Amos 9 8

Amos 9:8 kjv

Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.

Amos 9:8 nkjv

"Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," Says the LORD.

Amos 9:8 niv

"Surely the eyes of the Sovereign LORD are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth. Yet I will not totally destroy the descendants of Jacob," declares the LORD.

Amos 9:8 esv

Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," declares the LORD.

Amos 9:8 nlt

"I, the Sovereign LORD,
am watching this sinful nation of Israel.
I will destroy it
from the face of the earth.
But I will never completely destroy the family of Israel, "
says the LORD.

Amos 9 verses

Amos 9 8 Meaning

This verse declares the Lord's omniscient and unwavering judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel due to its deep-seated sinfulness, prophesying its complete obliteration as a distinct political entity from the world's stage. However, it simultaneously asserts God's faithful preservation of the covenant people, the "house of Jacob," ensuring they will not face utter annihilation, thereby highlighting both divine justice and enduring covenant love.

Amos 9 8 Context

Amos, a shepherd and fig-dresser from Judah, prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel, a time of significant prosperity for the Northern Kingdom. This economic flourishing, however, masked rampant social injustice, idolatry, and moral decay, accompanied by a hollow religious practice. Chapter 9 concludes Amos's prophetic visions of divine judgment. The immediately preceding verses (Amos 9:1-7) depict the inescapable nature of God's judgment; no place—whether heaven, the depths of Sheol, the sea, or mountaintops—can hide Israel from His hand. This particular verse, Amos 9:8, then serves as a pivotal point, providing a stark warning of national demise while simultaneously offering a glimmer of covenant hope, differentiating between the sinful political entity and the preserved covenant people. It directly challenges Israel's false presumption that their chosen status provided absolute immunity from divine wrath for their ongoing rebellion.

Amos 9 8 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): This Hebrew interjection serves to draw immediate attention, signaling the pronouncement of an important, often dramatic, truth. It calls for keen observation and consideration of what follows, emphasizing the certainty and imminent nature of the declaration.
• the eyes (עֵינֵי - ‘êynêy): Not to be understood anthropomorphically, but rather signifying God's omniscience, pervasive scrutiny, and discerning gaze. It indicates His full awareness of all actions and intentions, establishing a foundation for righteous judgment. It signifies divine oversight for both blessing and cursing.
• of the Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה - ’Ăḏōnāy Yəhwih): This compound divine title combines "Adonai" (Master, Sovereign Lord) and "YHWH" (the covenant God of Israel, the Self-Existent One). The pairing emphasizes absolute sovereignty and ultimate authority, highlighting both His covenant faithfulness and His capacity for righteous judgment as the sovereign Ruler over all.
• are upon (בּ־ - b-): A preposition indicating direct focus, engagement, or intent. Here, it denotes direct supervision for the purpose of divine intervention and judgment.
• the sinful kingdom (הַמַּמְלָכָה הַחַטָּאָה - hammaṯmaḵâ haḥaṭṭā’â): This precise phrase is crucial. "The kingdom" refers specifically to the northern kingdom of Israel (often synonymous with Ephraim). "The sinful" uses a feminine definite article with a participle or adjective from the root חָטָא (ḥaṭa’), meaning "to sin" or "miss the mark." It portrays Israel as characterized by sin, not merely a kingdom that sins occasionally, but one whose very essence and systemic practices are rooted in apostasy and unrighteousness. This distinguishes it as a political-religious entity deeply corrupted.
• And I will destroy it (וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּיהָ - wəhišmaḏtîhā): The Hebrew verb שׁמד (shamad) in the Hif'il (causative) stem means "to utterly destroy, annihilate, exterminate." The emphasis here is on total, decisive termination of its existence as a national power. This is divine action.
• from the face of the earth (מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה - mê‘al pənê hā’ăḏāmâ): A powerful idiom signifying complete and visible obliteration, a removal from the geopolitical map. It implies a thorough purging, similar to how Sodom and Gomorrah were removed.
• nevertheless (אֶפֶס כִּי - ’ephæs kî): This phrase introduces a strong, emphatic contrast. "But surely," "only that," or "however," it signals a shift from the pronouncement of judgment to a declaration of a different, hopeful truth, reflecting divine mercy alongside justice.
• I will not utterly destroy (הַשְׁמֵד לֹא אַשְׁמִיד - hašmêḏ lō’ ’ašmîḏ): This employs an infinitive absolute (הַשְׁמֵד) followed by the negative (לֹא) and the finite verb (אַשְׁמִיד), which is an emphatic negative construction in Hebrew. It powerfully underscores God's absolute commitment not to annihilate the house of Jacob completely. The strength of the language is unequivocal assurance.
• the house of Jacob (בֵּית יַעֲקֹב - bêṯ Ya‘ăqōḇ): This refers to the entirety of God's covenant people, the descendants of Jacob (Israel). Crucially, this is a broader category than the "sinful kingdom." While the "sinful kingdom" of Israel faces eradication as a national entity, the "house of Jacob"—representing the collective covenant people, including a faithful remnant and eventually Judah—will endure. This maintains God’s covenant promise with the patriarchs.
• says the Lord (נְאֻם יְהוָה - nə’um Yəhwâ): This is a prophetic formula, a divine oracle, assuring that these words are not merely human predictions but direct, authoritative declarations from YHWH, the covenant God. It seals the truthfulness and certainty of both the judgment and the preservation.

