Amos 9:1 kjv
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 delivered.
Amos 9:1 nkjv
I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said: "Strike the doorposts, that the thresholds may shake, And break them on the heads of them all. I will slay the last of them with the sword. He who flees from them shall not get away, And he who escapes from them shall not be delivered.
Amos 9:1 niv
I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: "Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Bring them down on the heads of all the people; those who are left I will kill with the sword. Not one will get away, none will escape.
Amos 9:1 esv
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said: "Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake, and shatter them on the heads of all the people; and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword; not one of them shall flee away; not one of them shall escape.
Amos 9:1 nlt
Then I saw a vision of the Lord standing beside the altar. He said, "Strike the tops of the Temple columns,
so that the foundation will shake.
Bring down the roof
on the heads of the people below.
I will kill with the sword those who survive.
No one will escape!
Amos 9 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Amos 9:1 | I saw the Lord standing by the altar... | Amos 9:1 (Judgment on Israel) |
| Psalm 11:4 | The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven… | Psalm 11:4 (God's Sovereignty and Presence) |
| Jeremiah 7:11 | "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers…?" | Jeremiah 7:11 (Temple desecration, judgment) |
| Ezekiel 9:3-4 | ... Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub... to the threshold of the house. | Ezekiel 9:3-4 (God departing before judgment) |
| Isaiah 6:1 | I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up… | Isaiah 6:1 (Prophetic vision of God) |
| Matthew 12:6 | "We have one greater than the temple here." | Matthew 12:6 (Jesus' authority over the temple) |
| Hebrews 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are laid bare… | Hebrews 4:13 (God's omniscience) |
| Revelation 6:16 | ...and to the mountains, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne..." | Revelation 6:16 (Judgment and seeking to hide) |
| 1 Samuel 15:22 | Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice... | 1 Samuel 15:22 (Importance of obedience) |
| Amos 5:21-23 | "I hate; I despise your feasts… But let justice roll down like waters…" | Amos 5:21-23 (Rejection of corrupted worship) |
| Psalm 139:7-10 | Where shall I go from your Spirit?... | Psalm 139:7-10 (Unescapable presence of God) |
| Hosea 5:3-7 | "I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me… They have gone astray in Ephraim…" | Hosea 5:3-7 (God's knowledge of Israel's sin) |
| Micah 1:2-5 | Hear, O peoples, all of you; be attentive, O earth, and all that is in it! | Micah 1:2-5 (God coming against His people) |
| Romans 11:22 | Behold then the kindness and severity of God… | Romans 11:22 (God's dealings with Israel) |
| Acts 17:24 | "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth..." | Acts 17:24 (God as Creator and Lord) |
| Amos 3:14-15 | "I will punish Israel for its iniquities... I will break down the house of winter with the house of summer…" | Amos 3:14-15 (Prophecy of destruction) |
| Proverbs 15:11 | Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the sons of man. | Proverbs 15:11 (God's pervasive knowledge) |
| Lamentations 2:6 | He has as it were violently treated his booth as though it were a garden… | Lamentations 2:6 (God's wrath on the temple) |
| Habakkuk 2:20 | But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him! | Habakkuk 2:20 (Reverence before God) |
| Psalm 50:7-15 | Hear, my people, and I will speak… Offer to God thanksgiving… | Psalm 50:7-15 (True worship vs. mere ritual) |
| Zephaniah 1:7 | Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near... | Zephaniah 1:7 (Silence and the Day of the Lord) |
| Zechariah 2:13 | Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has aroused himself from his holy dwelling. | Zechariah 2:13 (Silence before God) |
Amos 9 verses
Amos 9 1 Meaning
Amos 9:1 declares the certainty of God's judgment upon Israel. The prophet sees the Lord standing by the altar, commanding destruction. This vision signifies that no place, not even the place of worship or sacrifice, can protect them from God's incoming wrath due to their unfaithfulness and sins.
