Amos 4:8

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.

Amos 4:8 in Other Translations

KJV
8 So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
ESV
8 so two or three cities would wander to another city to drink water, and would not be satisfied; yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.
NLT
8 People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me,” says the LORD .
MSG
8 People would stagger from village to village crazed for water and never quenching their thirst. But you never got thirsty for me. You ignored me." God's Decree.
CSB
8 Two or three cities staggered to another city to drink water but were not satisfied, yet you did not return to Me- the Lord's declaration.

Amos 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 4:8

So two [or] three cities wandered unto one city, to drink
water
Two or three cities, that is, the inhabitants of them, being without water, went up and down in quest of any city or place where they could find water for themselves and cattle to drink: but they were not satisfied;
could not get enough for their present use and much less to carry back with them to supply them for any length of time; such a scarcity there was of it in other parts; see ( 1 Kings 18:5 1 Kings 18:6 ) ; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord;
this had no more effect upon them than the other to relinquish their former courses, and return unto the Lord by humiliation and repentance.

Amos 4:8 In-Context

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.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Ezekiel 4:16-17
  • 2. Haggai 1:6
  • 3. S Jeremiah 3:7
  • 4. S Job 36:31; S Jeremiah 14:4
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.