Amos 6:14

Authorized King James Version

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But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֡י H3588
כִּ֡י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הִנְנִי֩ H2005
הִנְנִי֩
Strong's: H2005
Word #: 2 of 18
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
מֵקִ֨ים But behold I will raise up H6965
מֵקִ֨ים But behold I will raise up
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 3 of 18
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם H5921
עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 4 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בֵּ֣ית O house H1004
בֵּ֣ית O house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 5 of 18
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 6 of 18
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
נְאֻם saith H5002
נְאֻם saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 7 of 18
an oracle
יְהוָ֛ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֛ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 8 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֥י the God H430
אֱלֹהֵ֥י the God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 9 of 18
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
הַצְּבָא֖וֹת of hosts H6635
הַצְּבָא֖וֹת of hosts
Strong's: H6635
Word #: 10 of 18
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
גּ֑וֹי against you a nation H1471
גּ֑וֹי against you a nation
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 11 of 18
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְלָחֲצ֥וּ and they shall afflict H3905
וְלָחֲצ֥וּ and they shall afflict
Strong's: H3905
Word #: 12 of 18
properly, to press, i.e., (figuratively) to distress
אֶתְכֶ֛ם H853
אֶתְכֶ֛ם
Strong's: H853
Word #: 13 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִלְּב֥וֹא you from the entering in H935
מִלְּב֥וֹא you from the entering in
Strong's: H935
Word #: 14 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
חֲמָ֖ת of Hemath H2574
חֲמָ֖ת of Hemath
Strong's: H2574
Word #: 15 of 18
chamath, a place in syria
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 16 of 18
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
נַ֥חַל unto the river H5158
נַ֥חַל unto the river
Strong's: H5158
Word #: 17 of 18
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
הָעֲרָבָֽה׃ of the wilderness H6160
הָעֲרָבָֽה׃ of the wilderness
Strong's: H6160
Word #: 18 of 18
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea

Analysis & Commentary

But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel (כִּי הִנְנִי מֵקִים עֲלֵיכֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי, ki hin'ni meikim aleichem beit Yisrael goy)—God personally raises up (מֵקִים, meikim) the enemy nation (גּוֹי, goy). Saith the LORD the God of hosts confirms divine authority. And they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness (וְלָחֲצוּ אֶתְכֶם מִלְּבוֹא חֲמָת עַד־נַחַל הָעֲרָבָה, v'lachatzu etchem mil'vo Chamat ad-nachal ha'aravah)—the enemy will oppress (לָחַץ, lachatz) Israel throughout their entire territory, from northern border (Lebo-Hamath) to southern (the Arabah river/wadi).

This directly counters verse 13's boast about taking 'horns' by their own strength. The same territory they conquered will be reconquered—by a nation God Himself raises against them. Human military might collapses before divine judgment. Assyria fulfilled this prophecy, but ultimately God sovereignly controls all nations for His purposes (Isaiah 10:5-19).

Historical Context

Tiglath-Pileser III began Assyrian incursions in 734 BC, culminating in Samaria's fall in 722 BC. The Assyrians conquered exactly the territory Jeroboam II had expanded—demonstrating that God giveth and God taketh away. Israel's boasted military victories became meaningless when God withdrew protection.

Questions for Reflection