Amos 5:20

Authorized King James Version

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Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Original Language Analysis

הֲלֹא H3808
הֲלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 1 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
חֹ֛שֶׁךְ be darkness H2822
חֹ֛שֶׁךְ be darkness
Strong's: H2822
Word #: 2 of 10
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
י֥וֹם Shall not the day H3117
י֥וֹם Shall not the day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 3 of 10
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
יְהוָ֖ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְלֹא H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 5 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
א֑וֹר and not light H216
א֑וֹר and not light
Strong's: H216
Word #: 6 of 10
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
וְאָפֵ֖ל even very dark H651
וְאָפֵ֖ל even very dark
Strong's: H651
Word #: 7 of 10
dusky
וְלֹא H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 8 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נֹ֥גַֽהּ and no brightness H5051
נֹ֥גַֽהּ and no brightness
Strong's: H5051
Word #: 9 of 10
brilliancy (literally or figuratively)
לֽוֹ׃ H0
לֽוֹ׃
Strong's: H0
Word #: 10 of 10

Analysis & Commentary

Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? (halo-choshekh yom-YHWH velo-or, הֲלֹא־חֹשֶׁךְ יוֹם־יְהוָה וְלֹא־אוֹר)—the rhetorical question expects "yes." Israel anticipated the Day of the LORD as light (or, אוֹר)—deliverance, vindication, blessing. Amos declares it will be darkness (choshekh, חֹשֶׁךְ)—judgment, calamity, destruction. The phrase even very dark, and no brightness in it (va'afel velo-nogah lo, וַאֲפֵל וְלֹא־נֹגַהּ לוֹ) intensifies the image: not just darkness but thick darkness (afel, אֲפֵל), with absolutely no brightness (nogah, נֹגַהּ, no glimmer of light).

"The day of the LORD" is a major prophetic theme—God's intervention in history to judge evil and vindicate His people (Isaiah 13:6-13; Joel 1:15, 2:1-11, 31; Zephaniah 1:14-18). Israel assumed they were the vindicated, not the judged. Amos reverses this: because of covenant violation, Israel will experience the Day of the LORD as darkness, not light. This prophetic theme culminates in Christ's second coming—for believers, a day of redemption (Luke 21:28); for unbelievers, a day of wrath (Revelation 6:15-17). The question isn't whether the Day comes but how we'll experience it.

Historical Context

In Amos's context (760-750 BC), Israel enjoyed prosperity and military success under Jeroboam II. They assumed God's favor and looked forward to His eschatological intervention against their enemies. Amos shocks them: God's intervention will target Israel for covenant unfaithfulness. Within 30 years, Assyria's conquest (722 BC) brought exactly this darkness—death, exile, devastation. The Day they anticipated as triumph became their nightmare.

Questions for Reflection