Amos 8 14

Amos 8:14 kjv

They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

Amos 8:14 nkjv

Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, 'As your god lives, O Dan!' And, 'As the way of Beersheba lives!' They shall fall and never rise again."

Amos 8:14 niv

Those who swear by the sin of Samaria? who say, 'As surely as your god lives, Dan,' or, 'As surely as the god of Beersheba lives'? they will fall, never to rise again."

Amos 8:14 esv

Those who swear by the Guilt of Samaria, and say, 'As your god lives, O Dan,' and, 'As the Way of Beersheba lives,' they shall fall, and never rise again."

Amos 8:14 nlt

And those who swear by the shameful idols of Samaria ?
who take oaths in the name of the god of Dan
and make vows in the name of the god of Beersheba ?
they will all fall down,
never to rise again."

Amos 8 verses

Amos 8 14 Meaning

This verse pronounces a curse and a declaration of divine judgment upon the remnants of Israel. It signifies a final, irrevocable sentencing due to their pervasive sinfulness, leading to their complete desolation and scattering. The phrase "fall never to rise again" emphasizes the finality of God's judgment against their unfaithfulness.

Amos 8 14 Context

Chapter 8 of Amos focuses on God's impending judgment upon Israel due to their persistent sins of injustice, greed, and spiritual idolatry. The chapter details visions and pronouncements that illustrate the severity and certainty of this judgment. Specific sins highlighted include oppressing the poor, perverting justice, and worshipping false gods, evidenced by their reliance on false oaths tied to corrupted religious practices and places. This verse, specifically verse 14, serves as a strong concluding statement of this condemnation, predicting their irreversible downfall and complete abandonment by God. Historically, this occurred during a period of relative prosperity for Israel but marked by deep moral and spiritual decay, setting the stage for future invasions and exile.

Amos 8 14 Word Analysis

• "They swear": (Hebrew: nishba'im) - Present participle, indicating a continuous or habitual action. This points to the ingrained nature of their false worship and deceptive practices.
• "by the sin": (Hebrew: ashmat) - Can mean guilt, sin, or trespass. Here it signifies the object or source of their wrongful oaths, likely referring to the idols and sinful practices they endorsed.
• "of Samaria": - Refers to the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, a center of idolatry and apostasy.
• "who say": (Hebrew: lemor) - Literally "to say," introducing the content of their false vows.
• "As your god lives": (Hebrew: chay adonayk) - A common formula for an oath, affirming the life or power of the deity invoked. However, the object of worship here is the "god" of Samaria, referring to the golden calves or other idols.
• "O Dan": - A northern city in Israel where Jeroboam I established a calf idol (1 Kings 12:29), symbolizing the widespread idolatry.
• "and": (Hebrew: v') - Connects the two parts of the corrupted oath.
• "as the way of Beersheba lives": (Hebrew: k'ma'agal b'er shava or k'darom b'er shava) - Invokes the life of Beersheba, another significant location, possibly alluding to an idol or a syncretistic religious practice associated with it. Beersheba was a border town, implying the pervasiveness of their unfaithfulness across the land.
• "fall": (Hebrew: nafal'et) - "You have fallen." This verb emphasizes the action of collapsing or being overthrown.
• "never to rise again": (Hebrew: koma lo or lakum lo) - "Rise not again" or "to rise no more." This phrase stresses the finality and irreversibility of their destruction and judgment.

Amos 8 14 Bonus Section

The verse illustrates a key theme throughout Scripture: the incompatibility of true worship with idolatry and moral compromise. God's covenant with Israel required exclusive devotion. Swearing by the sin of Samaria is an ironic twist, where what should be an affirmation of faithfulness becomes an oath based on their deepest corruption. This foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on worshipping God in spirit and truth (John 4:24), and the dangers of lukewarm faith or entanglement with the world's corrupt systems. The mention of Dan and Beersheba symbolically covers the entire nation, signifying the comprehensive nature of their defection. The ultimate judgment of falling and not rising again is a powerful image of final separation from God's grace and protection, a concept echoed in passages describing eternal judgment for unrepentant sin.

Amos 8 14 Commentary

Amos 8:14 encapsulates the essence of Israel's condemnation: a deep-seated apostasy manifesting in false worship and hollow oaths sworn in the name of their idols. Their religiosity is superficial, divorced from true righteousness and justice. They invoke the "god of Samaria" and the practices of places like Dan and Beersheba, which were known centers of illicit worship, instead of the true God of Israel. This reliance on corrupt spiritual markers and the affirmation of a broken covenant leads to an inevitable downfall. The statement "fall never to rise again" underscores God's severe judgment against persistent rebellion, marking them for complete destruction and removal, a stark contrast to the spiritual resilience expected of the faithful. This highlights the consequence of prioritizing false gods and their associated corrupt systems over divine covenant and ethical living.