King James Version

What Does Amos 9:15 Mean?

Amos 9:15 in the King James Version says “And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, sa...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”

Amos 9:15 · KJV

Context

13

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. soweth: Heb. draweth forth sweet: or, new

14

And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

15

And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Read Amos 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God (וּנְטַעְתִּים עַל־אַדְמָתָם וְלֹא יִנָּתְשׁוּ עוֹד מֵעַל אַדְמָתָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָהֶם אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, un'ta'tim al-admatam v'lo yinat'shu od me'al admatam asher natati lahem amar YHWH Eloheicha)—The metaphor shifts from building/planting to permanent rooting. נָטַע (nata, 'to plant') suggests God Himself plants them; נָתַשׁ (natash, 'to uproot, pluck up') will never again occur. The phrase no more (לֹא...עוֹד, lo...od) emphasizes permanence. Saith the LORD thy God—Amos ends with intimate covenant language: not merely יְהוָה (YHWH) but יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (YHWH Eloheicha, 'the LORD your God')—covenant relationship restored.

This final verse promises permanent security for God's people. While physical Israel experienced repeated exile, the ultimate fulfillment comes through Christ—believers are 'in Christ' permanently (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39). No power can uproot those God plants in Christ. The book that began with judgment roars ends with grace whispers—God's last word is always restoration.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The return from Babylonian exile only partially fulfilled this—they rebuilt but remained under foreign domination (Persian, Greek, Roman) and experienced another exile in 70 AD. Full, permanent restoration awaits Christ's return, when God's people inherit the renewed earth (Revelation 21-22).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's promise of permanent planting provide assurance to believers eternally secure in Christ?
  2. What's the relationship between Old Testament land promises and New Testament spiritual inheritance in Christ?
  3. How should Amos's pattern—judgment leading to restoration—shape how we understand God's discipline and ultimate purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וּנְטַעְתִּ֖ים1 of 14

“And I will plant”

H5193

properly, to strike in, i.e., fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively)

עַל2 of 14
H5921

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

אַדְמָתָם֙3 of 14

“out of their land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

וְלֹ֨א4 of 14
H3808

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

יִנָּתְשׁ֜וּ5 of 14

“and they shall no more be pulled up”

H5428

to tear away

ע֗וֹד6 of 14
H5750

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

מֵעַ֤ל7 of 14
H5921

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

אַדְמָתָם֙8 of 14

“out of their land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר9 of 14
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נָתַ֣תִּי10 of 14

“which I have given”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָהֶ֔ם11 of 14
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

אָמַ֖ר12 of 14

“them saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֥ה13 of 14

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃14 of 14

“thy God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

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 9:15 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 9:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 24:6Ezekiel 37:25Isaiah 60:21Ezekiel 34:28Joel 3:20Jeremiah 32:41

Test Your Knowledge

Amos 9 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterAmos Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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