Amos 5:20

Modern

Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Traditional

Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Literal

Is not the day of YHWH darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Latin

Numquid non tenebræ dies Domini, et non lux; et caligo, et non splendor in ea?

Hebrew

English

Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

The pronouncements of sorrow in this section develop two main themes:

Israel’s apostasy (turning away from God) would make the day of the Lord a day of judgment, not salvation; and
Judah’s spiritual complacency (feeling satisfied and unconcerned about faithfulness to God) would also bring judgment.

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
Ezekiel 34:12
As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
Zephaniah 1:15
That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
Job 10:21–22
…before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,
Jude 1:13
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Nahum 1:8
But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.
Job 3:4–6
If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.
Revelation 16:10
And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish
Matthew 22:13
Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’