Amos
The Prophet of Justice from Tekoa
Amos was a shepherd and a grower of sycamore figs from Tekoa in Judah who was called by God to prophesy against the northern kingdom of Israel during the prosperous reign of King Jeroboam II. He was not a professional prophet, but an ordinary person who preached powerfully against social injustice, oppression of the poor, corrupt justice systems, and empty religion. Amos' core message was that God demands true justice and mercy, not merely outward rituals and sacrifices. His prophecies, dated "two years before the earthquake," warned of God's judgment on Israel if the people did not turn back.
Hechos clave
Called from the Flock
Amos was not a professional prophet or a son of a prophet, but was called by God while he was tending sheep and growing sycamore figs. He stated this clearly to the priest Amaziah in Bethel.
14Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet. I am a herdsman and a tender of sycamore figs.
וַיַּ֤עַן עָמוֹס֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־אֲמַצְיָ֔ה לֹא־נָבִ֣יא אָנֹ֔כִי וְלֹ֥א בֶן־נָבִ֖יא אָנֹ֑כִי כִּֽי־בוֹקֵ֥ר אָנֹ֖כִי וּבוֹלֵ֥ס שִׁקְמִֽים׃
15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
וַיִּקָּחֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י הַצֹּ֑אן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ יְהוָ֔ה לֵ֥ךְ הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
1The words of Amos, one of the sheep breeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
דִּבְרֵ֣י עָמ֔וֹס אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה בַנֹּקְדִ֖ים מִתְּק֑וֹעַ אֲשֶׁר֩ חָזָ֨ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בִּימֵ֣י ׀ עֻזִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה וּבִימֵ֞י יָרָבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־יוֹאָשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁנָתַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י הָרָֽעַשׁ׃
Judgment on the Nations
Amos prophesied God's judgment against Israel's neighboring nations—Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab—using the repeated phrase 'for three sins, even for four.' Finally, he turned his judgment toward Judah and Israel itself.
3This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not take it back*—because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron. [*Footnote: Literally "I will not turn it back"; that is, the LORD will not revoke the sentence he has decreed.]
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י דַמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־דּוּשָׁ֛ם בַּחֲרֻצ֥וֹת הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל אֶת־הַגִּלְעָֽד׃
6This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not take it back—because they carried a whole people into exile to hand them over to Edom.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י עַזָּ֔ה וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־הַגְלוֹתָ֛ם גָּל֥וּת שְׁלֵמָ֖ה לְהַסְגִּ֥יר לֶאֱדֽוֹם׃
9This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not take it back—because they handed over a whole people as captives to Edom and did not remember the covenant of brothers.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵי־צֹ֔ר וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַֽל־הַסְגִּירָ֞ם גָּל֤וּת שְׁלֵמָה֙ לֶאֱד֔וֹם וְלֹ֥א זָכְר֖וּ בְּרִ֥ית אַחִֽים׃
11This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not take it back—because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion, his anger tearing without ceasing, his fury kept forever.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־רָדְפ֨וֹ בַחֶ֤רֶב אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת רַחֲמָ֔יו וַיִּטְרֹ֤ף לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ וְעֶבְרָת֖וֹ שְׁמָ֥רָה נֶֽצַח׃
13This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not take it back—because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their border.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֔וֹן וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־בִּקְעָם֙ הָר֣וֹת הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמַ֖עַן הַרְחִ֥יב אֶת־גְּבוּלָֽם׃
4This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not relent — because they rejected the law of the LORD and did not keep his statutes, and their lies led them astray, the same lies their fathers followed.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַֽל־מָאֳסָ֞ם אֶת־תּוֹרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה וְחֻקָּיו֙ לֹ֣א שָׁמָ֔רוּ וַיַּתְעוּם֙ כִּזְבֵיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הָלְכ֥וּ אֲבוֹתָ֖ם אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃
6This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not relent — because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־מִכְרָ֤ם בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ צַדִּ֔יק וְאֶבְי֖וֹן בַּעֲב֥וּר נַעֲלָֽיִם׃
The Demand for Justice
Amos proclaimed that God rejects empty worship, festivals, and sacrifices, and instead demands that justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
21I hate, I despise your festivals; I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
שָׂנֵ֥אתִי מָאַ֖סְתִּי חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָרִ֖יחַ בְּעַצְּרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃
22Even if you bring me burnt offerings, I will not accept them; your grain offerings give me no pleasure, and I will not look at the fellowship offerings of your fattened cattle.
