Amos 5:17
And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וּבְכָל
H3605
וּבְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֶעֱבֹ֥ר
for I will pass
H5674
אֶעֱבֹ֥ר
for I will pass
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
5 of 8
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖
through
H7130
בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖
through
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
6 of 8
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
Cross References
Exodus 12:12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.Isaiah 16:10And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.Jeremiah 48:33And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.Exodus 12:23For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.Zechariah 9:8And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.Nahum 1:12Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.Nahum 1:15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.Joel 3:17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Historical Context
Vineyards represented prosperity and covenant blessing—Israel was God's vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). By Amos's time, wealthy landowners had seized vineyards from small farmers (Amos 5:11), making them symbols of oppression rather than blessing. God's judgment would transform these symbols of ill-gotten wealth into scenes of mourning. When Assyria invaded (722 BC), agricultural devastation accompanied military conquest—exactly as Amos predicted.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the inversion of Passover imagery (God passing through Israel rather than over them) emphasize the seriousness of covenant violation?
- In what ways do Christians sometimes presume God's protection while ignoring His call to faithfulness?
Analysis & Commentary
In all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD (uvekhol-keramim misped ki e'evor beqirbeka amar YHWH, וּבְכָל־כְּרָמִים מִסְפֵּד כִּי אֶעֱבֹר בְּקִרְבְּךָ אָמַר יְהוָה)—vineyards were normally places of joy and celebration, associated with harvest festivals, abundance, and gladness (Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 48:33). That even vineyards will echo with wailing (misped, מִסְפֵּד) shows total reversal—joy transformed into grief.
The phrase I will pass through thee (e'evor beqirbeka, אֶעֱבֹר בְּקִרְבְּךָ) deliberately echoes Exodus 12:12: "I will pass through the land of Egypt." In Egypt, God passed through in judgment but passed over Israel, sparing them (Exodus 12:23, 27). Now God announces He will pass through Israel—not past them in protection but through them in judgment. The Passover imagery is inverted: once God's judgment struck Israel's enemies while protecting them; now His judgment will strike Israel itself for covenant violation. This is devastating reversal—from protected to punished, from blessed to cursed.