King James Version

What Does Amos 7:2 Mean?

Amos 7:2 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. by: or, who of (or, for,) Jacob shall stand?”

Amos 7:2 · KJV

Forgiveness

Context

1

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. grasshoppers: or, green worms

2

And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. by: or, who of (or, for,) Jacob shall stand?

3

The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

4

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee (וְהָיָה אִם־כִּלָּה לֶאֱכוֹל אֶת־עֵשֶׂב הָאָרֶץ וָאֹמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה סְלַח־נָא)—in this vision, Amos sees the locust swarm about to devour Israel's crops completely. The phrase "made an end of eating" (killah le'ekhol, כִּלָּה לֶאֱכוֹל) indicates total consumption, leaving nothing. At this critical moment, Amos intercedes: "forgive, I beseech thee" (selach-na, סְלַח־נָא). The verb salach (סָלַח, "forgive/pardon") appears almost exclusively with God as subject—only God can truly forgive covenant violations.

By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small (מִי יָקוּם יַעֲקֹב כִּי קָטֹן הוּא)—Amos's intercessory plea uses the name "Jacob" rather than "Israel," emphasizing the nation's vulnerability and dependence on divine grace. The verb qum (קוּם, "arise/stand") asks who will sustain or restore Jacob if this judgment falls. The description "he is small" (qaton hu, קָטֹן הוּא) doesn't refer to population size but to helplessness and insignificance apart from God. This is the language of covenant relationship—Moses used similar intercession after the golden calf (Exodus 32:11-14), as did Abraham for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-32).

Amos's intercession demonstrates the prophet's mediatorial role. Though commissioned to announce judgment, he doesn't delight in destruction but pleads for mercy. This foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Prophet-Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25), who ever lives to make intercession. The passage teaches that God's warnings are meant to provoke repentance and intercession, not fatalistic resignation. Verse 3 reveals God's response: "The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD." Divine "repentance" (nacham, נָחַם) means God relents from announced judgment when conditions change—here, because of prophetic intercession. This doesn't contradict God's immutability (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29) but demonstrates His responsiveness within covenant relationship. Prayer matters; intercession moves God's hand.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This vision likely occurred early in Amos's prophetic ministry, before Israel's impenitence had exhausted divine patience. The locust imagery recalls Joel's locust plague (Joel 1:4-7, 2:25), which devastated Judah and prompted national repentance. Locusts were covenant curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:38, 42), capable of destroying entire harvests in hours. Ancient Near Eastern texts document locust plagues' catastrophic impact on agriculture and economy.

Amos's double intercession (verses 2 and 5) successfully delays judgment, showing God's patience and the power of prophetic prayer. However, verses 7-9 and chapter 8 reveal a shift: God declares "I will not again pass by them any more" (7:8, 8:2). Israel's persistent refusal to repent eventually exhausted divine forbearance. The intercession pattern—warning, prayer, delay, repeated warning, final judgment—appears throughout Scripture (Abraham for Sodom, Moses for Israel, prophets for Judah). God gives multiple opportunities for repentance before executing final judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Amos's intercession for Israel despite their sin model Christ's intercessory ministry for believers?
  2. What does it mean that prayer can move God to relent from announced judgment without contradicting His sovereignty?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְהָיָ֗ה1 of 18
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

אִם2 of 18
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

כִּלָּה֙3 of 18

“And it came to pass that when they had made an end”

H3615

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

לֶֽאֱכוֹל֙4 of 18

“of eating”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

אֶת5 of 18
H853

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

עֵ֣שֶׂב6 of 18

“the grass”

H6212

grass (or any tender shoot)

הָאָ֔רֶץ7 of 18

“of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וָאֹמַ֗ר8 of 18

“then I said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֤י9 of 18

“O Lord”

H136

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

יְהוִה֙10 of 18
H3068

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

סְֽלַֽח11 of 18

“forgive”

H5545

to forgive

נָ֔א12 of 18
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

מִ֥י13 of 18
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יָק֖וּם14 of 18

“arise”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב15 of 18

“I beseech thee by whom shall Jacob”

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

כִּ֥י16 of 18
H3588

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

קָטֹ֖ן17 of 18

“for he is small”

H6996

abbreviated, i.e., diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)

הֽוּא׃18 of 18
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

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 7:2 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 7:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 37:4Ezekiel 11:13Jeremiah 42:2Exodus 10:15Jeremiah 14:20-21Ezekiel 9:8

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