Amos 4:7
And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
Original Language Analysis
וְגַ֣ם
H1571
וְגַ֣ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 28
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
מָנַ֨עְתִּי
And also I have withholden
H4513
מָנַ֨עְתִּי
And also I have withholden
Strong's:
H4513
Word #:
3 of 28
to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury
מִכֶּ֜ם
H4480
מִכֶּ֜ם
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 28
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּע֨וֹד
H5750
בְּע֨וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
7 of 28
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה
from you when there were yet three
H7969
שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה
from you when there were yet three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
8 of 28
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
לַקָּצִ֔יר
to the harvest
H7105
לַקָּצִ֔יר
to the harvest
Strong's:
H7105
Word #:
10 of 28
severed, a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 28
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עִ֥יר
city
H5892
עִ֥יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
13 of 28
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 28
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עִ֥יר
city
H5892
עִ֥יר
city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
16 of 28
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
18 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֲשֶֽׁר
H834
אֲשֶֽׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
24 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
25 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Jeremiah 3:3Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.Exodus 9:26Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.Isaiah 5:6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.Exodus 9:4And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.Exodus 10:23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.James 5:17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.Joel 2:23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Historical Context
Israel's agricultural economy depended entirely on seasonal rains. The early rains (Oct-Nov) softened ground for plowing; late rains (Mar-Apr) matured crops for May harvest. Mediterranean climate made Israel perpetually vulnerable to drought, necessitating absolute dependence on God's provision (Deuteronomy 11:10-17). Amos shows God using natural patterns to communicate covenantal realities.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's sovereign control over 'secular' realities like weather challenge your tendency to separate sacred and secular spheres of life?
- When blessings you assumed were automatic suddenly disappear, do you recognize potential divine discipline calling you to examine your walk with God?
Analysis & Commentary
I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest (וְגַם אָנֹכִי מָנַעְתִּי מִכֶּם אֶת־הַגֶּשֶׁם בְּעוֹד שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים לַקָּצִיר)—God controls weather patterns to discipline covenant violators. The 'three months to harvest' specifies the critical late spring rains (March-April) essential for grain maturation. Without them, crops fail. I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city (וְהִמְטַרְתִּי עַל־עִיר אֶחָת וְעַל־עִיר אַחַת לֹא אַמְטִיר)—Selective judgment demonstrated divine intentionality. Random weather is natural; discriminate drought is supernatural warning.
This second disciplinary measure escalates from famine (v. 6) to drought. The Hebrew emphasizes divine agency: 'I withholden... I caused... I caused not.' Israel couldn't blame climate—God orchestrated these patterns. Deuteronomy 28:23-24 warned: 'Thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.' When covenant blessings (rain, fertility) become covenant curses (drought, barrenness), the message is unmistakable: return to God. Yet Israel's response? 'Yet have ye not returned unto me.'