Amos 3 9

Amos 3:9 kjv

Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.

Amos 3:9 nkjv

"Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: 'Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her.

Amos 3:9 niv

Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people."

Amos 3:9 esv

Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and the oppressed in her midst."

Amos 3:9 nlt

Announce this to the leaders of Philistia
and to the great ones of Egypt:
"Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria,
and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel."

Amos 3 verses

Amos 3 9 Meaning

Amos 3:9 proclaims a divine summons to the Gentile nations, specifically the Philistines of Ashdod and the Egyptians, commanding them to gather and observe the egregious moral decay and social injustices prevalent within Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This proclamation serves as an indictment, highlighting the depth of Israel's corruption to the point where even pagan nations are invited to witness and implicitly condemn her moral failures and systemic oppression, justifying God's impending judgment upon His own chosen people.

Amos 3 9 Context

Amos 3 begins with a strong declaration from the Lord concerning Israel, highlighting their unique relationship ("You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities" - v.2). This establishes the premise for a series of rhetorical questions (vv.3-8) that link cause and effect, ultimately affirming that the Lord's prophetic warnings are a direct result of His sovereign will and impending judgment. The passage sets the stage for God's divine "lawsuit" against Israel. Verse 9 then serves as the explicit summons for international witnesses to observe the evidence of Israel's crimes, specifically the rampant social injustice within their capital, Samaria, before God pronounces their punishment in the verses that follow (vv.11-15). Historically, Samaria during the reign of Jeroboam II was outwardly prosperous but rife with deep-seated social oppression, greed, idolatry, and a distorted sense of religious security.

Amos 3 9 Word analysis

• "Publish" (הַשְׁמִיעוּ – hashmi'u): A Hifil imperative, meaning "make heard," "proclaim," "announce loudly." It signifies a public, authoritative declaration intended for widespread dissemination, leaving no room for ignorance or denial. It implies that the announcement is divinely authorized.
• "in the palaces" (בְּאַרְמְנוֹת – be'armᵉnot): Refers to the fortified citadels, royal residences, or administrative centers of these nations. The command to publish in the "palaces" means addressing the rulers, the elites, and decision-makers, suggesting a formal, official announcement directed at the highest levels of foreign government.
• "at Ashdod" (בְּאַשְׁדּוֹד – be'ashdod): One of the five major Philistine city-states (along with Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron). It was a prominent pagan stronghold, often hostile to Israel. Its inclusion as a witness highlights the universality of God's judgment and the shocking nature of Israel's sin, to be revealed even to her traditional enemies.
• "in the land of Egypt" (בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם – be'eretz Mitzrayim): Another powerful, ancient pagan nation, historically known as Israel's enslaver and often symbolizing the antithesis of the true God. Calling Egypt to witness further underscores the global scope of God's moral jurisdiction and the profound scandal of Israel's wickedness; they are worse than those from whom they were delivered.
• "and say" (וְאִמְרוּ – ve'imru): A simple imperative, directing the messenger to deliver the subsequent explicit command.
• "Assemble yourselves" (הֵאָסְפוּ – he'asefu): A Niphal imperative, "gather together," "be assembled." This indicates a formal, purposeful gathering, akin to summoning witnesses for a trial or a judicial proceeding. The foreign nations are called to be eyewitnesses.
• "on the mountains of Samaria" (עַל הָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן – 'al hare Shomron): Samaria was the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Its elevated position offered a literal vantage point for observation. Symbolically, these "mountains" are a witness to the hub of Israel's spiritual and social corruption, where prosperity led to greed, idolatry, and injustice.
• "and see" (וּרְאוּ – u're'u): A simple imperative, "look," "behold," "observe carefully." It instructs the assembled witnesses to personally verify the egregious nature of the offenses.
• "what great tumults" (מְהוּמוֹת רַבּוֹת – mehumot rabbot): Refers to "disorders," "confusions," "chaos," "uproars," often with a connotation of violent disturbances or widespread social turmoil stemming from internal strife. This signifies internal disarray, lawlessness, and possibly civil unrest caused by oppression.
• "there are within her" (בְּתוֹכָהּ – betochah): Emphasizes that the problem is not external, but internal; the corruption is deeply embedded within Israel's own society, among its own people.
• "and what oppressions" (וַעֲשׁוּקִים – va'ashuqim): Plural of 'osheq, meaning "acts of oppression," "exploitations," "unjust extortions." This refers to concrete, sustained acts of injustice against the poor, vulnerable, and voiceless by the powerful elite, violating divine and moral laws.

Words-group by Words-group Analysis:

• "Publish in the palaces at Ashdod and in the palaces in the land of Egypt": This opening establishes the extreme irony and the universal reach of God's justice. Instead of warning these pagan nations, God is summoning them to be witnesses and implied judges of Israel's moral depravity. It suggests that Israel's conduct is so abominable that even nations typically considered pagan and less morally upright are suitable for this task, perhaps because they themselves might find such specific injustices shocking. This serves as a strong polemic against Israel's complacency and false sense of security derived from their unique covenant with God.
• "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see": This command details the specific action the summoned witnesses are to take. The assembly is judicial in nature, inviting external observation of internal corruption. Samaria's mountains, literal high ground for viewing, become symbolic vantage points from which to scrutinize the deep moral failure of the chosen nation, a testament to God's impartial justice that transcends national borders or covenant status when it comes to sin.
• "what great tumults there are within her and what oppressions in her midst": These phrases precisely delineate the charges against Israel: internal chaos (tumults) arising from pervasive injustice and exploitation (oppressions). It points to the systemic nature of the sin, affecting the very fabric of society, caused by the elite's avarice and disregard for God's laws, especially those protecting the vulnerable. These are not isolated incidents but a widespread, blatant pattern of evil.

Amos 3 9 Bonus section

The scene described in Amos 3:9 aligns with the biblical "rib" or divine lawsuit motif, where God acts as both prosecutor and judge, summoning witnesses to His case against His people. The irony is poignant: while pagan nations often worship gods of war or fertility, the Lord God of Israel calls them to witness violations of social justice, demonstrating His unique character as a God of moral order, whose standards transcend national boundaries. This also highlights how Israel, by failing to live up to their covenant responsibilities, ironically gave "blaspheming occasion" to the Gentiles (Rom 2:24), confirming that their unfaithfulness had far-reaching negative consequences for God's reputation among the nations. The implication is that even the Gentiles, observing Samaria's debauchery and oppression, would implicitly understand that the coming destruction of Samaria was righteous judgment, a testament to God's universal governance.

Amos 3 9 Commentary

Amos 3:9 encapsulates the profound and scandalous nature of Israel's apostasy. It portrays the sovereign Lord, not bound by human expectations, issuing a decree for gentile nations, historically seen as Israel's enemies and unholy, to observe the very capital of the chosen people. This divine call to "publish in the palaces" of Ashdod and Egypt is not a mere news report, but a solemn summons to a courtroom where Israel stands accused. The charge is not against external foes, but the blatant internal corruption: "tumults" and "oppressions"—words describing pervasive social injustice, violent disorder, and systematic exploitation of the poor by the rich and powerful within Samaria.

The verse emphasizes God's impartiality and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, even when His own covenant people fail. The shame for Israel is immense; their behavior is so grievous that their pagan neighbors, who may not worship the true God, are nonetheless invited to witness how far Israel has fallen from the covenant demands of justice and compassion. This act serves to vindicate God's righteousness in His impending judgment upon Israel, making it clear that His punishment is just and deserved. The unique privilege of being God's chosen nation came with immense responsibility, and their failure meant a proportionate, public display of divine retribution, acknowledged even by those outside the covenant.