King James Version

What Does Amos 8:2 Mean?

Amos 8:2 in the King James Version says “And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come up...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.”

Amos 8:2 · KJV

Context

1

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.

2

And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

3

And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence. shall be howlings: Heb. shall howl with: Heb. be silent

4

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

Read Amos 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel—God asks what Amos sees, receives his answer, then delivers the interpretation through devastating wordplay. Summer fruit (קַיִץ, qayits) sounds like end (קֵץ, qets)—the phonetic similarity drives home the message: Israel's summer (qayits) means their end (qets). This Hebrew pun makes the judgment unmistakable and memorable.

The declaration The end is come (בָּא הַקֵּץ, ba haqets) echoes Ezekiel's later prophecy against Jerusalem: "An end is come, the end is come" (Ezekiel 7:2, 6). The verb bo (בּוֹא, "come/arrive") presents judgment as imminent reality, not distant possibility. The phrase upon my people of Israel (אֶל־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, el-ammi Yisrael) is heartbreaking—despite covenant violation, they remain "my people," yet this doesn't avert judgment but intensifies it (recall 3:2: "You only have I known... therefore I will punish you").

The final declaration I will not again pass by them any more (לֹא־אוֹסִיף עוֹד עֲבוֹר לוֹ, lo-osif od avor lo) repeats 7:8's refrain, emphasizing divine decision. The phrase "pass by" (avor) means "overlook" or "spare"—God will no longer extend mercy. This doesn't mean God stops loving Israel but that His holy justice now demands execution of covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28). The repetition "any more" (od, "again/still") underscores finality—the age of warnings has ended; judgment arrives. Within 30 years, Assyria fulfilled this prophecy (722 BC).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Amos prophesied during Jeroboam II's prosperous reign (793-753 BC), approximately 30-40 years before Assyria conquered Israel (722 BC). This gap demonstrates God's patience—even after declaring "the end is come," God gave decades for repentance. Yet Israel's subsequent kings (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, Hoshea) continued wickedness, sealing their fate. Assyrian records confirm brutal conquest, mass deportation, and resettlement of foreign peoples in Israel's territory (2 Kings 17:1-6, 24).

The "end" (qets) wasn't merely political defeat but covenant termination—the northern kingdom never returned from exile. Unlike Judah, who returned after 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10), the ten northern tribes were permanently scattered. Amos's prophecy proved devastatingly accurate.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's patience in delaying judgment for decades after declaring "the end is come" demonstrate both His mercy and the danger of presuming on that mercy?
  2. What does it mean that covenant relationship with God increases rather than decreases accountability, and how does this apply to Christians today?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 21

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מָֽה2 of 21
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אַתָּ֤ה3 of 21
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

רֹאֶה֙4 of 21

“what seest”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

עָמ֔וֹס5 of 21

“Amos”

H5986

amos, an israelite prophet

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר6 of 21

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כְּל֣וּב7 of 21

“A basket”

H3619

a bird-trap (as furnished with a clap-stick or treadle to spring it); hence, a basket (as resembling a wicker cage)

קָ֑יִץ8 of 21

“of summer fruit”

H7019

harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר9 of 21

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֜ה10 of 21

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֵלַ֗י11 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בָּ֤א12 of 21

“is come”

H935

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

הַקֵּץ֙13 of 21

“unto me The end”

H7093

an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after

אֶל14 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

עַמִּ֣י15 of 21

“upon my people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל16 of 21

“of Israel”

H3478

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

לֹא17 of 21
H3808

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

אוֹסִ֥יף18 of 21

“I will not again”

H3254

to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)

ע֖וֹד19 of 21
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

עֲב֥וֹר20 of 21

“pass”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

לֽוֹ׃21 of 21
H0

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 8:2 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 8:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 7:8Lamentations 4:18Micah 7:1Jeremiah 1:11-14Jeremiah 5:31Ezekiel 8:6

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