Amos 4:2 kjv
The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
Amos 4:2 nkjv
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: "Behold, the days shall come upon you When He will take you away with fishhooks, And your posterity with fishhooks.
Amos 4:2 niv
The Sovereign LORD has sworn by his holiness: "The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
Amos 4:2 esv
The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
Amos 4:2 nlt
The Sovereign LORD has sworn this by his holiness:
"The time will come when you will be led away
with hooks in your noses.
Every last one of you will be dragged away
like a fish on a hook!
Amos 4 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 4:2 | The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: “The time is surely coming... | Judgment by oath |
| Amos 9:13 | “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will o… | Coming day of blessing after judgment |
| Isaiah 47:1 | “Go down, sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the gro… | Judgment on pride/oppression |
| Jeremiah 50 | Jeremiah's prophecies against Babylon | Judgment on oppressor nations |
| Nahum 3:5 | “I am against you,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will lift your rob… | Judgment by exposing disgrace |
| Ezekiel 28 | Prophecy against the King of Tyre | Judgment for pride and self-exaltation |
| Matthew 7:1 | “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. | Judgment without mercy |
| Matthew 25 | Parable of the Sheep and the Goats | Judgment based on treatment of others |
| Revelation | Various passages on divine judgment | Ultimate judgment on wickedness |
| Psalms 89:35 | I will not violate my covenant or revoke my spoken word. | God's faithfulness to His covenant |
| Psalms 93:2 | Your throne has stood firm since the beginning; you have always been… | God's eternal sovereignty |
| Psalms 100:3 | Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his… | God's sovereignty and ownership |
| Proverbs 11:1 | Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is… | Dislike for injustice |
| Proverbs 19:1 | Better a poor man than a liar. | Truthfulness valued |
| Zechariah 8:3 | This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerus… | God's promise of future restoration |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind... | God's faithfulness in temptation |
| Hebrews 6:13 | When God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one… | God's oath to Abraham |
| Hebrews 6:16 | People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms… | The certainty of oaths |
| Hebrews 12:22 | But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the H… | Heavenly Jerusalem's holiness |
| James 5:12 | Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear an oath… | Caution against careless swearing |
Amos 4 verses
Amos 4 2 Meaning
The Lord GOD swears by His holiness. This oath emphasizes the certainty and solemnity of the impending judgment. It declares that the appointed time will come for those who violate justice and oppress the poor. These individuals, characterized by their cruelty and corruption, will be treated as one treats spoiled or captured goods.
Amos 4 2 Context
Amos, a shepherd from Judah, was called to prophesy against the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity and peace. However, this outward success masked deep social injustice and religious corruption. The elite had grown wealthy by oppressing the poor, exploiting the vulnerable, and engaging in luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyles. They also participated in syncretistic religious practices that were an offense to the LORD. Chapter 4 details God's repeated attempts to correct their course through various judgments (famine, drought, pestilence, war), all of which they either failed to recognize as divine discipline or returned from only to continue their wicked ways. Verse 2 serves as a pronouncement of ultimate judgment for their persistent unfaithfulness and cruelty.
Amos 4 2 Word Analysis
qādōsh qā dō š (קָדוֹשׁ): Holy. God swears by His holiness, emphasizing the inviolability and absolute righteousness of His character. It points to His separation from sin and His commitment to justice. This holiness is the basis for His judgments.
nā qūm nō q ūm (נוּק ם): They shall come. This verb indicates the certainty of the coming event, a future action that God guarantees.
lô ye‘a L ô‘a yē’a l (לא יא ל): He will not do. This is a negative affirmation.
chēl ka khēla kh el-ya (כִּי כּ אֵ לָ י): For like. Indicates a comparison, showing how they will be treated.
pə ḵal pu ka ḵal (פְּקַל): Carried off. Refers to being taken away as spoil, or led captive, suggesting capture and loss of dignity.
qūntîyōh q ūntiyōh (קִּי נַה): Their spoil/contempt. Suggests they will become the object of derision and a prize for others due to their downfall.
kō‘at tîrêhem ko-‘attirêhem (עַטִּירֵי): Their latter days/their strength. The Hebrew can be understood as "their spoil" or "their utmost desires" being seized.
chaph lâ châphlâ (חָפְלָה): Carried away. Emphasizes being moved or taken from their accustomed place, signifying dispossession.
ḥărûlûm ḥărûlûm (חָר ל ם): Those who lead in. Often translated as their choicest possessions or finest things. The sentence implies their most cherished and valuable possessions or perhaps the ones who were their strongest leaders/desires will be taken away.
Amos 4 2 Bonus Section
The use of an oath by God in the Old Testament underscores the absolute certainty of His pronouncements, especially concerning judgment. God swears by Himself because He can swear by no one greater (Hebrews 6:13). The expression "His holiness" connects His righteous character to His decree of judgment. The imagery of being carried off like spoil or becoming spoil reflects a reversal of fortune where the oppressors become the oppressed, a common theme in prophetic literature signifying divine retribution and justice. This verse highlights that even during periods of apparent prosperity, unaddressed sin and injustice inevitably lead to judgment.
Amos 4 2 Commentary
God’s oath by His holiness signifies that His justice is absolutely guaranteed. The verse pronounces inevitable judgment upon the corrupt and unjust leaders of Israel. They will be dispossessed and humiliated, their pride and their treasures being carried away. This judgment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their mistreatment of the poor and their rejection of God's earlier warnings and disciplines. They will be treated like spoiled goods, cast aside and disregarded.