Amos 3:3-8

3 Do two walk together unless they have met?

4 Does a lion roar in the forest {when he has no prey}? Does a fierce, young lion cry out from his den unless he has caught [something]?

5 Does a bird fall into a trapping net on the earth when there is no snare for it? Does a trapping net spring up from the ground unless it has certainly caught something?

6 Or is a horn blown in a city and people are not afraid? Or does a disaster occur in the city and Yahweh has not done [it]?

7 Surely my Lord does not do anything unless he has revealed his secret to his servants the prophets.

8 A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? My Lord Yahweh has spoken, who will not prophesy?

Amos 3:3-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 3

In this chapter the prophet goes on with his prophecy against Israel, whom God had highly favoured, and yet sinned against him, and therefore must expect to be punished by him; and the rather, since he and they were not agreed; and therefore there could be no communion between them, Am 3:1-3; and by various similes are set forth the cause of divine judgments, the certain design of them, and their continuance, till the end is answered; which should be attended to, since every thing of this kind is of God, who giving his prophets notice of it, they are under an absolute necessity of declaring it; nor should they be blamed for it, Am 3:4-8; and even the Heathen nations are appealed unto as witnesses of the sins of Israel, that caused such a denunciation of wrath; their tumults, oppression, injustice, violence, and robbery, Am 3:9,10; wherefore an adversary is threatened to be sent among them, that should utterly destroy them, so that few should escape, Am 3:11,12; particularly their idolatry and luxury seem to have been reigning sins, which had a great hand in bringing on their rum, and for which the Lord would punish them, Am 3:13-15.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "and there is no prey to him"