Amos 9 1 Context
Amos 9:1 marks the beginning of a new section in the book, characterized by a series of vivid visions of judgment. In the preceding chapters, Amos has pronounced judgment against Israel's surrounding nations and then against Judah and Israel itself for their sins of social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and idolatry. The audience, primarily the northern kingdom of Israel, had experienced periods of prosperity and military success, which they often attributed to their religious practices and divine favor, despite their moral and ethical failures. This vision comes as a stark pronouncement that their covenant relationship with God does not exempt them from the consequences of disobedience.
Amos 9 1 Word Analysis
אֶת־ (et) - A prefix indicating the definite object. Here it marks "the Lord" as the direct object of seeing.
סֹבֵא (sove') - To be sick, drunken. In this context, it signifies the Lord standing firmly, immovably, or perhaps in readiness for action. Some scholars suggest it can imply fullness or an overwhelming presence.
עַל־ (al) - Upon, on, over, at. Indicates the location where the Lord is standing.
הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (hammizbeach) - The altar. Specifically, the altar of worship, likely the golden altar within the sanctuary in Bethel.
וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer) - And he said. The conjunction "vav" (and) indicates a continuation of the vision or narrative.
הַךְ (hakk) - Strike! A strong imperative verb in the Hiphil conjugation, meaning "to smite" or "to strike." This is a command given by the Lord.
אֶת־ (et) - Again, the definite object prefix.
הַקְּרָאִים (haqqera'im) - The capitals, the posts of the doors. Referring to the base or threshold of the temple, the most vulnerable and foundational parts of the structure. It is a poetic representation of the entire sanctuary or temple building itself.
וַאֲשֶׁר (va'asher) - And let. Another "vav" with a strong conjunction and relative pronoun.
בַכֹּל (bakol) - In all. Encompassing everything.
מֵהֶם (mehem) - Of them. Referring to the pillars, bases, or parts of the sanctuary.
וַאֲשֶׁר (va'asher) - And all.
יָשִׂית (yasit) - Let him strike, appoint, set. From the root שׂוּם (sum), meaning to set, place, appoint. Here it is a jussive form, essentially a command: "let him strike them."
מֵהֶם (mehem) - Of them.
יּוֹתֵר (yoter) - More, exceedingly. The final phrase, "the remnant of them I will strike by the sword" or "more of them I will strike by the sword." This emphasizes that even any surviving remnant will not escape God's judgment. It suggests completeness of destruction.
The Lord standing by the altar: This juxtaposition is powerful. The altar is where sacrifices were offered to appease God and seek His favor. For the Lord to be there, directing judgment, shows that sacrifice is useless without obedience and that God Himself is initiating the destruction, not reacting to some foreign invasion's demand. It signifies the absolute judgment of God falling upon the very place where God was to be met for worship.
Strike the capitals of the bases / strike them: The repeated imperative verb "strike" (הַךְ) and "let him strike" (יָשִׂית) signifies a comprehensive and devastating judgment intended to demolish the structure from its foundations and every part.
Remnant… strike by the sword: This underscores the thoroughness of the impending judgment. There will be no escape or preservation.
Amos 9 1 Bonus Section
The phrase "I saw the Lord standing by the altar" can be interpreted in light of other prophetic visions. For example, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up in the temple (Isaiah 6:1), and Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord departing from the temple before its destruction (Ezekiel 9:3-4). Amos's vision is unique in that the Lord is actively commanding the destruction from the very place of worship. This vividly illustrates that when worship becomes corrupt and justice is absent, the very place meant for God's presence becomes the scene of His judgment. The word "Sove" might suggest God’s firm, unyielding position or perhaps a fullness of righteous anger ready to be poured out.
Amos 9 1 Commentary
The vision in Amos 9:1 serves as a stark visual for the inescapable nature of God's judgment against His unfaithful people. The prophet sees God Himself present at the altar, not for worship, but to command its destruction. This highlights that religious ritual divorced from genuine obedience and justice renders worship meaningless and draws divine condemnation. The focus on striking the foundations and all parts of the sanctuary signifies a complete overthrow, indicating that no aspect of their nation or its worship would be spared from the consequences of their sin. Even any potential survivors ("remnant") are destined for judgment by the sword, emphasizing the totality of the divine sentence. This vision underscores a crucial biblical principle: true worship involves obedience and righteousness, not just outward religious observance.