Keraia
Amos 7

Amos 7:4

The Locusts, Fire, and Plumb Line · Amos 7:1–9
Read Amos 7

Translations

Modern
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land.
Traditional
Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
Literal
Thus has the Lord YHWH shown me: And behold, the Lord YHWH was calling to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and it was devouring the portion.
Latin
Hæc ostendit mihi Dominus Deus: et ecce vocabat judicium ad ignem Dominus Deus; et devoravit abyssum multam, et comedit simul partem.

Original

Hebrew
English
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land.

Notes

Amos 7:4

  • This fire represents extreme heat and drought.

  • the great deep: The Hebrew word refers to the sea, but Amos likely did not think the Mediterranean would vanish. It is probably a poetic reference to large freshwater bodies, like the Kinnereth Sea or Sea of Galilee, which Israel could use for irrigation.

Amos 7:3–6

The Lord changed his decision twice after Amos prayed on behalf of the people.

Amos 7:1–6

The first two visions create a sense of hopeful expectation. God announces judgment, but he withdraws it after the prophet pleads for the people.

Amos 7:1–9:10

This section contains five visions. It is helpful to compare how these visions develop with the judgments listed earlier in Amos 4:6–11.

The judgments listed there include:

  • famine,

  • drought,

  • destruction of crops,

  • plagues, and

  • widespread destruction.

Theme notes and profiles

God’s Change of Mind

Events

Parallels

Joel 2:1–11

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Apocalyptic Book of Amos Jacob Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Intercession: Additional Instances of Amos, for Israel Vision of Amos of Fire Visions: To Amos