Amos 5:16-17

16 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, "There is ¹wailing in all the plazas, And in all the streets they say, 'Alas! Alas!' They also call the ²farmer to mourning And ³professional mourners to lamentation.

17 "And in all the ⁴vineyards there is wailing, Because I will pass through the midst of you," says the LORD.

Amos 5:16-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

In this chapter the prophet exhorts Israel to hear his lamentation over them for their impending ruin, Am 5:1-3; nevertheless to seek the Lord, and all that is good; to forsake their idols, and repent of their sins, in hopes of finding mercy, and living comfortably; or otherwise they must expect the wrath of God for their iniquities, especially their oppression of the poor, Am 5:4-15; otherwise it would be a time of weeping and wailing, of darkness and distress, however they might harden or flatter themselves, or make a jest of it, Am 5:16-20; for all their sacrifices and ceremonial worship would signify nothing, so long as they continued their idolatry with them Am 5:21-26; and therefore should surely go into captivity, Am 5:27.

Cross References

• 1. Jer 9:10, 18-20; Amos 8:3
• 2. Joel 1:11
• 3. 2 Chronicles 35:25; Jeremiah 9:17
• 4. Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 48:33

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "those who know lamentation"