King James Version

What Does Amos 1:15 Mean?

Amos 1:15 in the King James Version says “And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD. — study this verse from Amos chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

Amos 1:15 · KJV


Context

13

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border: ripped: or, divided the mountains

14

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

15

And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together (וְהָלַךְ מַלְכָּם בַּגּוֹלָה, v'halach malkam bagolah)—The Hebrew מַלְכָּם (malkam) is a wordplay: it means both 'their king' and references Molech/Milcom, the Ammonite deity to whom children were sacrificed (1 Kings 11:5, 33). Both human rulers and false gods prove powerless before Yahweh. Saith the LORD (אָמַר יְהוָה, amar YHWH) is the prophetic authentication formula—this is not Amos's opinion but God's irrevocable decree.

The collapse of both political and religious systems signifies total judgment. No refuge remains—not in military might, political alliances, or false worship. This pattern repeats throughout history when nations trust in anything besides the true God.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Babylonian exile fulfilled this prophecy. Archaeological evidence shows Rabbah was destroyed in the 6th century BC. Ironically, Ammonites had long practiced child sacrifice to Molech, and now their god and king both went into captivity—helpless before the covenant God of Israel.

Reflection Questions

  1. What false 'kings' or authorities do people trust in today instead of the LORD—government, wealth, ideology, self?
  2. How does the exile of both human rulers and false gods demonstrate that all idolatry ends in captivity?
  3. In what ways might Christians today be trusting in political power rather than the kingdom of God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
וְהָלַ֥ךְ1 of 8

shall go

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

מַלְכָּ֖ם2 of 8

And their king

H4428

a king

בַּגּוֹלָ֑ה3 of 8

into captivity

H1473

exile; concretely and collectively exiles

ה֧וּא4 of 8
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְשָׂרָ֛יו5 of 8

he and his princes

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

יַחְדָּ֖ו6 of 8

together

H3162

properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly

אָמַ֥ר7 of 8

saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָֽה׃8 of 8

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Amos. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Amos 1:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Amos 1:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

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