King James Version

What Does Amos 9:3 Mean?

Amos 9:3 in the King James Version says “And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid fro...” — study this verse from Amos chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:”

Amos 9:3 · KJV

Context

1

I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. lintel: or, chapiter, or, knop cut: or, wound them

2

Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

3

And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

4

And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

5

And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence (וְאִם־יֵחָבְאוּ בְּרֹאשׁ הַכַּרְמֶל מִשָּׁם אֲחַפֵּשׂ וּלְקַחְתִּים)—Mount Carmel, a densely forested mountain range, provided countless hiding places in caves and thickets. The verb chapes (חָפַשׂ, "search") describes thorough, determined seeking that will succeed. Though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them (וְאִם־יִסָּתְרוּ מִנֶּגֶד עֵינַי בְּקַרְקַע הַיָּם מִשָּׁם אֲצַוֶּה אֶת־הַנָּחָשׁ וּנְשָׁכָם)—even the sea's depths offer no refuge. The nachash (נָחָשׁ, serpent) likely refers to sea creatures (possibly sea serpents of ancient mythology, or literally dangerous sea animals), but symbolically evokes the serpent of Genesis 3—all creation, even that which represents chaos and danger, obeys God's command.

The progression is deliberate: vertical extremes (heaven/hell) in verse 2, then horizontal hiding places (Carmel's forests, sea's depths) in verse 3. Every conceivable refuge fails. The verb tsavah (צָוָה, "command") emphasizes that all creatures—even dangerous serpents—are God's instruments. This echoes Jonah's experience: he fled to the sea to escape God's command, but God commanded both storm (Jonah 1:4) and great fish (Jonah 1:17) to accomplish His purposes. Nature isn't neutral—it obeys its Creator, even when executing judgment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Mount Carmel, located on Israel's Mediterranean coast, featured dense forests and numerous caves—ideal hiding places. Elijah confronted Baal's prophets there (1 Kings 18), making it symbolically significant for true versus false worship. The sea held mythological terror in ancient Israel—representing chaos and danger (cf. Leviathan in Job 41, Psalm 74:13-14, Isaiah 27:1). Amos declares that neither the most secure land refuge nor the most terrifying sea depth can shield from Yahweh's judgment. This would have been particularly striking to an agricultural people who feared the sea and viewed dense forests as dangerous.

Reflection Questions

  1. What modern equivalents to Mount Carmel or the sea depths do people use to hide from God—wealth, busyness, intellectual skepticism, moral relativism?
  2. How does Jesus's claim to authority over wind and waves (Mark 4:39-41) connect to Amos's declaration that even the serpent obeys God's command?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְאִם1 of 18
H518

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

יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙2 of 18

“And though they hide”

H2244

to secrete

בְּרֹ֣אשׁ3 of 18

“themselves in the top”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל4 of 18

“of Carmel”

H3760

karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in palestine

מִשָּׁ֥ם5 of 18
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ6 of 18

“I will search”

H2664

to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e., let be sought), or mask

וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים7 of 18

“and take them out”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

וְאִם8 of 18
H518

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

יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ9 of 18

“thence and though they be hid”

H5641

to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively

מִנֶּ֤גֶד10 of 18
H5048

a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before

עֵינַי֙11 of 18

“from my sight”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

בְּקַרְקַ֣ע12 of 18

“in the bottom”

H7172

floor (as if a pavement of pieces or tesseroe), of a building or the sea

הַיָּ֔ם13 of 18

“of the sea”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

מִשָּׁ֛ם14 of 18
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

אֲצַוֶּ֥ה15 of 18

“thence will I command”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

אֶת16 of 18
H853

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

הַנָּחָ֖שׁ17 of 18

“the serpent”

H5175

a snake (from its hiss)

וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃18 of 18

“and he shall bite”

H5391

to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan

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 9:3 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 9:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 16:16Jeremiah 23:23-24Isaiah 27:1Job 34:22Psalms 139:9-11Amos 1:2

Places in This Verse

Mount CarmelMountain · Modern: Mount Carmel · 32.67°N, 35.02°E18 verses across 9 books
View all places in Amos 9 →

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