Amos 8 2

Amos 8:2 kjv

And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

Amos 8:2 nkjv

And He said, "Amos, what do you see?" So I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me: "The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.

Amos 8:2 niv

"What do you see, Amos?" he asked. "A basket of ripe fruit," I answered. Then the LORD said to me, "The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.

Amos 8:2 esv

And he said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me, "The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass by them.

Amos 8:2 nlt

"What do you see, Amos?" he asked. I replied, "A basket full of ripe fruit." Then the LORD said, "Like this fruit, Israel is ripe for punishment! I will not delay their punishment again.

Amos 8 verses

Amos 8 2 Meaning

This verse depicts a vision granted to the prophet Amos. God shows him a basket of summer fruit, symbolizing the ripe harvest and the completion of Israel's sin. The season for judgment has arrived.

Amos 8 2 Context

Amos prophesied during a time of apparent prosperity for the Northern Kingdom of Israel (also called Ephraim or Samaria). However, this outward success masked deep social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and idolatry. Amos's message is one of impending judgment from God because of Israel's unfaithfulness and oppression of the poor. Chapter 8 continues this theme, showing God's ultimate decision to punish them. The vision of the summer fruit signifies that the time of grace is over, and judgment is imminent.

Amos 8 2 Word Analysis

• Thus (כֹּ֥ה - ko): This adverb indicates a manner or way. It introduces the vision God is showing Amos, signifying "in this way" or "like this."
• the Lord (יְהוִ֛ה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His role as their sovereign Lord.
• GOD (אֱלֹהִ֥ים - Elohim): A plural noun for God, used here to denote God's absolute power and authority. In combination with YHWH, it conveys the fullness of God's being and power.
• showed (הִרְאַ֣נִי - hir'ani): From the root verb ראה (ra'ah), meaning "to see," "to look," or "to show." Here, it's in the causative (Hiphil) form, meaning "caused me to see" or "showed me." This highlights the divine initiative in revealing the future to the prophet.
• me (אֹותִ֗י - oti): The direct object pronoun, indicating Amos is the recipient of the vision.
• and behold (וְהִנֵּה֙ - vehineh): This particle functions as an interjection, drawing attention to what follows. It signifies surprise, immediacy, or emphasis, like saying "Look!" or "Indeed!"
• a basket (קַיִץ֙ - qayits): This is a critical word. While typically meaning "summer," in this specific context and construction with the following word, it refers to a "basket of summer fruit." The confusion sometimes arises because "qayits" alone refers to summer. The Hebrew here is actually for "summer fruit," often transliterated as kayitz. However, some understand the word to be singular in form, referring to "summer" itself, implying "the season of summer fruit." Modern scholarship largely agrees "qayits" here refers to the season of summer, with the implication of its ripened produce.
• summer (קַ֙יִץ֙ - qayits): This Hebrew word signifies "summer." As noted above, in this verse, it signifies the season of ripe fruit, representing the opportune time for harvest and judgment.

Word Group Analysis:

• "a basket of summer fruit": This phrase encapsulates the core image of the vision. The "summer fruit" is at its peak ripeness, indicating that a stage of development has been reached. In the prophetic context, this ripeness symbolizes Israel's fullness of sin and the readiness for divine judgment. The season itself has arrived, and nothing more can be added or taken away. It's the point of no return.

Amos 8 2 Bonus Section

The Hebrew word "qayits" (קַ֙יִץ֙) primarily means "summer." However, its context here is crucial. The basket contained summers, not literal summer fruit as a solid object. The singular form can imply "the season of summer," hence, "summer fruit" is understood as what characterizes that season. This highlights that the "summer" or time of ripeness and judgment has arrived for Israel. The parallel in the New Testament, John 4:35 ("...the fields are white for harvest"), echoes this concept of opportune timing, though applied here to the harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God, contrasting with Amos's warning of a harvest of judgment. Some scholars link this to agricultural cycles in ancient Israel where specific fruits were harvested in summer. The sight would be familiar and potent for Amos's audience.

Amos 8 2 Commentary

The vision of the basket of summer fruit is a profound symbol of God's timing in judgment. Summer fruit signifies ripeness, maturity, and the conclusion of a growth cycle. For Israel, this meant their sins had reached a point of complete ripeness, making them liable to God's inevitable judgment. The fruit was ready to be gathered, just as Israel was ready to be judged. This vision was not a vague threat but a clear sign that the end of their impunity had come. God’s patience, though great, was not infinite. When a nation, or an individual, reaches the fullness of iniquity, the season of harvest begins, and the judgment falls. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, portraying God as both merciful and just, giving opportunities but ultimately holding people accountable for their actions.