Amos 8:11 kjv
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amos 8:11 nkjv
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
Amos 8:11 niv
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land? not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Amos 8:11 esv
"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land ? not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.
Amos 8:11 nlt
"The time is surely coming," says the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine on the land ?
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the LORD.
Amos 8 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 8:11 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, | Amos 8:11 (context) |
| Amos 8:12 | when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, | Amos 8:12 (context) |
| Jeremiah 7:29 | nor a famine of water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. | Jer 7:29 (fulfillment) |
| Psalm 74:9 | We do not see our signs; there are no more prophets, | Ps 74:9 (similar idea) |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless he reveals his secret | Amos 3:7 (God's nature) |
| Amos 5:10 | They hate one who reproves in the gate, | Amos 5:10 (rejection) |
| Amos 8:4-6 | Hear this, you who trample on the needy... | Amos 8:4-6 (cause) |
| 1 Samuel 3:1 | Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. | 1 Sam 3:1 (youth Samuel) |
| Lamentations 2:9 | Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has broken and | Lam 2:9 (judgment) |
| Matthew 12:43 | When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it | Matt 12:43 (spiritual state) |
| John 8:12 | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world." | John 8:12 (contrast) |
| Hebrews 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke... | Heb 1:1-2 (past revelation) |
| Acts 1:1 | In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began | Acts 1:1 (former book) |
| Isaiah 30:20 | And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and | Isa 30:20 (provision) |
| Proverbs 3:13 | Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, | Prov 3:13 (value of words) |
| Zechariah 1:5 | Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live | Zech 1:5 (judgment on prophets) |
| Luke 11:24-26 | When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it | Luke 11:24-26 (spiritual state) |
| Jeremiah 15:2 | What then? If they say, 'To where shall we go?' tell them... | Jer 15:2 (God's absence) |
| John 6:63 | It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help. | John 6:63 (spirituality) |
| 1 Corinthians 14:19 | but in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words... | 1 Cor 14:19 (clarity) |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active... | Heb 4:12 (word's power) |
Amos 8 verses
Amos 8 11 Meaning
This verse describes a period of intense spiritual famine, not of food or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. It signifies a time when divine communication ceases, leaving people spiritually destitute and unable to seek God's guidance.
Amos 8 11 Context
Amos prophesied during a time of prosperity for Israel, but this prosperity was built on injustice and oppression of the poor. God sent Amos to pronounce judgment on the nation for their sins, particularly their social corruption and religious hypocrisy. Chapter 8 culminates the prophecies of judgment, highlighting the consequences of their actions. This specific verse points to a severe consequence: the silencing of God's voice and the absence of prophetic guidance, a direct result of Israel's rejection of God's truth.
Amos 8 11 Word Analysis
- "Behold" (Hebrew: hineh - הִנֵּה): This is an interjection used to draw attention, indicating something significant is about to be said. It’s a strong call to listen.
- "the days are coming" (Hebrew: yamy dāḇār - יָמִים יָבֹאוּ): This phrase signals future events, specifically prophetic pronouncements about what is to come.
- "declares the Lord GOD" (Hebrew: nāʼum ʼădōnay YHVH - נְאֻם־אָדֹנָי יְהוִה): This is a formal prophetic formula, attributing the message directly to God, emphasizing its divine authority and truthfulness. It indicates the gravity of the statement.
- "a famine" (Hebrew: rā ʻăḇū rā ʻāḇōḇ - רָעָב - RA'AHV): While commonly translated as a lack of food, here it's used metaphorically to denote a severe lack or deprivation.
- "not a famine of bread": This clarifies the nature of the famine. It's not a physical lack, but a spiritual one. The contrast is stark, highlighting the spiritual poverty that will afflict them.
- "nor a thirst for water": This reinforces the previous point, further emphasizing the absence of spiritual nourishment and sustenance, like water to a dry land.
- "but of hearing the words of the LORD": This is the crux of the verse. The famine is specifically a lack of divine communication – the inability to hear God’s message through prophets or other means.
Amos 8 11 Bonus Section
The concept of a "famine of hearing the word of the LORD" is echoed in the New Testament. Jesus himself warned about periods where people would seek to see one of the days of the Son of Man but would not be able to (Luke 17:22). This also speaks to the profound spiritual poverty that results from turning away from God's truth, leading to a spiritual darkness and an inability to discern God’s will or presence. This verse serves as a potent reminder for believers today to cherish and actively engage with God's word, as the opportunity to hear it freely may not always be present.
Amos 8 11 Commentary
Amos’s prophecy here is a severe indictment. Israel’s societal decay and their deaf ears to the prophets' warnings lead to a spiritual vacuum. God, in His judgment, will withdraw His direct communication. This isn't about God being unable to speak, but about a deliberate withholding from a people who have rejected His word. The famine described is more devastating than physical hunger, as it leaves souls unfed and lost. It highlights the profound importance of divine revelation for spiritual life and national well-being. When God’s word is absent, people are left to their own devices, prone to straying further into error and spiritual death. This foreshadows times when divine messengers are few or unwelcome, leaving a populace unable to find spiritual truth or guidance.