Amos 5 17

Amos 5:17 kjv

And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.

Amos 5:17 nkjv

In all vineyards there shall be wailing, For I will pass through you," Says the LORD.

Amos 5:17 niv

There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.

Amos 5:17 esv

and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.

Amos 5:17 nlt

There will be wailing in every vineyard,
for I will destroy them all,"
says the LORD.

Amos 5 verses

Amos 5 17 meaning

This verse prophesies that the vibrant vineyards, typically places of joy, celebration, and fruitfulness, will become scenes of widespread and deep mourning throughout the land of Israel. This reversal of common experience signifies God's direct, personal, and devastating judgment against the nation, declared by His own authority and implying inescapable punishment for their disobedience and injustice.

Amos 5 17 Context

Amos 5 is a profound chapter of lament, warning, and call to repentance directed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. Despite a period of relative prosperity under Jeroboam II, the nation was spiritually bankrupt, practicing idolatry, social injustice, and ceremonial religion without true piety. The chapter begins with a dirge over Israel's imminent fall, then urgently calls for them to "seek the LORD and live." However, it quickly pivots to severe condemnations of their oppressive actions and corrupted worship. The immediate preceding verse (Amos 5:16) foretells universal wailing "in all the streets and in all the highways," extending the mourning described in verse 17 to agricultural and rural settings. Historically, during this period, Assyria was a rising power that would eventually devastate the Northern Kingdom. Amos’s prophecy foreshadowed this devastating judgment as a direct consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. The cultural context views vineyards as symbols of prosperity, blessing, and joy, making their desolation and the widespread wailing in them a potent image of utter ruin.

Amos 5 17 Word analysis

• וּבְכָל (ū-ḇə-ḵāl) "And in all": The prefix "וּ" (u-) meaning "and" connects this scene of mourning directly to the widespread lamentation already described in the streets and highways (Amos 5:16). "בְכָל" (bə-ḵāl) emphasizes the absolute universality and totality of the coming judgment, leaving no area unaffected. This extends the disaster beyond urban centers to every corner of the land.
• כְּרָמִים (kə-rā-mîm) "vineyards": (Heb. כֶּרֶם, kerem, plural kəramîm). Vineyards in ancient Israel were not just agricultural lands but places associated with joy, celebration, feasting, and the good life (e.g., Ps 104:15). They represented a settled, blessed existence. The judgment turning these places into scenes of mourning is a dramatic reversal of national well-being and blessing. It also points to the destruction of economic prosperity.
• מִסְפֵּד (mis-pêḏ) "wailing": (Heb. מִסְפֵּד, mispēd). This is a strong term for mourning or lamentation, often associated with funerals and intense grief. It implies a public, unrestrained, and deeply sorrowful expression of loss, often involving ritual lamenters (Jer 9:17-18). Its presence in vineyards signifies an unexpected and profound catastrophe.
• כִּי (kî) "for": This conjunction introduces the divine reason or justification for the widespread wailing. It points to the direct agency of God behind the impending sorrow.
• אֶעֱבֹר (ʾe-ʿĕ-ḇōr) "I will pass": (Heb. עָבַר, ʿāḇar). This is a critically important verb. In Exodus 12 (Passover narrative), God's "passing through" signifies His direct, unhindered, and devastating judgment (Ex 12:12, 23). It implies that no one can withstand or prevent His action. Here, it refers to God Himself, not merely permitting an enemy invasion, but personally orchestrating and overseeing the judgment, ensuring its full execution. This removes any possibility of Israel thinking this is simply bad luck or human conflict; it is divine intervention.
• בְּקִרְבְּךָ (bə-qir-bə-ḵā) "in your midst": (Heb. קֶרֶב, qereḇ with pronominal suffix). "In your midst" refers to the core or innermost part of the nation, directly implicating Israel itself. This judgment will be experienced intimately and personally by the people. It is not an external threat but a judgment from within, profoundly affecting their national existence.
• אָמַר (ʾā-mar) "saith": (Heb. אָמַר, ʾāmar). A declarative verb that introduces or concludes a divine utterance, confirming its authority and truth.
• יְהוָה (YHWH) "the LORD": (Heb. יְהוָה, YHWH). The covenant name of God, indicating His personal relationship with Israel and emphasizing that it is the God who revealed Himself to Moses, the faithful God of the covenant, who is bringing this judgment. His character as the just and holy God necessitates such action when His covenant people stray so far.

• "And in all vineyards, wailing": This phrase creates a stark image of complete reversal. Places traditionally symbolizing prosperity, peace, and revelry will become scenes of intense and universal sorrow, showing the comprehensive nature of the disaster.
• "for I will pass through thee": This declarative statement by God underlines the certainty and directness of the judgment. The imagery harks back to the Passover, where God "passed through" Egypt to execute judgment. This conveys a divine, inescapable act that penetrates the very heart of the nation.
• "saith the LORD": This powerful divine affirmation seals the prophecy, making it a definite and irrevocable word from the highest authority, leaving no room for doubt about its fulfillment or its divine origin.

Amos 5 17 Bonus section

The strong imagery of wailing (mispēd) in vineyards (kəramîm) creates a powerful antithesis that challenges the common perception of God's blessing. For the ancient Israelites, prosperity in wine production (planting, harvesting, drinking wine) was a clear sign of divine favor (e.g., Lev 26:5; Deut 11:14). Amos systematically overturns these expectations. The impending desolation signified by wailing in all vineyards functions as a polemic against the people's false confidence in their economic security and a superficial adherence to covenant traditions while neglecting justice and righteousness. They believed they could live as they pleased and still expect God's blessings. Amos proclaims the opposite: where they expected mirth, there would be mourning because God, the source of blessing, would now pass through in judgment. This highlights the boundary and limitations of God's patience, reminding them of the covenant curses for disobedience (Deu 28). The passage also stands as a stern warning against the false comfort derived from empty ritualism or nationalistic pride, which were prevalent in Israel at the time.

Amos 5 17 Commentary

Amos 5:17 intensifies the preceding lament, emphasizing the pervasive nature of God's coming judgment. It highlights the transformation of vineyards—quintessential places of joy, celebration, and economic security in Israelite culture—into scenes of public and deep mourning. This powerful imagery signifies not merely hardship, but a complete and tragic reversal of national well-being and prosperity. The phrase "I will pass through thee" is central, drawing a deliberate parallel to God's judgment during the Exodus, yet now directed at His own chosen people. It underscores that this calamity is not incidental or merely the consequence of human actions, but a direct, personal, and inescapable act of the holy and just LORD Himself. His direct involvement means the judgment is assured and total, penetrating the very heart of Israel's existence. The affirmation "saith the LORD" stamps the prophecy with undeniable divine authority, asserting that this devastating future is not just a prediction, but a certain declaration from the God who rules history.