Amos 3 4

Amos 3:4 kjv

Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

Amos 3:4 nkjv

Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?

Amos 3:4 niv

Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing?

Amos 3:4 esv

Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?

Amos 3:4 nlt

Does a lion ever roar in a thicket
without first finding a victim?
Does a young lion growl in its den
without first catching its prey?

Amos 3 verses

Amos 3 4 Meaning

Amos 3:4 employs two rhetorical questions, comparing God's actions to the predictable behavior of lions. The verse asserts a fundamental principle of cause and effect: a lion's roar in the forest indicates it is hunting prey, and a young lion's growl from its den signifies it has made a kill. By analogy, God does not declare judgment or reveal His warnings arbitrarily; His pronouncements (the "roar" and "growl") are direct and purposeful responses to the established spiritual and moral failures ("prey") of the northern kingdom of Israel, confirming the imminent arrival of His disciplinary judgment.

Amos 3 4 Context

Amos 3:4 is part of a series of rhetorical questions posed by the prophet Amos in Chapter 3, serving as a preamble to the pronouncements of judgment against Israel. The chapter begins with "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel," immediately establishing that God has a particular grievance with His chosen people, implying a unique relationship that also brings greater accountability (v. 2). This verse, along with the others (v. 3, 5, 6), underscores the principle of inevitable cause and effect. Just as certain natural phenomena and events are invariably linked (two people walking together must agree, a snare doesn't spring without cause), so too are God's prophetic warnings and impending judgments logically and directly connected to Israel's unfaithfulness. The historical context is the relatively prosperous but spiritually corrupt Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Jeroboam II. Despite their outward peace and material success, they were steeped in idolatry, social injustice, and religious hypocrisy. The rhetorical questions confront Israel's false sense of security, showing that God's forthcoming judgment is not arbitrary but a predictable outcome of their rebellion.

Amos 3 4 Word analysis

• הַיְשַׁאֵג (Hay'sha'eg): "Does a lion roar?" Derived from שָׁאַג (sha'ag), "to roar." This is an intensive and authoritative sound, signifying power, an imminent attack, or a declaration of presence and intent. The roar of a lion was a sound of terror to those who heard it, signifying certain destruction. In prophetic literature, it often symbolizes the voice of God, specifically in pronouncing judgment (Amos 1:2, Joel 3:16). Its use here highlights that God's prophetic warnings are not empty threats but declarations preceding real action.
• אַרְיֵה ('aryeh): "Lion." The adult lion, a symbol of strength, ferocity, kingship, and destructive power in ancient Near Eastern culture. When used metaphorically for God, it depicts His terrifying might and unwavering justice, ready to execute judgment. The image invokes both primal fear and recognition of supreme authority.
• בַּיַּעַר (bayya'ar): "In the forest." The natural habitat of the lion, a place of wildness, danger, and hunting. It grounds the metaphor in a tangible, real-world scenario, suggesting the natural, undeniable setting for the lion's actions. The forest signifies the stage where the hunting takes place.
• וְטֶרֶף אֵין לוֹ (ve'tereph 'ein lo): "When he has no prey?" The key conditional phrase. טֶרֶף (ṭereph) means "prey" or "something torn." אֵין לוֹ ('ein lo) means "he has not." The rhetorical question expects a definitive "No." A lion does not waste its roar. It roars because there is prey, signifying either the start of a chase, the act of seizing, or the claim over a kill. This directly asserts that God's prophetic roar of judgment is not random; it has a clear object – Israel, identified as "prey" due to their transgressions.
• הַיִּתֵּן (Hayyitten): "Does he give forth?" (meaning "growl"). Derived from נָתַן (nathan), "to give." In this context, it refers to the issuing of a specific sound: a growl. A growl is distinct from a roar; it is often a sound of possessiveness, contentment over a kill, or a final, menacing warning just before consumption or attack from within a safe, hidden place.
• כְּפִיר (k'phir): "Young lion." While still a lion, the k'phir often refers to a stronger, more vigorous, or fierce stage, known for its aggression. It might also suggest one operating from its den, reinforcing the imagery of concealed power preparing to emerge, or having already completed an action.
• קוֹלוֹ (qolo): "His voice/sound." In the context of a lion, this signifies a low, rumbling growl, indicating either guarding a kill, imminent attack, or the satisfaction of possession.
• מִמְּעֹונָתוֹ (mimm'onavto): "From his den." The den is the lion's secure retreat, where it rests, raises its young, and where it brings its prey. A growl from the den suggests an act has already taken place (a kill brought back) or that a final, decisive action is about to be carried out within its sphere of control. It signifies dominion over the "prey."
• בִּלְתִּי אִם לָכָד (bilti 'im lakhad): "Unless he has caught something?" This is the second key conditional phrase, completing the cause-and-effect relationship. לָכָד (lakhad) means "to catch," "to seize," or "to capture." Again, the expected answer is "No." A young lion does not growl in its den unless it has prey there, signifying a successful hunt and established possession. This confirms God's judgment is based on an accomplished fact – Israel's persistent and egregious sin has been "caught" by Him, making them worthy of His intervention.

