Amos 7 6

Amos 7:6 kjv

The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

Amos 7:6 nkjv

So the LORD relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD.

Amos 7:6 niv

So the LORD relented. "This will not happen either," the Sovereign LORD said.

Amos 7:6 esv

The LORD relented concerning this: "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD.

Amos 7:6 nlt

Then the LORD relented from this plan, too. "I will not do that either," said the Sovereign LORD.

Amos 7 verses

Amos 7 6 meaning

Amos 7:6 expresses God's compassionate decision to withdraw or postpone a threatened severe judgment against the nation of Israel. Following the prophet Amos's intercession, the Lord declared that the imminent and devastating judgment by fire, which would consume both land and deep, would not occur. This signifies divine mercy and responsiveness to the earnest prayer of His servant.

Amos 7 6 Context

Amos 7:6 is the conclusion of the second of five visions of judgment Amos receives from the Lord, specifically directed against the northern kingdom of Israel. Following a vision of a devouring locust plague (7:1-3) and a consuming fire (7:4-6), Amos intercedes on behalf of "Jacob," pleading, "How can he stand? He is so small!" This particular verse directly follows Amos's cry for mercy after witnessing the vision of fire that threatened to consume both the deep (Tehom) and the land. Historically, this occurred during a period of relative prosperity under Jeroboam II (793-753 BC), yet it was marked by profound social injustice, idolatry, and moral decay, indicating that Israel's actions were inviting severe divine discipline. The Lord's relenting in response to Amos's intercession highlights God's justice being tempered by His mercy and responsiveness to prayer, a theme starkly contrasted with subsequent visions where judgment is declared inescapable.

Amos 7 6 Word analysis

• The Lord (וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהוָ֔ה – wayyinnāḥem YHWH):
  • YHWH (יְהוָ֔ה): The sacred covenant name of God, revealing His personal, active, and eternal being. This name underscores God's unique relationship with Israel, His faithfulness, and His active involvement in their history.
• relented (וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם – wayyinnāḥem):
  • Original Language: From the root נחם (nāḥam), often translated as "to repent," "to change one's mind," "to be sorry," or "to comfort."
  • Significance: When applied to God, nāḥam does not imply imperfection, regret in a human sense, or a change in God's immutable character (Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17). Instead, it signifies a change in God's expressed intention or action, usually in response to a change in human circumstances (e.g., repentance, intercession, or a demonstration of His own mercy). Here, it demonstrates God's compassion and ethical responsiveness within His consistent divine nature, rather than capriciousness.
• concerning this (עַל־זֹ֔את – ’al-zō’t):
  • Significance: Refers specifically to the threatened judgment of "fire" described in the preceding verses (Amos 7:4-5), which would have consumed a significant part of Israel. This shows the direct impact of Amos's specific intercession on a specific threat.
• 'It shall not happen' (לֹא֩ תִהְיֶ֖ה – lō’ tihyeh):
  • Lō’ (לֹא): An emphatic Hebrew negation, unequivocally stating that the event will not occur.
  • Tihyeh (תִהְיֶ֖ה): "it shall be," negated to "it shall not be" or "it shall not happen."
  • Significance: This is a firm divine declaration, providing assurance that the specific catastrophe envisioned by the prophet would be averted or postponed. It confirms the efficacy of intercessory prayer and God's compassionate willingness to suspend deserved judgment.
• said the Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה – ’Ădōnāy YHWH):
  • ’Ădōnāy (אֲדֹנָ֥י): Meaning "my Lord" or "Sovereign Master," emphasizing God's supreme authority and universal dominion.
  • YHWH (יְהוִֽה): The personal, covenantal name.
  • Significance: The combination of these two divine titles (Adonai YHWH) adds solemnity, certainty, and authoritative weight to the declaration. It underscores that this decision to relent comes from the absolute Sovereign, who remains faithful to His covenant promises despite His people's rebellion, and whose ultimate purpose will always prevail.

Words-group analysis:

• "The Lord relented concerning this": This phrase succinctly conveys God's character as merciful and responsive. It highlights the divine capacity for grace and compassion, showing that even in the face of warranted judgment, God's nature is such that He can choose a different path when appealed to by His faithful servants. It's an affirmation of God's active, dynamic engagement with His creation and His covenant people.
• "'It shall not happen,' said the Lord GOD": This strong declarative statement, issued under God's double sovereign and covenantal title, unequivocally affirms the certainty of the averted judgment. It underscores God's authority to make and alter decrees, demonstrating that His Word is ultimate and final. The statement instills confidence in the outcome and the power behind the promise.

Amos 7 6 Bonus section

The repeated motif of "the Lord relented" in Amos 7:1-6 is not merely a literary device but a crucial theological statement about God's interaction with Israel. While some philosophical traditions grapple with how an unchangeable God can "change His mind," the biblical context consistently portrays God as sovereignly free to interact with His creation and His covenants. The term 'nāḥam' when applied to God speaks less of "regret" over an error and more of a compassionate "turning away" from a path of destruction when a new variable, like intercession, enters the equation. This particular instance follows two desperate pleas by Amos for Israel, characterized as "Jacob" and "so small" – evoking God's covenant with the patriarch and emphasizing Israel's vulnerability, appealing to God's parental care rather than strict legal adherence. This verse thus prefigures the New Testament concept of a merciful God who, while just, provides means for reconciliation through an advocate, ultimately Christ Himself.

Amos 7 6 Commentary

Amos 7:6 stands as a profound illustration of God's compassionate character and the power of intercessory prayer. The repeated phrase "The Lord relented" (also in 7:3) reveals a dynamic aspect of God's justice, where His predetermined plans for judgment can be altered by His own mercy, often elicited by the prayers of a prophet. It is not that God is indecisive or that His perfect will changes; rather, He, in His sovereignty, permits His direct intervention and specific actions to be influenced by the righteous cries of His people, providing a window for grace and delaying immediate catastrophe. This verse also serves as a crucial theological point, distinguishing between God's immutable character and His flexible ways of dealing with humanity based on their response. God remains righteous and just, but His capacity for mercy means He may withhold deserved judgment. However, this divine relenting is shown to have its limits in the subsequent visions of Amos, indicating that persistent unrepentance will eventually bring the certain, unalterable judgment.