Amos 6:9
And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֗ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֗ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 8
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
2 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִוָּ֨תְר֜וּ
And it shall come to pass if there remain
H3498
יִוָּ֨תְר֜וּ
And it shall come to pass if there remain
Strong's:
H3498
Word #:
3 of 8
to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve
אֲנָשִׁ֛ים
H376
אֲנָשִׁ֛ים
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
5 of 8
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
בְּבַ֥יִת
house
H1004
בְּבַ֥יִת
house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
6 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Historical Context
The Assyrian siege of Samaria lasted three years (2 Kings 17:5). Siege warfare involved starvation, disease, and finally slaughter when walls were breached. Archaeological evidence from Lachish and other sites confirms the devastating completeness of Assyrian conquest—fulfilling this prophecy's grim details.
Questions for Reflection
- How should the certainty and severity of judgment drive urgent evangelism and discipleship?
- What does it mean that even 'ten men' (a community) cannot save each other through collective action apart from God?
- How do modern people dismiss warnings of judgment as 'scare tactics' rather than loving warnings?
Analysis & Commentary
And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die—This describes plague or siege warfare's aftermath. Even survivors in a single household will perish. The number 'ten' may reference a עֲשָׂרָה (asarah, 'ten,' a traditional quorum for Jewish prayer), suggesting even complete families or communities won't escape. This verse continues the relentless depiction of total judgment—no remnant preserved, no survivors exempted.
The cumulative weight of judgment prophecies in Amos 6 creates an overwhelming sense of inevitability. God isn't threatening; He's announcing settled reality. Like Sodom (Genesis 19), when judgment arrives, escape proves nearly impossible. This should drive people to urgent repentance while opportunity remains.