King James Version

What Does Amos 3:11 Mean?

Amos 3:11 in the King James Version says “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy st...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.”

Amos 3:11 · KJV

Strength

Context

9

Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. oppressed: or, oppressions

10

For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. robbery: or, spoil

11

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

12

Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. taketh: Heb. delivereth in Damascus: or, on the bed's feet

13

Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

Read Amos 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
An adversary there shall be even round about the land (צַר וּסְבִיב הָאָרֶץ, tzar us'viv ha'aretz)—The enemy surrounds them completely; no escape remains. The term צַר (tzar, 'adversary, enemy, distress') appears with geographical emphasis: וּסְבִיב (us'viv, 'all around'). He shall bring down thy strength from thee (וְהוֹרִיד מִמֵּךְ עֻזֵּךְ, v'horid mimech uzech)—their military power (עֻזֵּךְ, uzech) will be 'brought down' (הוֹרִיד, horid, literally 'caused to descend'). Thy palaces shall be spoiled (וְנָבֹזּוּ אַרְמְנוֹתַיִךְ, v'navozu armenotayich)—plundered completely.

This reverses Israel's covenant promises. God promised protection from enemies (Leviticus 26:6-8), but covenant-breaking brings covenant curses (Leviticus 26:14-17). The Assyrian invasion of 722 BC fulfilled this literally—Samaria fell after three-year siege, and the nation never recovered.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In 724 BC, Shalmaneser V of Assyria besieged Samaria; his successor Sargon II completed the conquest in 722 BC. The Assyrians deported 27,290 Israelites according to Assyrian records, replacing them with foreign peoples (2 Kings 17:5-6, 24). The Northern Kingdom ceased to exist—fulfilling Amos's prophecy exactly.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does breaking covenant with God remove His protection and guarantee judgment?
  2. What false securities—military might, economic power, political alliances—do nations trust in today?
  3. How should the certainty of God's judgment against covenant-breaking inform Christian faithfulness in our generation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
לָכֵ֗ן1 of 13
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

כֹּ֤ה2 of 13
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֙3 of 13

“Therefore thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י4 of 13

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֔ה5 of 13

“GOD”

H3069

god

צַ֖ר6 of 13

“An adversary”

H6862

a pebble (as in h6864)

וּסְבִ֣יב7 of 13

“there shall be even round about”

H5439

(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

הָאָ֑רֶץ8 of 13

“the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וְהוֹרִ֤יד9 of 13

“and he shall bring down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

מִמֵּךְ֙10 of 13
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

עֻזֵּ֔ךְ11 of 13

“thy strength”

H5797

strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)

וְנָבֹ֖זּוּ12 of 13

“shall be spoiled”

H962

to plunder

אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃13 of 13

“from thee and thy palaces”

H759

a citadel (from its height)

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 3:11 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 3:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Kings 18:9-11Amos 2:5Amos 6:142 Kings 17:3-62 Kings 15:19Amos 3:10

Test Your Knowledge

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