King James Version

What Does Amos 5:3 Mean?

Amos 5:3 in the King James Version says “For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by a...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Amos 5:3 · 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.

4

For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

5

But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

Read Amos 5 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred (כִּי כֹה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה הָעִיר הַיֹּצֵאת אֶלֶף תַּשְׁאִיר מֵאָה, ki khoh amar Adonai YHWH ha'ir hayotset eleph tash'ir me'ah)—this verse quantifies the catastrophic military losses described in verse 2's funeral lament. The phrase "went out" (yatsa, יָצָא) means marching out to battle. Cities that fielded 1,000 soldiers will see 900 killed—90% casualty rate. The phrase and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten means cities fielding 100 soldiers will lose 90—again, 90% casualties. This isn't normal attrition but near-total annihilation.

The title "Lord GOD" combines Adonai (אֲדֹנָי, sovereign master) with YHWH (יְהוִה, the covenant name)—emphasizing both sovereign authority and covenant relationship. The Lord who made covenant with Israel now announces covenant curse. Deuteronomy 28:62 warned: "You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God." Amos announces this curse's fulfillment. The 90% casualty rate would devastate Israel's ability to field armies, ensuring swift conquest.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient warfare often involved entire male populations—cities contributed soldiers proportional to their size. A 90% loss rate would mean virtually every family losing fathers, sons, brothers. This scale of devastation actually occurred during Assyria's conquest. Assyrian annals boast of massive Israelite casualties and deportations. The northern kingdom never recovered—Assyria deported surviving elites and repopulated the land with foreigners, creating the mixed population later called Samaritans (2 Kings 17:24-41). Amos's specific numbers (1000→100, 100→10) emphasize the mathematical precision of coming judgment—not vague threat but specific prediction. When it literally fulfilled within 30 years, it vindicated Amos as true prophet.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do specific numerical predictions (90% casualties) demonstrate God's sovereign control over historical events?
  2. What does it mean that covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28) are as certain as covenant blessings?
  3. How should the church respond when seeing spiritual decline that mirrors Israel's trajectory toward judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
כִּ֣י1 of 16
H3588

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

כֹ֤ה2 of 16
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 16

“For thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י4 of 16

“the Lord”

H136

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

יְהוִ֔ה5 of 16

“GOD”

H3069

god

הָעִ֛יר6 of 16

“The city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

וְהַיּוֹצֵ֥את7 of 16

“and that which went forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶ֖לֶף8 of 16

“by a thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

תַּשְׁאִ֥יר9 of 16

“shall leave”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

מֵאָ֛ה10 of 16

“an hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

וְהַיּוֹצֵ֥את11 of 16

“and that which went forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מֵאָ֛ה12 of 16

“an hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

תַּשְׁאִ֥יר13 of 16

“shall leave”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

עֲשָׂרָ֖ה14 of 16

“ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

לְבֵ֥ית15 of 16

“to the house”

H1004

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

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃16 of 16

“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 5:3 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 5:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Romans 9:27Isaiah 10:22Isaiah 6:13Ezekiel 12:16Deuteronomy 28:62Deuteronomy 4:27

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