King James Version

What Does Amos 7:17 Mean?

Amos 7:17 in the King James Version says “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.”

Amos 7:17 · KJV

Context

15

And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. as: Heb. from behind

16

Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

17

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

Read Amos 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore thus saith the LORD—Amos pronounces specific judgment on Amaziah personally. Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city (אִשְׁתְּךָ בָעִיר תִּזְנֶה, ish't'cha va'ir tizneh)—likely raped by conquering soldiers, a common siege warfare atrocity (Isaiah 13:16; Zechariah 14:2). And thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword—his children will be killed. And thy land shall be divided by line (וְאַדְמָתְךָ בַחֶבֶל תְּחֻלָּק, v'admat'cha bachevel techulak)—his property will be parceled out to foreign settlers. And thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land (וְאַתָּה עַל־אֲדָמָה טְמֵאָה תָמוּת וְיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּלֹה יִגְלֶה מֵעַל אַדְמָתוֹ, v'atah al-adamah t'me'ah tamut v'Yisrael galoh yigleh me'al admato)—Amaziah will die in exile on unclean (טְמֵאָה, t'me'ah) foreign soil.

This is the prophet's authority to pronounce judgment (Matthew 18:18; John 20:23). Amaziah resisted God's word, so God's word judges him specifically. The progression—wife, children, land, death in exile—encompasses total loss. Resisting God's prophetic word brings not safety but heightened judgment.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

No record exists of Amaziah's fate, but this prophecy's specificity suggests it was remembered and likely fulfilled during Assyria's conquest. The principle holds: those who silence prophetic truth to preserve institutions face greater judgment than those they sought to protect from conviction.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does resisting prophetic truth bring judgment rather than protection from uncomfortable conviction?
  2. What does it mean for religious leaders to die 'in a polluted land'—separated from God's presence and promises?
  3. How should this warning shape how church leaders respond to biblical critique of their practices?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
לָכֵ֞ן1 of 24
H3651

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

כֹּה2 of 24
H3541

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

אָמַ֣ר3 of 24

“Therefore thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֗ה4 of 24

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אִשְׁתְּךָ֞5 of 24

“Thy wife”

H802

a woman

בָּעִ֤יר6 of 24

“in the city”

H5892

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

תִּזְנֶה֙7 of 24

“shall be an harlot”

H2181

to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (

וּבָנֶ֤יךָ8 of 24

“and thy sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וּבְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙9 of 24

“and thy daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

בַּחֶ֣רֶב10 of 24

“by the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

יִפֹּ֔לוּ11 of 24

“shall fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃12 of 24

“and thy land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

בַּחֶ֣בֶל13 of 24

“by line”

H2256

ruin

תְּחֻלָּ֑ק14 of 24

“shall be divided”

H2505

to be smooth (figuratively)

וְאַתָּ֗ה15 of 24
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

מֵעַ֥ל16 of 24

“in”

H5921

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

אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃17 of 24

“and thy land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

טְמֵאָה֙18 of 24

“a polluted”

H2931

foul in a religious sense

תָּמ֔וּת19 of 24

“and thou shalt die”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל20 of 24

“and Israel”

H3478

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

יִגְלֶ֖ה21 of 24

“go into captivity”

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

יִגְלֶ֖ה22 of 24

“go into captivity”

H1540

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

מֵעַ֥ל23 of 24

“in”

H5921

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

אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃24 of 24

“and thy land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

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 7:17 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 7:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hosea 9:32 Kings 17:6Ezekiel 4:13Jeremiah 28:16Hosea 4:13-14Jeremiah 29:31-32

Test Your Knowledge

Amos 7 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterAmos Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Amos 7 with CommentaryAll Amos ChaptersComplete Amos QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes