Amos 7 5

Amos 7:5 kjv

Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

Amos 7:5 nkjv

Then I said: "O Lord GOD, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!"

Amos 7:5 niv

Then I cried out, "Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!"

Amos 7:5 esv

Then I said, "O Lord GOD, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!"

Amos 7:5 nlt

Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, please stop or we will not survive, for Israel is so small."

Amos 7 verses

Amos 7 5 Meaning

The Lord God showed me a vision of impending judgment. He revealed that the great drought, symbolized by fire, would consume the land. This signifies divine punishment for Israel's sins, a complete devastation that would leave nothing but remnants. The cry to the Lord God for mercy highlights the nation's desperate state and acknowledgment of divine power even in judgment.

Amos 7 5 Context

Amos 7 depicts a series of visions granted to the prophet Amos. These visions reveal God's impending judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel for their persistent sins, particularly their social injustice, idolatry, and hypocrisy. Following visions of locusts and drought, this third vision presents fire sent by the Lord God. The prophet's plea intercedes for the people, prompting a temporary reprieve from the immediate disaster. However, the preceding visions and subsequent interactions with Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, underscore the severity of the transgression and the inevitability of God's judgment if repentance does not occur. The larger context of Amos's prophecy is a strong denunciation of the prosperity built upon oppression, and a call for righteousness and justice.

Amos 7 5 Word Analysis

• And behold (וְהִנֵּה, vĕhinneh): This phrase signifies a sudden appearance or a call to attention, introducing the divine vision and its content. It signals that something significant and of divine origin is about to be revealed.
• the Lord (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai): A reverential title for God, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority. Used here to assert God's active role in initiating judgment.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): A common Hebrew name for God, signifying His power and role as Creator and Judge.
• was contending (רִיב, riv): This word signifies a legal dispute or controversy, indicating that God is bringing a case against Israel for their wrongdoings.
• by fire (בָּאֵשׁ, ba’ēsh): Fire is consistently used in Scripture as a symbol of God's wrath, purification, and judgment. Here, it signifies a devastating and all-consuming judgment.
• and it devoured (וְאָכְלָה, vĕ’akh’lah): The verb "to devour" implies complete destruction and consumption, highlighting the thoroughness of the judgment.
• and it consumed (וְכִלְּתָה, vĕkiltah): Similar to "devoured," this word reinforces the idea of total annihilation, leaving nothing remaining.
• the great deep (שְׁאוֹל, shĕ’ōl): While "great deep" can sometimes refer to the abyss or primeval waters, in the context of judgment and consuming fire, it points to a depth of destruction, possibly even implying the realm of the dead, representing a complete demise from which there is no recovery in this specific instance of judgment. This also links to the intensity of God's judgment, affecting the very foundations.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The Lord God showed me": Emphasizes that this is a divine revelation directly from God to Amos. It establishes the authority and certainty of the prophetic message.
• "the Lord God was calling to contend by fire": This compound phrase conveys the active, judicial, and destructive nature of God's coming judgment. God Himself is initiating a case and using fire as the means of judgment, implying His direct involvement.
• "and it devoured the great deep, and it consumed": This depicts the totality and intensity of the destruction. The fire's reach is so immense that it would consume even the deepest parts, leaving absolutely nothing behind.

Amos 7 5 Bonus Section

The Hebrew word translated as "contend" (רִיב, riv) implies a legal dispute. This suggests that God’s judgment is not arbitrary but a just consequence for Israel's transgressions, framing them as being brought to trial. The combination of "Lord God" (Adonai Elohim) emphasizes God's supreme, inherent, and authoritative nature, making His judgments undeniably potent. The concept of fire consuming the "great deep" may also allude to a reversal of creation, where God brought order from the waters; now His judgment could bring destruction that returns the land to a chaotic, uninhabitable state. This intense vision contrasts with the superficial prosperity enjoyed by Israel, highlighting the impending reality of their spiritual and physical destitution.

Amos 7 5 Commentary

This verse vividly portrays the severity of God's judgment. The imagery of fire consuming the "great deep" signifies a judgment so absolute it would eradicate everything. The use of "Lord God" (Adonai Elohim) underlines both God's sovereign authority and His covenant relationship, from which Israel is now experiencing judgment. The vision serves as a warning that God’s patience has limits. Amos’s role as intercessor, though temporarily successful in this vision, underscores the prophet’s burden and God’s ultimate sovereignty in executing or withholding judgment based on His divine will and justice. The core message is about the consuming power of God's wrath against persistent sin, and the potential for complete annihilation.