King James Version

What Does Amos 5:8 Mean?

Amos 5:8 in the King James Version says “Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dar...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:”

Amos 5:8 · KJV

Context

6

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.

7

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,

8

Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

9

That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. spoiled: Heb. spoil

10

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion (עֹשֵׂה כִימָה וּכְסִיל, oseh Khimah uKhesil)—after condemning injustice (v. 7), Amos declares God's identity as Creator. "Seven stars" (Khimah, כִּימָה) likely refers to the Pleiades star cluster. "Orion" (Khesil, כְּסִיל) is the constellation. Both appear together in Job 9:9, 38:31. God who created these celestial bodies controls cosmic order. The phrase turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night (vehophekh laboqer tsalmavet veyom layelah hechshikh, וְהֹפֵךְ לַבֹּקֶר צַלְמָוֶת וְיוֹם לַיְלָה הֶחְשִׁיךְ) describes God's sovereign control over light and darkness. "Shadow of death" (tsalmavet, צַלְמָוֶת) means deep darkness or death itself—God transforms it into morning light (salvation, deliverance). Yet He also darkens day into night (judgment, calamity).

The verse continues: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name (haqore lemeimei-hayam vayishpekhem al-penei ha'arets YHWH shemo, הַקֹּרֵא לְמֵימֵי־הַיָּם וַיִּשְׁפְּכֵם עַל־פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ יְהוָה שְׁמוֹ). God controls the hydrologic cycle—summoning sea waters and pouring rain upon earth. The climax "The LORD is his name" (YHWH shemo, יְהוָה שְׁמוֹ) reveals the Creator's identity as Yahweh, Israel's covenant God. This doxology (repeated in 4:13, 5:8, 9:5-6) celebrates God's power and sovereignty, contrasting His cosmic authority with Israel's petty injustice.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient peoples often worshiped celestial bodies and natural forces as deities. Israel's neighbors served Baal (storm/fertility god), Astarte (associated with Venus), and other astral deities. By celebrating Yahweh as Creator of stars, controller of day/night cycles, and sovereign over rain, Amos declares these forces aren't independent gods but Yahweh's servants. This echoes Genesis 1 where sun, moon, and stars are mere creatures, not deities. The doxologies in Amos (4:13, 5:8-9, 9:5-6) likely drew from existing hymnic material celebrating Yahweh as Creator. By placing these hymns within judgment oracles, Amos declares: the God who created the cosmos will judge His rebel people. If He controls stars, darkness, and seas, He certainly controls history and Israel's destiny.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does celebrating God as Creator of stars and controller of light/darkness relate to His moral governance and judgment?
  2. Why does Amos interrupt judgment oracles with doxologies praising God's creative power?
  3. What is the significance of declaring "The LORD [Yahweh] is his name" after describing cosmic sovereignty?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
עֹשֵׂ֨ה1 of 18

“Seek him that maketh”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

כִימָ֜ה2 of 18

“the seven stars”

H3598

a cluster of stars, i.e., the pleiades

וּכְסִ֗יל3 of 18

“and Orion”

H3685

any notable constellation; specifically orion (as if a burly one)

וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ4 of 18

“and turneth”

H2015

to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert

לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙5 of 18

“into the morning”

H1242

properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning

צַלְמָ֔וֶת6 of 18

“the shadow of death”

H6757

shade of death, i.e., the grave (figuratively, calamity)

וְי֖וֹם7 of 18

“and maketh the day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

לַ֣יְלָה8 of 18

“with night”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ9 of 18

“dark”

H2821

to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken

הַקּוֹרֵ֣א10 of 18

“that calleth”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

לְמֵֽי11 of 18

“for the waters”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

הַיָּ֗ם12 of 18

“of the sea”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם13 of 18

“and poureth them out”

H8210

to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc

עַל14 of 18
H5921

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

פְּנֵ֥י15 of 18

“upon the face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הָאָ֖רֶץ16 of 18

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

יְהוָ֥ה17 of 18

“The LORD”

H3068

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

שְׁמֽוֹ׃18 of 18

“is his name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

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 5:8 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 5:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 4:13Job 9:9Amos 9:6Psalms 104:20Amos 8:9Job 38:31-32

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