King James Version

What Does Amos 5:17 Mean?

Amos 5:17 in the King James Version says “And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.” — study this verse from Amos chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.”

Amos 5:17 · KJV

Context

15

Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

16

Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

17

And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.

18

Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

19

As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

Read Amos 5 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
In all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD (uvekhol-keramim misped ki e'evor beqirbeka amar YHWH, וּבְכָל־כְּרָמִים מִסְפֵּד כִּי אֶעֱבֹר בְּקִרְבְּךָ אָמַר יְהוָה)—vineyards were normally places of joy and celebration, associated with harvest festivals, abundance, and gladness (Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 48:33). That even vineyards will echo with wailing (misped, מִסְפֵּד) shows total reversal—joy transformed into grief.

The phrase I will pass through thee (e'evor beqirbeka, אֶעֱבֹר בְּקִרְבְּךָ) deliberately echoes Exodus 12:12: "I will pass through the land of Egypt." In Egypt, God passed through in judgment but passed over Israel, sparing them (Exodus 12:23, 27). Now God announces He will pass through Israel—not past them in protection but through them in judgment. The Passover imagery is inverted: once God's judgment struck Israel's enemies while protecting them; now His judgment will strike Israel itself for covenant violation. This is devastating reversal—from protected to punished, from blessed to cursed.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Vineyards represented prosperity and covenant blessing—Israel was God's vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). By Amos's time, wealthy landowners had seized vineyards from small farmers (Amos 5:11), making them symbols of oppression rather than blessing. God's judgment would transform these symbols of ill-gotten wealth into scenes of mourning. When Assyria invaded (722 BC), agricultural devastation accompanied military conquest—exactly as Amos predicted.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the inversion of Passover imagery (God passing through Israel rather than over them) emphasize the seriousness of covenant violation?
  2. In what ways do Christians sometimes presume God's protection while ignoring His call to faithfulness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
וּבְכָל1 of 8
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

כְּרָמִ֖ים2 of 8

“And in all vineyards”

H3754

a garden or vineyard

מִסְפֵּ֑ד3 of 8

“shall be wailing”

H4553

a lamentation

כִּֽי4 of 8
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אֶעֱבֹ֥ר5 of 8

“for I will pass”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖6 of 8

“through”

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

אָמַ֥ר7 of 8

“thee 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 5:17 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 5:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 12:12Isaiah 16:10Jeremiah 48:33Nahum 1:15Isaiah 32:10-12Joel 3:17

Test Your Knowledge

Amos 5 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterAmos Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Amos 5 with CommentaryAll Amos ChaptersComplete Amos QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes