Amos 4 10

Amos 4:10 kjv

I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Amos 4:10 nkjv

"I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; Your young men I killed with a sword, Along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the LORD.

Amos 4:10 niv

"I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD.

Amos 4:10 esv

"I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, and carried away your horses, and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.

Amos 4:10 nlt

"I sent plagues on you
like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago.
I killed your young men in war
and led all your horses away.
The stench of death filled the air!
But still you would not return to me,"
says the LORD.

Amos 4 verses

Amos 4 10 Meaning

Amos 4:10 portrays a sequence of severe divine judgments Israel experienced: devastating plagues reminiscent of those upon Egypt, military defeat leading to the slaughter of young men by the sword, and the crippling loss of horses. These calamities resulted in an overwhelming stench of death pervasive in their military camps, signaling widespread destruction. Despite these clear and escalating interventions, the core message of the verse, repeatedly emphasized in Amos chapter 4, is Israel's persistent refusal to "return" or repent and turn back to the Lord, declared by God Himself.

Amos 4 10 Context

Amos chapter 4 stands within the prophet Amos's stern message of judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), delivered during a time of outward prosperity but internal spiritual and moral decay. The chapter enumerates a series of divine disciplinary actions, each introduced by "Yet you have not returned to Me," acting as a recurring indictment and lament from the Lord. These judgments are God's attempts to bring His covenant people to repentance. Verse 10 specifically describes judgments of pestilence (recalling the plagues on Egypt), military defeat leading to the loss of youth, and the decimation of military power (horses). These were intended as clear signs and consequences for Israel's persistent idolatry, social injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness. The cumulative effect of these failures to respond highlights Israel's extreme spiritual stubbornness, setting the stage for the more severe judgment predicted later in Amos.

Amos 4 10 Word analysis

• "I sent": (וָאֶשְׁלַח, waʾešlaḥ). This verb emphasizes divine agency. It is God Himself who is actively dispatching these judgments, not random chance or natural calamity. It directly communicates God's sovereignty over events and His deliberate hand in bringing consequences upon Israel for their sin.
• "among you": (בָּכֶם, baḵem). Specifies the direct target of the judgment – the people of Israel. It’s a personal address from God to His covenant nation, underscoring their responsibility and the direct relationship that is being broken.
• "a pestilence": (דֶּבֶר, dever). Refers to a plague, epidemic, or pestilence. This term frequently denotes a severe affliction sent by God as judgment (e.g., Exod 9:15, Jer 21:6). It signifies widespread, uncontrollable sickness and death.
• "after the manner of Egypt": (בְּדֶרֶךְ מִצְרָיִם, b'derekh Mitzrayim). This is a crucial comparative phrase. It's a direct callback to the devastating plagues God inflicted upon Egypt during the Exodus (Exod 9:3, 15; 12:29). This serves multiple purposes:
  • Remembrance of Divine Power: It reminds Israel of God’s awesome power demonstrated in their liberation from Egypt, a power He is now turning against them.
  • Ironic Reversal: What was once a judgment for Israel (against their oppressors) is now a judgment upon Israel. They are experiencing what their former oppressors did.
  • Polemics: It highlights Yahweh's unparalleled power over life and death, even over powerful nations like Egypt. By bringing the same type of plagues upon Israel, Yahweh implicitly shows that He is superior to any gods or false securities Israel might be trusting in (e.g., Baal worship, alliances).
• "your young men have I slain": (בַּחֻרֵיכֶם הָרַגְתִּי, baḥūrêkem haragtî). "Young men" (baḥūr) refers to the able-bodied men, soldiers, and future generation. Their slaying indicates significant military losses and the decimation of the nation's strength and future prospects. It's a direct blow to their military security and a symbol of covenant judgment (Lev 26:25, Deut 28:32).
• "with the sword": (בַּחֶרֶב, baḥerev). The primary instrument of war and conquest in the ancient world. This clarifies that the "slaying" was through warfare, confirming military defeat and invasion by an enemy.
• "and have carried away your horses": (וְאֶת סוּסֵיכֶם שְׁבִיתִי, wəʾet sûsêḵem šəḇîtî). Horses (susim) were invaluable military assets, especially in the Northern Kingdom known for its chariotry and cavalry (1 Kgs 10:28-29). "Carried away" (šābâ) means to take as spoil or captives. This signifies a profound crippling of Israel’s military capacity, leaving them defenseless and stripped of their might.
• "and I have made the stink of your camps to come up": (וָאַעֲלֶה בְּאֹשׁ מַחֲנֵיכֶם, wāʾaʿăleh bəʾōš maḥănêḵem). This is a vivid, gruesome, and highly sensory image. "Stink" (bāʾoš) denotes an extremely foul odor, especially of rotting flesh (Psa 38:5). "Camps" (maḥăneh) refers to military encampments.
  • Descriptive Horror: The image conjures rotting corpses of soldiers and horses from the widespread slaughter, filling the air with an unbearable stench.
  • Unescapable Consequence: The stench is so pervasive it reaches their "nostrils" (bəʾapêḵem), making the judgment undeniable, inescapable, and repulsive. It represents complete military devastation and death on a vast scale.
• "yet have ye not returned unto me": (וְלֹא שַׁבְתֶּם עָדָי, wəloʾ shabtem ʿaday). This is the key refrain repeated five times in Amos 4 (vv. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11). "Returned" comes from the Hebrew root šuv (שׁוּב), meaning to turn, return, or repent. It signifies a spiritual turning, a fundamental change of heart, allegiance, and action from disobedience back to God.
  • God's Persistent Plea: Despite the severe and escalating judgments, God's underlying desire remains Israel's repentance, a turning back to Him.
  • Israel's Persistent Rebellion: This phrase highlights the profound stubbornness and spiritual blindness of the Northern Kingdom. They endured suffering but refused to understand or respond to God's purpose behind it.
• "saith the LORD": (נְאֻם יְהוָה, n'um YHWH). A prophetic formula that authenticates the message as a direct utterance from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It asserts divine authority and confirms the truth and certainty of the preceding statement.

