Amos 1:2
And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָה֙
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִצִּיּ֣וֹן
from Zion
H6726
מִצִּיּ֣וֹן
from Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
3 of 13
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
וּמִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
from Jerusalem
H3389
וּמִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
from Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
5 of 13
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
יִתֵּ֣ן
and utter
H5414
יִתֵּ֣ן
and utter
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
6 of 13
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הָרֹעִ֔ים
of the shepherds
H7462
הָרֹעִ֔ים
of the shepherds
Strong's:
H7462
Word #:
10 of 13
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
וְיָבֵ֖שׁ
shall wither
H3001
וְיָבֵ֖שׁ
shall wither
Strong's:
H3001
Word #:
11 of 13
to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)
Cross References
Joel 3:16The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.Jeremiah 25:30Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.Amos 9:3And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:Isaiah 42:13The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.Jeremiah 12:4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.Nahum 1:4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Historical Context
Amos prophesied during the mid-8th century BC under Jeroboam II's prosperous reign. Israel enjoyed territorial expansion and economic boom, breeding complacency and injustice. Amos, a Judean shepherd summoned to prophesy in northern Israel, was an unwelcome outsider delivering an unwanted message. His opening salvo—God roaring from Jerusalem—would have offended northern sensibilities since they had rejected Jerusalem's centrality, establishing competing shrines at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:25-33). Amos insists God's authority centers in Jerusalem, not rival sanctuaries.
Questions for Reflection
- How does imaging God as a roaring lion challenge domesticated, sentimental views of Him?
- What does it mean that God's voice has physical, observable effects on creation?
- How should the certainty of divine judgment shape evangelism and discipleship?
Analysis & Commentary
Amos opens with a theophanic announcement: "The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem." The verb sha'ag (roar) describes a lion's terrifying roar—primal power and imminent violence. Applying this to Yahweh communicates His terrifying holiness and sovereign authority. The geographic markers—Zion and Jerusalem—establish where God reigns and from where He exercises judgment. This isn't abstract theology but covenantal reality: God dwells in the midst of His people (Exodus 25:8) yet remains transcendent, holy, and fearsome. The consequences: "the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither." Mount Carmel, on Israel's northern coast, was proverbially fertile and lush (Isaiah 35:2, Song of Solomon 7:5). Its withering signals comprehensive judgment—if even Carmel dries up, nothing escapes. This teaches that when God speaks in judgment, creation responds—drought, earthquake, cosmic signs attend divine intervention.