Amos 8:9-11

9 "It will come about in that day," declares the Lord GOD, "That I will make the ¹sun go down at noon And ²make the earth dark in broad daylight *.

10 "Then I will ³turn your festivals into mourning And all your songs into lamentation; And I will bring ⁴sackcloth on everyone's loins And baldness on every head. And I will make it ⁵like a time of mourning for an only son, And the end of it will be like a bitter day.

11 "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather * ⁶for hearing the words of the LORD.

Amos 8:9-11 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

• 1. Job 5:14; Isaiah 13:10; Jeremiah 15:9; Micah 3:6
• 2. Isaiah 59:9, 10; Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8
• 3. Job 20:23; Amos 5:21
• 4. Isaiah 15:2, 3; Jeremiah 48:37; Ezekiel 7:18; Ezekiel 27:31
• 5. Jeremiah 6:26; Zechariah 12:10
• 6. 1 Samuel 3:1; 2 Chronicles 15:3; Psalms 74:9; Ezekiel 7:26; Micah 3:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "a day of light"
• [b]. Or "a dirge"