Amos 4 10 Bonus section

The rhetorical "yet have ye not returned unto me?" is a literary device called a rhetorical question and a prophetic lament. It emphasizes God's grief and disappointment over Israel's spiritual blindness and obstinacy. It's not a question seeking information, but expressing divine frustration and pointing out Israel's failure.The types of judgments mentioned – pestilence, sword, and the metaphorical 'foul odor' (death) – are recurring themes in Old Testament covenant curses (e.g., Lev 26, Deut 28, Jer 14). God uses these conventional forms of punishment, well-known to the Israelites through their covenant, to remind them of His justice and their broken promises.The "after the manner of Egypt" reference contains a deep polemical edge against Israel's idolatry. Israel had adopted foreign gods and practices, ironically, even those associated with the very land God liberated them from. By bringing judgments similar to those upon Egypt, Yahweh asserts His singular supremacy over all gods and nations. This also speaks to a broader principle: disobedience to God's law can ironically lead to experiencing the very afflictions intended for their enemies.

Amos 4 10 Commentary

Amos 4:10 illustrates God's progressively intensifying discipline upon Israel for their deep-seated unfaithfulness. Far from arbitrary, these judgments – pestilence echoing Egypt's plagues, the loss of young men and military might – are targeted acts of divine correction. They serve as painful reminders of the covenant curses Israel incurred through their idolatry and social injustice, and concurrently, demonstrate God's continued involvement and longsuffering desire for their repentance. The horrific "stink of your camps" leaves no ambiguity about the widespread devastation. Yet, the heart-wrenching repetition of "yet have ye not returned unto me" underscores Israel's hardened hearts. Despite unmistakable warnings that dismantle their physical security and very existence, they remain spiritually numb, unwilling to humble themselves and seek reconciliation with the God who both judges and longs for their return. This tragic cycle foreshadows the greater, inescapable judgments to come.