Amos 8:1-3

The Coming Day of Bitter Mourning

1 1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit.
2 And he said, 2"Amos, what do you see?" And I said, 3"A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me, 4"The end[a] has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass by them.
3 5The songs of the temple[b]6shall become wailings[c] in that day," declares the Lord GOD. 7"So many dead bodies!" "They are thrown everywhere!" 8"Silence!"

Amos 8:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 8

In this chapter a fourth vision is delivered, the vision of a "basket of summer fruit"; signifying the destruction of the ten tribes, for which they were ripe, and which would quickly come upon them, Am 8:1-3; the rich are reproved for their oppression of the poor, their covetousness and earthly mindedness, Am 8:4-6; for which they are threatened with entire ruin, sudden calamities, and very mournful times, instead of light, joy, and gladness, Am 8:7-10; and particularly with a famine of hearing the word of God, Am 8:11,12; the consequence of which would be, a fainting of the young men and virgins for thirst, and the utter and irrecoverable ruin of all idolaters, Am 8:13,14.

Cross References 8

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. The Hebrew words for end and summer fruit sound alike
  • [b]. Or palace
  • [c]. Or The singing women of the palace shall wail
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.