כִּ֣י אִם־תַּעֲלוּ־לִ֥י עֹל֛וֹת וּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֣א אֶרְצֶ֑ה וְשֶׁ֥לֶם מְרִיאֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א אַבִּֽיט׃
23Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the music of your harps.
הָסֵ֥ר מֵעָלַ֖י הֲמ֣וֹן שִׁרֶ֑יךָ וְזִמְרַ֥ת נְבָלֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶשְׁמָֽע׃
24But let justice roll on like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
וְיִגַּ֥ל כַּמַּ֖יִם מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה כְּנַ֥חַל אֵיתָֽן׃
Visions of God's Judgment
Amos received a series of visions from God: locusts, fire, a plumb line, and a basket of summer fruit, all illustrating the coming judgment on Israel.
1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: he was forming a swarm of locusts just as the late crop was beginning to come up—the late crop that follows the king's mowings.
כֹּ֤ה הִרְאַ֙נִי֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה וְהִנֵּה֙ יוֹצֵ֣ר גֹּבַ֔י בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת עֲל֣וֹת הַלָּ֑קֶשׁ וְהִ֨נֵּה־לֶ֔קֶשׁ אַחַ֖ר גִּזֵּ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
2And when they had finished devouring the vegetation of the land, I said, "Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! How can Jacob stand? He is so small."
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־כִּלָּה֙ לֶֽאֱכֹל֙ אֶת־עֵ֣שֶׂב הָאָ֔רֶץ וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ סְֽלַֽח־נָ֔א מִ֥י יָק֖וּם יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כִּ֥י קָטֹ֖ן הֽוּא׃
3The LORD relented concerning this. "It shall not be," said the LORD.
נִחַ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַל־זֹ֑את לֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
4This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and began to devour the farmland.
כֹּ֤ה הִרְאַ֙נִי֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה קֹרֵ֛א לָרִ֥ב בָּאֵ֖שׁ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ אֶת־תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֔ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אֶת־הַחֵֽלֶק׃
5Then I said, "Lord GOD, stop, I pray! How can Jacob stand? He is so small."
וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ חֲדַל־נָ֔א מִ֥י יָק֖וּם יַעֲקֹ֑ב כִּ֥י קָטֹ֖ן הֽוּא׃
6The LORD relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD.
נִחַ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַל־זֹ֑את גַּם־הִיא֙ לֹ֣א תִֽהְיֶ֔ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ ס
7This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing by a wall built with a plumb line, and in his hand was a plumb line.
כֹּ֣ה הִרְאַ֔נִי וְהִנֵּ֧ה אֲדֹנָ֛י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־חוֹמַ֣ת אֲנָ֑ךְ וּבְיָד֖וֹ אֲנָֽךְ׃
8And the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י מָֽה־אַתָּ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ עָמ֔וֹס וָאֹמַ֖ר אֲנָ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲדֹנָ֗י הִנְנִ֨י שָׂ֤ם אֲנָךְ֙ בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙ עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹֽא־אוֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד עֲב֥וֹר לֽוֹ׃
9The high places of Isaac shall be laid waste and the sanctuaries of Israel shall lie in ruins, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ בָּמ֣וֹת יִשְׂחָ֔ק וּמִקְדְּשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ וְקַמְתִּ֛י עַל־בֵּ֥ית יָרָבְעָ֖ם בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ פ
1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: a basket of summer fruit.
