Amos 7:7 kjv
Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
Amos 7:7 nkjv
Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.
Amos 7:7 niv
This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand.
Amos 7:7 esv
This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
Amos 7:7 nlt
Then he showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight.
Amos 7 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 7:7 | "behold, the Lord stood beside a wall; and in his hand a plumbline." | Amos 7:7 (Direct Reference) |
| 2 Kings 21:13 | "And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab..." | 2 Kings 21:13 (Similar Imagery, Judgment) |
| Isaiah 28:17 | "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." | Isaiah 28:17 (Plumbline as Righteousness) |
| Lamentations 2:8 | "He hath purposed to destroy the fortress of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not stretched forth his hand to help..." | Lamentations 2:8 (Line of Destruction) |
| Jeremiah 52:11 | "Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and bound him with fetters of brass, and led him to Babylon." | Jeremiah 52:11 (Destruction, Loss of Sight) |
| 1 Kings 20:34 | "And the king of Israel said unto him, The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." | 1 Kings 20:34 (Historical Context of Broken Covenants) |
| Hosea 10:2 | "Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images." | Hosea 10:2 (Unfaithfulness, Judgment) |
| Micah 1:6 | "Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof." | Micah 1:6 (Destruction of Samaria) |
| Matthew 11:23 | "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day." | Matthew 11:23 (Judgment for Unbelief) |
| Luke 19:42 | "Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at the least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." | Luke 19:42 (Missed Opportunity for Peace) |
| Revelation 18:5 | "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." | Revelation 18:5 (Accumulated Sin, Divine Remembrance) |
| Proverbs 31:10 | "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." | Proverbs 31:10 (Contrast with Israel's Lack of Virtue) |
| Ezekiel 7:3 | "An end is come, the end is come, it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come." | Ezekiel 7:3 (Imminence of Judgment) |
| Amos 5:27 | "Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts." | Amos 5:27 (Specific Exile Location) |
| Amos 8:1-3 | "Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold a basket of summer fruit... And the LORD said unto me, An end is come upon the land of Israel; I will not pass by it any more." | Amos 8:1-3 (Basket of Summer Fruit as Sign of End) |
| Amos 9:1 | "I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be escaped." | Amos 9:1 (The Lord at the Altar, Finality of Judgment) |
| Amos 3:15 | "And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD." | Amos 3:15 (Judgment on Houses of Luxury) |
| 2 Samuel 22:7 | "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears." | 2 Samuel 22:7 (God Hearing Cries) |
| Psalm 11:4 | "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men." | Psalm 11:4 (God's Perspective and Sovereignty) |
| Zechariah 3:3 | "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel of the LORD." | Zechariah 3:3 (Garments and Judgment) |
Amos 7 verses
Amos 7 7 Meaning
The Lord showed Amos a plumb line, signifying a standard of judgment that Israel, specifically the northern kingdom, had failed to meet. This vision clearly indicated divine retribution and the impending destruction of the nation due to its persistent sins.
Amos 7 7 Context
Amos 7 occurs within a narrative section detailing a series of prophetic visions given to Amos. These visions—the locusts, the fire, and the plumb line—each illustrate impending judgment on Israel for its apostasy and social injustice. Following these initial visions, Amaziah the priest of Bethel confronts Amos, accusing him of treason. Amos responds with a severe prophecy against Amaziah personally and against Israel. Verse 7 is the introduction to the plumb line vision itself, setting the stage for God's measurement of Israel's iniquity. The historical backdrop is the prosperous but spiritually corrupt reign of Jeroboam II, a time when Israel was powerful militarily but deeply immoral and idolatrous, ignoring the poor and God's covenant commands.
Amos 7 7 Word Analysis
- וְהִנֵּה (vehineh) - "And, behold," or "And look,". This is a common particle used to introduce a vision or a significant event, drawing the audience's immediate attention. It signals that what follows is crucial and to be observed carefully.
- אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) - "Lord". This is one of the Hebrew names for God, typically used as a substitute for the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) out of reverence. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and mastership.
- נִצָּב (nitzav) - "standing". Implies God's presence, authority, and active involvement. It is not a passive observation but a purposeful stance in preparation for action or judgment.
- עַל־ (al-) - "upon," "beside," "over". Here, it indicates proximity or position relative to the object.
- הַקִּיר (hakir) - "the wall". The definite article "ha-" ("the") makes it specific. The wall signifies a structure that should be sound and upright. Its condition reveals the state of what it represents—in this case, Israel.
- וּבְיָדוֹ (uv'yado) - "and in his hand". The possession of the tool by God highlights that the judgment and its execution are directly from Him. It is an intentional act.
- אֲבָנִים (avanim) - "stones". Specifically, the stones used in constructing a wall.
- מַשְׁקֹ֜וֹלֶת (mashqoleth) - "plumb line," "plummet". This is the crucial element of the vision. A plumb line is a tool used by builders to ensure verticality and straightness. It represents a standard of measurement or judgment against which something is tested. The word is related to "weight" or "balance," implying accurate assessment.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And, behold, the Lord stood beside a wall;": This opening powerfully sets the scene. God is actively present, and His focus is on a specific structure (Israel), which is represented as a wall. The word "stood" implies readiness and a decision has been made.
- "and in his hand a plumbline.": The plumbline being in God's hand is a direct assertion of divine authority over the judgment. God Himself holds the standard. The plumbline signifies a precise, unerring measure against which the integrity of the wall (Israel) will be assessed. If the wall is crooked or leaning, it will be found wanting.
Amos 7 7 Bonus Section
This plumb line metaphor extends beyond Amos. It symbolizes God's unwavering standard of holiness and justice. The inability of the "wall" (Israel) to conform to this upright standard necessitates its removal or destruction. This contrasts sharply with human attempts to build their own security or righteousness apart from God's true measure. The vision also implies that the time for patience has ended, and judgment is imminent and inevitable because the deviation from the standard is absolute.
Amos 7 7 Commentary
The plumb line vision in Amos 7:7 is a vivid depiction of divine justice. God is portrayed as the ultimate Builder or Overseer, holding the plumb line—the perfect standard of His righteousness and judgment. This tool is not for constructing anything new, but for testing an existing structure. Israel, the nation God had built and set apart, is likened to a wall. Its foundation and integrity are about to be measured against God’s perfect standard. The presence of the plumb line signifies that God is no longer tolerating the deviations and crookedness that have developed within the nation. It portends that the spiritual and moral leaning of Israel, characterized by injustice and idolatry, will be found to be fatally flawed. This is not arbitrary destruction, but a verdict based on a precise and righteous assessment, leading to demolition rather than repair.