Amos 7:16
Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
Original Language Analysis
וְעַתָּ֖ה
H6258
שְׁמַ֣ע
Now therefore hear
H8085
שְׁמַ֣ע
Now therefore hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
2 of 15
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דְּבַר
thou the word
H1697
דְּבַר
thou the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 15
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִנָּבֵא֙
Prophesy
H5012
תִנָּבֵא֙
Prophesy
Strong's:
H5012
Word #:
8 of 15
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
not against Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
not against Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
10 of 15
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַטִּ֖יף
and drop
H5197
תַטִּ֖יף
and drop
Strong's:
H5197
Word #:
12 of 15
to ooze, i.e., distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Ezekiel 20:46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;Ezekiel 21:2Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,Micah 2:6Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.Deuteronomy 32:2My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:Amos 7:13But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
Historical Context
Bethel was the northern kingdom's primary religious center, established by Jeroboam I with golden calf worship (1 Kings 12:28-29). By Amos's time, it functioned as state-controlled religion legitimizing the status quo. Amaziah's opposition to Amos shows how false worship systems silence prophetic voices that threaten their power.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern religious institutions sometimes resist prophetic voices that threaten comfortable compromise?
- What's the difference between legitimate church authority and religious leadership that silences God's Word?
- How should Christians respond when religious leaders command them not to speak biblical truth?
Analysis & Commentary
Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac (וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע דְּבַר־יְהוָה אַתָּה אֹמֵר לֹא תִנָּבֵא עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא תַטִּיף עַל־בֵּית יִשְׂחָק, v'atah sh'ma d'var-YHWH atah omer lo tinave al-Yisrael v'lo tatif al-beit Yitzchak)—Amos confronts Amaziah directly. The verb טַף (nataf, 'to drop, drip, preach') appears in the causative: 'drop not thy word'—Amaziah wants Amos to stop speaking God's Word. Using 'Isaac' instead of 'Israel' emphasizes covenant sonship, making Amaziah's resistance worse—he's protecting God's covenant people from God's covenant word.
This confrontation typifies conflict between institutional religion and prophetic truth. Amaziah represents state-sponsored religion serving political ends (Bethel was the king's sanctuary, 7:13), while Amos speaks uncompromising divine truth. When religious leaders prioritize institutional preservation over prophetic faithfulness, they resist God Himself.