כֹּ֥ה הִרְאַ֖נִי אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה כְּל֥וּב קָֽיִץ׃
2He asked, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me, "The end has come for my people Israel; I will never again pass them by." [Footnote: The Hebrew word for "summer fruit" (qayits) sounds like the word for "end" (qets).]
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָֽה־אַתָּ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ עָמ֔וֹס וָאֹמַ֖ר כְּל֣וּב קָ֑יִץ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י בָּ֤א הַקֵּץ֙ אֶל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־אוֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד עֲב֥וֹר לֽוֹ׃
3"On that day the songs of the palace will turn to wailing," declares the Lord GOD. "Corpses will be everywhere—flung out in silence." [Footnote: Or "the songs of the temple."]
וְהֵילִ֜ילוּ שִׁיר֤וֹת הֵיכָל֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה רַ֣ב הַפֶּ֔גֶר בְּכָל־מָק֖וֹם הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ הָֽס׃ פ
Confrontation with Amaziah
The priest Amaziah at the sanctuary in Bethel accused Amos of conspiracy against King Jeroboam and tried to drive him back to Judah. Amos stood firm on his divine calling and pronounced judgment against Amaziah.
10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel: "Amos is plotting against you in the very midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot endure all his words.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֲמַצְיָה֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל אֶל־יָרָבְעָ֥ם מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר קָשַׁ֨ר עָלֶ֜יךָ עָמ֗וֹס בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־תוּכַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ לְהָכִ֖יל אֶת־כָּל־דְּבָרָֽיו׃
11For this is what Amos has said: 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away into exile from its own land.'"
כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר עָמ֔וֹס בַּחֶ֖רֶב יָמ֣וּת יָרָבְעָ֑ם וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל גָּלֹ֥ה יִגְלֶ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ ס
12And Amaziah said to Amos, "Go away, seer! Flee to the land of Judah. Eat your bread there, and prophesy there.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲמַצְיָה֙ אֶל־עָמ֔וֹס חֹזֶ֕ה לֵ֥ךְ בְּרַח־לְךָ֖ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֑ה וֶאֱכָל־שָׁ֣ם לֶ֔חֶם וְשָׁ֖ם תִּנָּבֵֽא׃
13But never prophesy again at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple."
וּבֵֽית־אֵ֔ל לֹֽא־תוֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לְהִנָּבֵ֑א כִּ֤י מִקְדַּשׁ־מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ ה֔וּא וּבֵ֥ית מַמְלָכָ֖ה הֽוּא׃ ס
14Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet. I am a herdsman and a tender of sycamore figs.
וַיַּ֤עַן עָמוֹס֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־אֲמַצְיָ֔ה לֹא־נָבִ֣יא אָנֹ֔כִי וְלֹ֥א בֶן־נָבִ֖יא אָנֹ֑כִי כִּֽי־בוֹקֵ֥ר אָנֹ֖כִי וּבוֹלֵ֥ס שִׁקְמִֽים׃
15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
וַיִּקָּחֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י הַצֹּ֑אן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ יְהוָ֔ה לֵ֥ךְ הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
16Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
וְעַתָּ֖ה שְׁמַ֣ע דְּבַר־יְהוָ֑ה אַתָּ֣ה אֹמֵ֗ר לֹ֤א תִנָּבֵא֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹ֥א תַטִּ֖יף עַל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂחָֽק׃
17Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword. Your land shall be divided up with a measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely be led away into exile from its own land.'"
לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֞ בָּעִ֤יר תִּזְנֶה֙ וּבָנֶ֤יךָ וּבְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֔לוּ וְאַדְמָתְךָ֖ בַּחֶ֣בֶל תְּחֻלָּ֑ק וְאַתָּ֗ה עַל־אֲדָמָ֤ה טְמֵאָה֙ תָּמ֔וּת וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל גָּלֹ֥ה יִגְלֶ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ ס