King James Version

What Does Amos 5:1 Mean?

Amos 5:1 in the King James Version says “Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.” — study this verse from Amos chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.”

Amos 5:1 · KJV

Context

1

Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.

2

The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

3

For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel (שִׁמְעוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹשֵׂא עֲלֵיכֶם קִינָה בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, shim'u et-hadavar hazeh asher anokhi nose aleikhem qinah beit Yisrael)—the verb shama (שָׁמַע, "hear") demands urgent attention. Amos issues a qinah (קִינָה, "lamentation/funeral dirge"), the formal poetic genre used at burials to mourn the dead. By speaking a funeral lament over living Israel, Amos declares their doom certain—they're already dead, they just don't know it yet. This rhetorical strategy is devastatingly effective: imagine hearing your own funeral elegy while still alive.

The phrase "which I take up against you" (asher anokhi nose aleikhem) uses nasa (נָשָׂא, "lift up/bear/utter"), typically describing lifting up one's voice in formal discourse. The preposition "against" (al, עַל) indicates hostile judgment, not blessing. This isn't encouragement but condemnation. The address "O house of Israel" invokes covenant identity—not foreign nations but God's chosen people face this funeral. The entire northern kingdom, not just individuals, is the deceased. This underscores corporate covenant accountability: the nation as entity faces judgment for collective sin.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Amos prophesied circa 760-750 BC during Jeroboam II's prosperous reign. Israel enjoyed military success, territorial expansion, and economic growth—hardly seeming like a nation about to die. Yet beneath the prosperity, systemic injustice, religious corruption, and covenant unfaithfulness festered. To announce a funeral lament over a thriving nation would have seemed absurd—which made Amos's prophecy all the more shocking. Yet within 30 years, Assyria conquered Israel (722 BC), deporting the population and ending the northern kingdom permanently. Amos's funeral dirge proved literally true: Israel died as a nation. This demonstrates that apparent prosperity doesn't guarantee security when covenant faithfulness is absent. Material success can mask spiritual death.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does pronouncing a funeral lament over living people underscore the certainty of divine judgment?
  2. What is the relationship between covenant privilege ("house of Israel") and covenant accountability in this passage?
  3. How should believers respond when seeing apparent prosperity in individuals or churches marked by spiritual unfaithfulness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
שִׁמְע֞וּ1 of 11

“Hear”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֶת2 of 11
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַדָּבָ֣ר3 of 11

“ye this word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

הַזֶּ֗ה4 of 11
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אֲשֶׁ֨ר5 of 11
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָנֹכִ֜י6 of 11
H595

i

נֹשֵׂ֧א7 of 11

“which I take up”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם8 of 11
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

קִינָ֖ה9 of 11

“against you even a lamentation”

H7015

a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments)

בֵּ֥ית10 of 11

“O house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃11 of 11

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

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 5:1 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 5:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 19:1Jeremiah 9:17Jeremiah 7:29Jeremiah 9:10Amos 3:1Amos 4:1

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