Amos 3:11

Authorized King James Version

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Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

Original Language Analysis

לָכֵ֗ן H3651
לָכֵ֗ן
Strong's: H3651
Word #: 1 of 13
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
כֹּ֤ה H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's: H3541
Word #: 2 of 13
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַר֙ Therefore thus saith H559
אָמַר֙ Therefore thus saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 3 of 13
to say (used with great latitude)
אֲדֹנָ֣י the Lord H136
אֲדֹנָ֣י the Lord
Strong's: H136
Word #: 4 of 13
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
יְהוִ֔ה GOD H3069
יְהוִ֔ה GOD
Strong's: H3069
Word #: 5 of 13
god
צַ֖ר An adversary H6862
צַ֖ר An adversary
Strong's: H6862
Word #: 6 of 13
a pebble (as in h6864)
וּסְבִ֣יב there shall be even round about H5439
וּסְבִ֣יב there shall be even round about
Strong's: H5439
Word #: 7 of 13
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
הָאָ֑רֶץ the land H776
הָאָ֑רֶץ the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 8 of 13
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וְהוֹרִ֤יד and he shall bring down H3381
וְהוֹרִ֤יד and he shall bring down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 9 of 13
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מִמֵּךְ֙ H4480
מִמֵּךְ֙
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 10 of 13
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
עֻזֵּ֔ךְ thy strength H5797
עֻזֵּ֔ךְ thy strength
Strong's: H5797
Word #: 11 of 13
strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
וְנָבֹ֖זּוּ shall be spoiled H962
וְנָבֹ֖זּוּ shall be spoiled
Strong's: H962
Word #: 12 of 13
to plunder
אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ from thee and thy palaces H759
אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ from thee and thy palaces
Strong's: H759
Word #: 13 of 13
a citadel (from its height)

Analysis & Commentary

An adversary there shall be even round about the land (צַר וּסְבִיב הָאָרֶץ, tzar us'viv ha'aretz)—The enemy surrounds them completely; no escape remains. The term צַר (tzar, 'adversary, enemy, distress') appears with geographical emphasis: וּסְבִיב (us'viv, 'all around'). He shall bring down thy strength from thee (וְהוֹרִיד מִמֵּךְ עֻזֵּךְ, v'horid mimech uzech)—their military power (עֻזֵּךְ, uzech) will be 'brought down' (הוֹרִיד, horid, literally 'caused to descend'). Thy palaces shall be spoiled (וְנָבֹזּוּ אַרְמְנוֹתַיִךְ, v'navozu armenotayich)—plundered completely.

This reverses Israel's covenant promises. God promised protection from enemies (Leviticus 26:6-8), but covenant-breaking brings covenant curses (Leviticus 26:14-17). The Assyrian invasion of 722 BC fulfilled this literally—Samaria fell after three-year siege, and the nation never recovered.

Historical Context

In 724 BC, Shalmaneser V of Assyria besieged Samaria; his successor Sargon II completed the conquest in 722 BC. The Assyrians deported 27,290 Israelites according to Assyrian records, replacing them with foreign peoples (2 Kings 17:5-6, 24). The Northern Kingdom ceased to exist—fulfilling Amos's prophecy exactly.

Questions for Reflection