• "Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?": This phrase connects God's open, powerful pronouncements (prophetic warnings, the "roar") to their clear reason. The "forest" symbolizes the broader realm where God's warnings are declared, and where His targets (the unrepentant people) are. The direct question highlights the absurdity of a roar without a target, emphasizing the specific, intentional nature of God's prophetic word to Israel, provoked by their rebellion.
• "Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has caught something?": This builds on the first part, moving from the open declaration to a more secure, conclusive action. The "growl from his den" indicates the finality of judgment, where the "prey" has been secured and taken to the place of execution or consumption. It means that God's "roar" has not been ineffective; it will certainly lead to the "capture" of Israel in judgment. The growl signifies not just a threat but a realized seizure, conveying the certainty and inevitability of the coming judgment.

Amos 3 4 Bonus section

• The rhetorical questions in Amos 3 (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) form a literary chain, each designed to elicit an obvious affirmative answer from the audience. They progressively lead to the inevitable conclusion of verse 8: "The Lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken—who can but prophesy?" This structure compels the listener to acknowledge the divine causality and the prophet's undeniable mandate.
• The metaphor of God as a lion is recurrent in the Old Testament, representing His majestic power and His destructive wrath against sin. Examples include Hosea 5:14 ("For I will be like a lion to Ephraim"), Lamentations 3:10 ("He is to me like a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding"), and Psalm 7:2 ("otherwise they will tear me like a lion, ripping me to pieces"). This consistent imagery reinforces the severity and inevitability of divine judgment.
• The "prey" in this analogy is none other than Israel itself. Their unfaithfulness, idolatry, and social injustice had made them targets for God's disciplinary hand, transforming them from a favored people into "prey" under the metaphor of God as a roaring, growling lion.

Amos 3 4 Commentary

Amos 3:4 employs potent zoological metaphors to convey the certainty and justness of God's impending judgment on Israel. It serves as a pivotal point in Amos's argument, shifting from general pronouncements to specific condemnations of the chosen nation. The rhetorical questions demand an affirmative answer, highlighting an inescapable natural law: cause precedes effect. Just as a lion's menacing roar and growl are always tied to the presence or pursuit of prey, God's declarations of judgment through His prophets are not arbitrary or capricious.

The "lion's roar in the forest" symbolizes God's open and powerful pronouncements of warning, through the prophets, announcing His intention to act against a people ensnared in sin. This is God's voice thundering forth, signifying His sovereign power and His clear awareness of Israel's transgressions. It signifies an imminent "hunt."

The "young lion's growl from his den" indicates a later, more private, but equally decisive stage: the prey has been cornered, seized, or is about to be consumed. The den represents God's sovereign authority and control, from which He orchestrates and executes His judgments. This growl is the assurance that the warnings will indeed materialize into severe consequences because Israel has proven itself the fitting "prey" through its idolatry and injustice.

This verse challenges Israel's false security, forcing them to acknowledge that their prosperity would not exempt them from divine discipline given their rampant sin. The divine "roar" and "growl" are directly proportional to the nation's spiritual sickness. God does not act without reason; His judgment is the just and inevitable consequence of Israel's repeated and unrepentant rebellion against His covenant.