Amos 6:14 kjv
But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
Amos 6:14 nkjv
"But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel," Says the LORD God of hosts; "And they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath To the Valley of the Arabah."
Amos 6:14 niv
For the LORD God Almighty declares, "I will stir up a nation against you, Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah."
Amos 6:14 esv
"For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," declares the LORD, the God of hosts; "and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah."
Amos 6:14 nlt
"O people of Israel, I am about to bring an enemy nation against you,"
says the LORD God of Heaven's Armies.
"They will oppress you throughout your land ?
from Lebo-hamath in the north
to the Arabah Valley in the south."
Amos 6 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 6:14 | "I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," declares the Lord, God of hosts, "and they will oppress you from Hamath to the Brook of the Arabah." | Direct Prophecy of Destruction |
| 2 Kings 17:3-6 | Describes the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) | Historical Fulfillment |
| 2 Kings 24:1-2 | Details Nebuchadnezzar's incursions into Judah | Similar Conquest Narrative |
| Jeremiah 34:1-7 | Prophecy of Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and Judah | Parallel to Assyrian Invasion |
| Ezekiel 25:3-7 | Judgment against the Ammonites, who took advantage of Israel's downfall | Consequence of Invasion |
| Zechariah 11:7 | Speaks of tending the flock doomed for slaughter, paralleling Israel's fate | Shared Imagery of Doom |
| Isaiah 10:5-12 | God using Assyria as an instrument of His judgment against Israel and Judah | God's Sovereign Use of Nations |
| Psalm 137:7-9 | Lament over Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem, referencing Edom's role | Reaction to National Collapse |
| Lamentations 1:1-5 | Lament for Jerusalem's desolation and exile | Expression of Devastation |
| 1 Corinthians 10:11 | Paul's warning about these historical events serving as examples for Christians | New Testament Application |
| Revelation 17:12-14 | Nations warring against God's people, ultimately defeated | Eschatological Parallel |
| Romans 9:14-29 | Discussion of God's sovereign choice and mercy in relation to Israel | Theological Ramifications |
| Hosea 5:5 | Prophecy of judgment upon Ephraim (Northern Kingdom) | Similar Judgment on Israel |
| Micah 4:11-13 | God's judgment against nations that oppress Israel | Counterpoint to Invasion |
| Nahum 1:12-15 | God's judgment on Assyria for its oppression of Judah | Judgment on the Oppressor |
| Habakkuk 1:5-11 | God's use of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to judge Judah | God's Judgement through Nations |
| Luke 21:20-24 | Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction by armies, leading to exile | Jesus' Echo of Judgment |
| Matthew 24:15-22 | Jesus' discourse on the tribulation and destruction of Jerusalem | Further New Testament Parallel |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | Judgment begins with the household of God | Divine Discipline |
| Deuteronomy 28:49-52 | Curse of exile for disobedience, delivered by a distant nation | Covenantal Consequence |
| Jeremiah 52:20-23 | Detailed description of Babylonian plunder of Jerusalem's temple and city | Specific Fulfillment Detail |
Amos 6 verses
Amos 6 14 Meaning
The verse declares that a nation, roused by an oppressor, will invade and conquer Israel. This nation will then control all of Israel's land from Hamath in the north to the Valley of Arabah (the Jordan Rift Valley) in the south. The invasion signifies the complete destruction of Israel's security and dominion.
Amos 6 14 Context
Chapter 6 of Amos starkly contrasts the luxury and complacency of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Samaria or Ephraim) with impending divine judgment. The nation is characterized by feasting, deceit, and a false sense of security, despite God's ongoing warnings. Verse 14 directly follows a denunciation of their idolatry and their reliance on self-made idols rather than the Lord. The verse serves as the specific pronouncement of judgment for their sin. Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, which is understood as the primary fulfillment of this prophecy, though similar judgments occurred under Babylonian rule.
