Amos 4:6-11

6 "But I gave you also ¹cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have ²not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

7 "Furthermore, I ³withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on ⁴another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.

8 "So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink ⁵water, But would ⁶not be satisfied; Yet you have ⁷not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

9 "I ⁸smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the ⁹caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have ¹⁰not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

10 "I sent a ¹¹plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I ¹²slew your young men by the sword along with your ¹³captured horses, And I made the ¹⁴stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have ¹⁵not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

11 "I overthrew you, as ¹⁶God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a ¹⁷firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have ¹⁸not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

Amos 4:6-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 4

In this chapter, the great ones, or the people of Israel, are threatened with calamities for their oppression of the poor, Am 4:1-3; and in an ironic manner are reproved for their idolatry, Am 4:4,5; then follows an enumeration of several judgments that had been upon them, yet had had no effect on them, to bring them to repentance, nor even mercies, Am 4:6-11; and notwithstanding all this, in a wonderful gracious manner, they are called upon to prepare to meet their God, who is described by his power, greatness, and goodness, Am 4:12,13.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 3:1; Jeremiah 14:18
• 2. Isaiah 9:13; Jeremiah 5:3; Haggai 2:17
• 3. Deuteronomy 11:17; 2 Chronicles 7:13; Isaiah 5:6
• 4. Exodus 9:4, 26; Exodus 10:22, 23
• 5. 1 Kings 18:5; Jeremiah 14:4
• 6. Ezekiel 4:16, 17; Haggai 1:6
• 7. Jeremiah 3:7
• 8. Deuteronomy 28:22; Haggai 2:17
• 9. Joel 1:4, 7; Amos 7:1, 2
• 10. Jeremiah 3:10
• 11. Exodus 9:3; Leviticus 26:25; Deuteronomy 28:27, 60; Psalms 78:50
• 12. Jeremiah 11:22; Jeremiah 18:21; Jeremiah 48:15
• 13. 2 Kings 13:3, 7
• 14. Joel 2:20
• 15. Isaiah 9:13
• 16. Genesis 19:24, 25; Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 13:19
• 17. Zechariah 3:2
• 18. Jeremiah 23:14