King James Version

What Does Amos 8:11 Mean?

Amos 8:11 in the King James Version says “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst fo... — study this verse from Amos chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Amos 8:11 · KJV


Context

9

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

10

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

11

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

12

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

13

In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Amos prophesies a devastating judgment worse than physical famine: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." The Hebrew hinneh yamim ba'im ne'um Adonai YHWH vehishlachti ra'av ba'aretz lo-ra'av lalechem velo-tzama lamayim ki im-lishmo'a et divrei-YHWH (הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ לֹא־רָעָב לַלֶּחֶם וְלֹא־צָמָא לַמַּיִם כִּי אִם־לִשְׁמֹעַ אֵת דִּבְרֵי־יְהוָה) describes divine silence as judgment.

The phrase "famine... of hearing the words of the LORD" (ra'av... lishmo'a et divrei-YHWH) is terrifying. Physical famine starves the body; spiritual famine starves the soul. Israel had rejected God's prophets (2:12, 7:12-13), silenced His messengers, and refused His word. Now God will grant their wish—removing His prophetic voice. They'll desperately seek divine guidance but find none (verse 12: "they shall wander from sea to sea... seeking the word of the LORD, and shall not find it").

This judgment demonstrates a sobering principle: God's patience has limits. When people persistently reject His word, He eventually withdraws it. Proverbs 1:24-28 warns: "Because I have called, and ye refused... then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer." Similarly, Ezekiel 7:26 prophesies: "they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients." The ultimate form of divine judgment isn't destruction but abandonment—God giving people over to their chosen path (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).

For the church, this warns against despising preaching, ignoring Scripture, and silencing prophetic voices. Revelation 2-3 threatens removal of lampstands (churches) that lose first love or tolerate false teaching. Yet the New Covenant promise assures that God will never completely withdraw His word from His people—Christ promised the Spirit would guide into all truth (John 16:13), and His word endures forever (1 Peter 1:25). Still, individuals and churches can experience spiritual famine when they persistently reject sound doctrine. As 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns: "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine... and they shall turn away their ears from the truth."

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Historical & Cultural Context

Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC). This was a time of territorial expansion and economic boom, creating massive wealth inequality. The wealthy elite oppressed the poor through debt slavery, corrupt courts, and economic exploitation. Despite maintaining elaborate worship at Bethel and Dan, Israel had abandoned covenant faithfulness for social injustice and religious syncretism. Amos condemned their exploitation of the vulnerable while predicting imminent judgment through Assyrian conquest. His prophecies were fulfilled when Assyria destroyed Israel in 722 BC, about 30 years after his ministry.

Amos was contemporary with Hosea and ministered during Israel's last period of prosperity before destruction. As a southerner from Judah called to prophesy in northern Israel, he was an unwelcome outsider delivering an unwanted message. His emphasis on social justice and his declaration that religious ritual cannot substitute for righteousness make his message perpetually relevant.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Amos 8:11 deepen your understanding of God's character, particularly His holiness, justice, and mercy?
  2. What specific attitudes, thought patterns, or behaviors does this verse call you to examine and change in light of the gospel?
  3. How does this passage point forward to Christ and His redemptive work, and how should that shape your worship and obedience?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
הִנֵּ֣ה׀1 of 21
H2009

lo!

יָמִ֣ים2 of 21

Behold the days

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

בָּאִ֗ים3 of 21

come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

נְאֻם֙4 of 21

saith

H5002

an oracle

אֲדֹנָ֣י5 of 21

the Lord

H136

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

יְהוִ֔ה6 of 21

GOD

H3069

god

וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּ֥י7 of 21

that I will send

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

רָעָ֤ב8 of 21

a famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

בָּאָ֑רֶץ9 of 21

in the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

לֹֽא10 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

רָעָ֤ב11 of 21

a famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

לַלֶּ֙חֶם֙12 of 21

of bread

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

וְלֹֽא13 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

צָמָ֣א14 of 21

nor a thirst

H6772

thirst (literally or figuratively)

לַמַּ֔יִם15 of 21

for water

H4325

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

כִּ֣י16 of 21
H3588

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

אִם17 of 21
H518

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

לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ18 of 21

but of hearing

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֵ֖ת19 of 21
H853

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

דִּבְרֵ֥י20 of 21

the words

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

יְהוָֽה׃21 of 21

of 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 8:11 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 8:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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