Amos 4:6-13

6 “I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
7 “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.
8 People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
9 “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
10 “I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
11 “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.”
13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name.

Amos 4:6-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 4

In this chapter, the great ones, or the people of Israel, are threatened with calamities for their oppression of the poor, Am 4:1-3; and in an ironic manner are reproved for their idolatry, Am 4:4,5; then follows an enumeration of several judgments that had been upon them, yet had had no effect on them, to bring them to repentance, nor even mercies, Am 4:6-11; and notwithstanding all this, in a wonderful gracious manner, they are called upon to prepare to meet their God, who is described by his power, greatness, and goodness, Am 4:12,13.

Cross References 25

  • 1. S Isaiah 3:1; S Isaiah 9:13; S Jeremiah 5:3; Haggai 2:17
  • 2. S Jeremiah 3:3; Zechariah 14:17
  • 3. Exodus 9:4,26; Deuteronomy 11:17; S 2 Chronicles 7:13; S Isaiah 5:6
  • 4. S Ezekiel 4:16-17
  • 5. Haggai 1:6
  • 6. S Jeremiah 3:7
  • 7. S Job 36:31; S Jeremiah 14:4
  • 8. S Deuteronomy 28:22
  • 9. S Exodus 10:13; S Joel 2:25
  • 10. Joel 1:7
  • 11. S Isaiah 9:13; S Jeremiah 3:10; Haggai 2:17
  • 12. S Exodus 9:3; Deuteronomy 28:27
  • 13. Exodus 11:5
  • 14. S Isaiah 9:17
  • 15. S Isaiah 34:3
  • 16. S Deuteronomy 28:21
  • 17. S Isaiah 9:13
  • 18. S Genesis 19:24; S Jeremiah 23:14
  • 19. S Isaiah 7:4; Jude 1:23
  • 20. S Job 36:13
  • 21. Psalms 65:6
  • 22. Psalms 135:7
  • 23. S Daniel 2:28
  • 24. Micah 1:3
  • 25. S Isaiah 47:4; Amos 5:8,27; Amos 9:6
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