Amos 7:4 kjv
Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
Amos 7:4 nkjv
Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, the Lord GOD called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory.
Amos 7:4 niv
This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land.
Amos 7:4 esv
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land.
Amos 7:4 nlt
Then the Sovereign LORD showed me another vision. I saw him preparing to punish his people with a great fire. The fire had burned up the depths of the sea and was devouring the entire land.
Amos 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 7:4 | Thus the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling to contend by fire,... | Deut 32:22 (Divine judgment) |
| Amos 7:5 | Then I said, “O Lord GOD, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” | Jer 4:20 (Exile for sin) |
| Amos 7:6 | The Lord relented concerning this; “This also shall not be,” | Joel 2:14 (God's mercy) |
| Amos 7:7 | Thus he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall | Isa 28:17 (Judgment on arrogance) |
| Amos 7:8 | “And the Lord said to me, Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” | Ezek 40:3 (God’s standards) |
| Amos 7:9 | Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line… | Prov 31:9 (Justice for the weak) |
| Amos 7:10 | Then Amaziah… sent to Israel, saying… | 2 Kin 14:23 (Kingdom of Israel) |
| Amos 7:17 | Therefore thus says the LORD: Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city... | Jer 11:11 (Prophetic warnings) |
| Amos 7:17 | your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword... | 2 Sam 1:19 (Lament for fallen) |
| Amos 9:11 | “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen... | Acts 15:16 (Restoration theme) |
| Hosea 8:5 | Your calf o Samaria… | Hos 10:5 (Idolatry in Samaria) |
| Zephaniah 2:5 | Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast... | Zeph 3:10 (Inhabitants of Cush) |
| Isaiah 5:8 | “Woe to you who join house to house... | Isa 10:2 (Oppression) |
| Micah 3:9 | Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob... | Micah 6:14 (Judgment for greed) |
| Amos 5:11 | “Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from him burdens of wheat,... | Luke 3:14 (Soldiers' demands) |
| Amos 6:1 | “Woe to those who are complacent in Zion... | Amos 6:7 (Carefree luxury) |
| Amos 8:4 | Hear this, you who trample on the needy... | Amos 5:12 (Sin of injustice) |
| Romans 9:28 | For he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness... | Rom 11:32 (God’s sovereignty) |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God... | 1 Cor 11:31 (Self-judgment) |
| Revelation 14:19 | So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and harvested the grapes... | Rev 18:21 (Judgment of Babylon) |
| Psalms 11:5 | The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked... | Ps 69:22 (Enemies punished) |
| Leviticus 26:28 | then I will also bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins | Lev 26:24 (Plagues for disobedience) |
Amos 7 verses
Amos 7 4 Meaning
The Lord showed Amos a vision of destruction by fire, but when the prophet pleaded, the Lord relented. Amos then saw a vision of a plumb line, signifying God's measure of Israel's iniquity and His judgment upon them for their sins, especially their injustices and oppression of the poor.
Amos 7 4 Context
This verse is part of a series of five visions (locusts, fire, plumb line, basket of summer fruit, destruction of the altar) that Amos, a shepherd and fig-tree dresser from Tekoa, received. These visions are divine revelations illustrating the impending judgment of God upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity but also deep social injustice and religious apostasy. Amos prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (8th century BCE), a period of military success and economic growth, but this prosperity was built upon the exploitation of the poor and a superficial adherence to religious rituals. The immediate context is the confrontation between Amos and Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, who sought to silence the prophet's divine message.
Amos 7 4 Word Analysis
- Thus (כֹּה - koh): In this manner, so. Indicates the presentation of a message or event that follows.
- the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal name of God, signifying His covenantal relationship and faithfulness.
- GOD (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): Lord, Master. A title expressing sovereignty and authority.
- showed (נִמְרַ֣ה - nimrah): Literally "he showed," from the root marah. Implies a divine unveiling of future events.
- me (לִ֣י - li): To me. Personal reception of the vision.
- behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): Look, see, behold. An exclamation drawing attention to something important and immediate.
- the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Emphasizes God’s active involvement.
- GOD (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): Reiteration of God’s supreme authority.
- was calling (קֹרֵ֤א - qore): Is calling, summoning. An active divine initiative.
- to contend (לָרִ֤יב - lariv): To strive, dispute, or bring a case against someone. God is initiating a legal or judicial confrontation.
- by (בָּאֵ֔שׁ - ba'esh): With fire. The instrument of judgment and purification, often associated with God's presence and wrath.
- fire (אֵ֗שׁ - esh): Represents judgment, purification, and destruction, commonly seen in divine discipline.
Group Analysis:
- "the Lord GOD showed me": Establishes God as the initiator and revealer of the vision, highlighting His ultimate control and purpose in communicating His intentions to Amos.
- "behold, the Lord GOD was calling to contend by fire": This phrase paints a powerful image of divine justice. God is not merely observing; He is actively bringing charges and judgment, using fire as the means of execution. The repetition of "Lord GOD" underscores His supreme authority in this action.
Amos 7 4 Bonus Section
The visions Amos receives are dynamic and often represent stages or different facets of God's unfolding judgment. The progression from the consuming fire, which God halts at the intercession, to the precise measurement of the plumb line shows God's thorough examination and inevitable justice. This can be understood in theological terms as God’s patience and judgment coexisting. While the initial destruction is suspended, it highlights the severity of Israel’s sin. The plumb line assures that God’s perfect standard of justice will be applied, ensuring that no sin goes unmeasured or unaddressed in His dealings with His people. The specific call to "contend by fire" suggests not random destruction but a judicial process initiated by God. This concept of divine judgment being precise and purposeful is echoed in later scriptures that speak of God’s scrutiny of hearts and actions.
Amos 7 4 Commentary
This vision signifies God's severe judgment on Israel for their covenant unfaithfulness and social corruption. The initial vision of fire implies complete annihilation. Amos’s plea, appealing to Jacob's insignificance (Amos 7:2, 5), is met with God’s merciful pause. However, the subsequent vision of the plumb line confirms that while a complete destruction was averted, precise and inescapable judgment is now calibrated by God’s righteousness. The plumb line symbolizes divine standards of justice and integrity. Israel had deviated from these standards, and the plumb line measures their deviation, indicating that judgment would be exacted according to their accumulated sin, ensuring accountability. The prophet's intercession in the first vision does not negate the ultimate reality of judgment revealed by the plumb line; rather, it may represent God's grace in demonstrating His willingness to be entreated while also preparing the people for the inevitability of consequences if they remain unrepentant.