Amos 3:7 kjv
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 nkjv
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 niv
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 esv
"For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 nlt
Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything
until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." | Amos 3:7 |
| Genesis 18:17 | "And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;" | Genesis 18:17 (God confides in Abraham) |
| Genesis 26:2-5 | "And the LORD appeared unto Isaac, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries; and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;" | Genesis 26:2-5 (God reveals blessings and plans to Isaac) |
| Exodus 3:7-8 | "And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;" | Exodus 3:7-8 (God reveals His plan of deliverance) |
| Jeremiah 7:25 | "Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt, I have sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them;" | Jeremiah 7:25 (God sent prophets to warn) |
| Jeremiah 25:3-7 | "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early, and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt." | Jeremiah 25:3-7 (Consistent message of warning through prophets) |
| John 15:15 | "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." | John 15:15 (Jesus calls disciples friends, sharing His Father's plans) |
| Acts 11:17-18 | "Forasmuch then as God did give them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." | Acts 11:17-18 (God reveals His will concerning Gentiles) |
| 1 Corinthians 2:10 | "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." | 1 Corinthians 2:10 (Spirit reveals God's deep things) |
| Revelation 10:7 | "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." | Revelation 10:7 (Mystery finished as declared to prophets) |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." | Proverbs 3:5-6 (Acknowledging God leads to direction) |
| Deuteronomy 18:21-22 | "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." | Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (Discernment of true prophets) |
| Isaiah 46:10 | "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" | Isaiah 46:10 (God declares His counsel and purposes) |
| Amos 3:3 | "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" | Amos 3:3 (Relationship implies shared understanding) |
| 2 Kings 17:13 | "The LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets:" | 2 Kings 17:13 (Prophets convey God's persistent message) |
| Mark 13:32 | "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." | Mark 13:32 (Limits on specific knowledge, not God's general plans) |
| John 1:18 | "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." | John 1:18 (Jesus reveals the Father) |
| Ephesians 3:3-5 | "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, (as I said before: Whereby, when ye read this, ye may perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" | Ephesians 3:3-5 (Mystery revealed through apostles and prophets) |
| Amos 9:11-12 | "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the Gentiles, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this." | Amos 9:11-12 (Promise of restoration, aligning with prophets' declarations) |
| Acts 2:17 | "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" | Acts 2:17 (Fulfillment of prophecy concerning widespread prophetic gifts) |
Amos 3 verses
Amos 3 7 Meaning
The LORD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets. This verse emphasizes God's intentionality and His practice of communicating His plans, especially those concerning judgment or future events, through His chosen messengers. It signifies a covenantal relationship where God values transparency with those He has called.
Amos 3 7 Context
Amos 3:7 is situated within the broader context of Amos' prophecy to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, specifically during a period of material prosperity but spiritual apostasy. The chapter opens with a rhetorical question, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3), establishing the broken relationship between Israel and God due to their sin. Amos is God's appointed messenger to confront Israel's unrighteousness and declare the impending judgment. Verse 7 serves as a foundational statement justifying why the people are receiving such stern warnings: it is not out of caprice, but because God has consistently revealed His displeasure and intended actions to His prophets. This understanding frames the entire prophetic message as a faithful disclosure from God, not an arbitrary pronouncement.
Amos 3 7 Word Analysis
- Surely (ki – כִּי): Conveys certainty, emphasis, and often introduces a reason or explanation.
- the LORD (Adonai – אֲדֹנָי): A title of sovereignty and mastership, often translated as "Lord" to signify God's supreme authority.
- will do (ya’aseh – יַעֲשֶׂה): Future tense verb from 'asah (to do, make, act), indicating God's future actions or pronouncements.
- nothing (davar – דָּבָר): Means a thing, a matter, a word, an event. Here, it signifies no significant action or judgment.
- , but (ki im – כִּי אִם): A consequential conjunction meaning "except," "unless," or "surely not."
- he reveals (yaggid – יַגִּיד): Future tense verb from nagad (to tell, make known, declare), implying intentional communication.
- his secret (sod – סוֹד): Means a secret counsel, conspiracy, or intimate gathering. In this context, it refers to God's hidden plans or intentions, not revealed to the general populace.
- unto his servants (la’avdav – לְעַבְדָּיו): "To his servants" (plural, masculine). It highlights the subordinate yet chosen relationship of the prophets to God.
- the prophets (nevi’im – נְבִיאִים): Plural of 'navi' (prophet), meaning those who speak forth, inspired messengers of God.
Words-group analysis:
- The LORD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret: This phrase establishes a principle of divine action. God doesn't act without communicating His intent to a select group, His prophets. The "secret" implies confidential information or plans not universally known.
- unto his servants the prophets: This group, the prophets, are characterized by their servanthood to God, implying obedience and their function as divine conduits. Their position as "servants" (plural) points to God working through a lineage or community of prophets.
Amos 3 7 Bonus Section
The concept of God's "secret" (sod) being revealed to prophets points to an intimate counsel. This is mirrored in the New Testament where Jesus calls His disciples "friends," revealing all that the Father has told Him (John 15:15). This elevates the New Covenant believers to a position where God's "mystery" is increasingly made known through the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 3:3-5). Amos 3:7 establishes a precedent for this, demonstrating God's consistent desire to not operate in isolation from humanity, but through chosen representatives. It implies that obedience to the prophet's message is, in effect, obedience to God Himself, given the source of the message.
Amos 3 7 Commentary
This verse articulates a foundational aspect of God's covenantal interaction with humanity, particularly through His prophetic office. God is not arbitrary in His dealings; His judgment and plans are preceded by communication. He involves His "servants the prophets" as trusted confidants and messengers, entrusting them with His divine counsel, which is termed "secret." This implies that God chooses to disclose what He is about to do. Therefore, the pronouncements of judgment from prophets like Amos are not capricious but are divine disclosures meant to warn, convict, and sometimes offer a path to repentance, aligning with His revealed will and the established prophetic function. It highlights accountability for the hearers; if the warning is given, and not heeded, their condemnation is assured.
Practical Usage Example: When facing difficult decisions or understanding God's dealings in times of national crisis or personal hardship, one can look to how God reveals His will through His Word and through Spirit-led, biblically faithful voices, rather than relying on speculation or unrelated pronouncements. It emphasizes the importance of discerning and obeying the clear biblical mandate communicated through God's appointed means.