Words-group analysis

• "Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon...": This opening sets a tone of divine observation and sovereign oversight, leading to an inevitable consequence. It communicates that nothing escapes God's gaze, and His discernment precedes His action.
• "...the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth": This unit articulates the consequence of profound corporate sin. It emphasizes the direct, intentional, and complete nature of God's judgment against a nation defined by its transgressions, ensuring its geopolitical removal. This judgment is on the system of rebellion, not on every individual, yet its impact is national.
• "nevertheless, I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob": This phrase introduces the covenant counterbalance to the previous declaration of destruction. The strong double negative ("not utterly destroy") emphasizes God's enduring faithfulness to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It clarifies that while a political entity falls, the covenanted people will be preserved as a collective. This points to the remnant principle.

Amos 9 8 Bonus section

• The tension between divine justice and covenant mercy: Amos 9:8 beautifully illustrates the prophetic tension inherent in God's relationship with Israel. He is a God who executes judgment without wavering on sin (justice), but simultaneously a God who remembers His promises and will not abandon His covenant people entirely (mercy and faithfulness). This balance is critical to understanding biblical theology.
• A historical fulfillment in stages: The destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria in 722 BC fulfills the first part of the prophecy concerning the "sinful kingdom." The continued existence of the Jewish people throughout history, despite multiple exiles and persecutions, bears witness to the truth of the latter part concerning the "house of Jacob" not being "utterly destroyed."
• Significance of "House of Jacob" vs. "Sinful Kingdom": This differentiation is key to interpreting much of Old Testament prophecy concerning Israel. Not all "Israel" (political entity) is truly "Israel" (the remnant of the covenant people, the faithful). This concept is picked up in the New Testament by Paul in Romans 9-11 when discussing the remnant and the future of Israel.

Amos 9 8 Commentary

Amos 9:8 serves as the apex of Amos's message, encapsulating the dual nature of divine justice and covenant faithfulness. The declaration begins with an assertive "Behold," calling attention to the Lord God's direct and vigilant oversight of the "sinful kingdom," primarily the northern kingdom of Israel. This kingdom, due to its deep-seated idolatry, injustice, and rejection of God's ways, is unequivocally condemned to complete annihilation from the earth. This severe judgment is not merely a consequence of sin but a righteous act by the sovereign Lord. The powerful language of "destroy it from the face of the earth" signifies total national disestablishment.

However, the verse dramatically pivots with "nevertheless," introducing a profound distinction: while the sinful kingdom will be utterly wiped out, the house of Jacob—representing the true, covenant people—will not be utterly annihilated. This strong negative assurance reveals God's unfailing commitment to His ancient covenants despite the infidelity of His people. It points to the preservation of a remnant, not necessarily as a flourishing national power in the immediate future, but as an enduring lineage, from whom a renewed and righteous people would one day arise. Thus, the verse harmonizes God's unwavering holiness, demanding justice for sin, with His eternal love and faithfulness to His chosen, promising future restoration through the preservation of the covenant seed. It ensures that God’s long-term plan for redemption will prevail even through judgment.