Amos 2:16

Authorized King James Version

And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְאַמִּ֥יץ
And he that is courageous
strong or (abstractly) strength
#2
לִבּ֖וֹ
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#3
בַּגִּבּוֹרִ֑ים
among the mighty
powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant
#4
עָר֛וֹם
naked
nude, either partially or totally
#5
יָנ֥וּס
shall flee away
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
#6
בַּיּוֹם
in that day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#7
הַה֖וּא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#8
נְאֻם
saith
an oracle
#9
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Amos Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection