the preposition "against" (عֲלֵיכֶם and עַל) in this verse not only highlights the confrontational nature but also linguistically frames the impending judgment as a direct consequence and opposition to Israel's actions, ensuring no ambiguity regarding the target or nature of the oracle. This specific call to the "whole family" reminds us of the communal nature of Israelite covenant, where the actions and accountability are often seen corporately, contrasting with more individualistic modern perspectives.

Amos 3 1 Commentary

Amos 3:1 is a thunderous, attention-grabbing opening to a critical section of Amos, marking a shift from universal judgment to an intense focus on Israel's unique culpability. God's declaration, introduced with the urgent command to "Hear," establishes His direct and undeniable involvement. The term "word" (dabar) signifies an active, potent message from the sovereign Yahweh Himself, a message that is explicitly "against" His covenant people. This accusatory tone immediately shatters any illusion of special immunity Israel might have presumed based on their election. By invoking the Exodus—"which I brought up from the land of Egypt"—God grounds His judgment in His redemptive history with them. This greatest act of love and deliverance paradoxically becomes the foundation of their intensified judgment. Their unique privilege and intimate relationship with God demanded greater obedience and righteousness. Their failure to live up to this covenant, despite such a foundational display of divine power and grace, renders their sin particularly grievous, necessitating divine discipline and justice. The verse is a powerful declaration that privilege is proportional to responsibility, and betrayal of a unique covenant relationship ensures a proportionate, unavoidable reckoning. It exemplifies the truth that "to whom much is given, much will be required."