Amos 6 14 Word Analysis
- אֲנִ֕י (ani): "I" - Emphasizes the divine speaker, God Himself.
- יִסַּ֥ר (yissar): "raise up," "bring upon," "cause to go" - From the root nasar, suggesting to lift up or to be brought against. Implies God's active ordination of this force.
- אֶלְכֶ֖ם (elchem): "against you" - A direct address to the house of Israel, highlighting their responsibility.
- עָלֵיכֶ֑ם (aleichem): "upon you" - Reinforces the idea of imposition or burden.
- גּֽוֹי (goy): "nation," "people" - Refers to a foreign enemy.
- בֵּ֣ית (beit): "house of" - Standard Hebrew phrasing indicating lineage or kingdom.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Yisrael): "Israel" - The covenant people.
- נְאֻם (ne'um): "declares," "says" - An idiom marking a divine utterance.
- יְהוָ֖ה (Yehovah): "LORD" - The covenant name of God, stressing His faithfulness and authority.
- אֱלֹהֵ֣י (Elohei): "God of" - Singular possessive, "God of."
- צְבָאֽוֹת (Tzeba'ot): "hosts" - Indicating God's command over all heavenly armies and earthly powers, underscoring His ultimate control even over the enemy.
- וְהוּא (vehu): "and he," "and it" - Introduces the subsequent action of this nation.
- יִלְחָצֶ֞ה (yilcha'tzeh): "will oppress you," "will afflict you," "will press you sore" - From lachatz, denoting crushing pressure or subjugation.
- מִלְּבֹ֤א (mil'bo): "from the entrance of," "from the entering of" - Denotes the region of entry.
- חֲמָת (Chamath): "Hamath" - An important ancient city in Syria, marking the northern boundary of Israel's idealized territory (Num 34:8).
- עֵ֖מֶק (emek): "valley" - A plain or depression in the land.
- הָֽעֲרָבָֽה (ha'aravah): "the Arabah," "the plain," "the desert" - The desert rift valley extending from the Sea of Galilee southward to the Dead Sea, representing the southern boundary.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel...": This construction highlights God's sovereignty. He isn't just passively observing; He is actively bringing judgment upon His people for their covenant violations.
- "declares the Lord, God of hosts": The title Yehovah Tzeba'ot emphasizes God's supreme authority and power to execute His pronouncements through any means necessary, including hostile nations.
- "from Hamath to the Brook of the Arabah": These geographical markers define the entire expanse of the Northern Kingdom, indicating total dominion by the invading force. Hamath represented the far north, and the "Brook of the Arabah" (likely the torrent or wadi of the Arabah) marked the southern extent. This coverage signifies utter dispossession.
Amos 6 14 Bonus Section
The dual geographical markers of Hamath and the Brook of the Arabah are significant. In Numbers 34, these are cited as the boundaries of the Promised Land for the Israelites. Amos' prophecy inverts this promise, indicating that the nation to be raised up will possess all of Israel's land, from its northern extremity to its southern desert valley. This reversal underscores the total forfeiture of God's blessing due to their covenant infidelity. The term "Brook of the Arabah" specifically refers to the Wady Arabah, a continuation of the Jordan Rift Valley, and marks a southern geographical boundary that encompassed regions south of the Dead Sea. This precise demarcation signifies a complete territorial annihilation of the Northern Kingdom.
Amos 6 14 Commentary
This verse delivers a sobering pronouncement of divine judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Their prosperity, which they attributed to their idols and their own strength, was a veneer over deep-seated sin and complacency. God, the God of Hosts, declares that He will actively orchestrate the downfall of Israel through a foreign enemy. The extent of the conquest, from the northern border of Hamath to the southern "Brook of the Arabah" (referring to the Jordan Rift Valley), signifies the complete loss of their territory and sovereignty. This was fulfilled by the Assyrians who deported the Israelites, thus enacting the full measure of God's judgment as a consequence of their persistent disobedience and idolatry.