Amos 7:17
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֞ן
H3651
לָכֵ֞ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 24
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
כֹּה
H3541
כֹּה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
2 of 24
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בָּעִ֤יר
in the city
H5892
בָּעִ֤יר
in the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
6 of 24
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
תִּזְנֶה֙
shall be an harlot
H2181
תִּזְנֶה֙
shall be an harlot
Strong's:
H2181
Word #:
7 of 24
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
וּבָנֶ֤יךָ
and thy sons
H1121
וּבָנֶ֤יךָ
and thy sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
8 of 24
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙
and thy daughters
H1323
וּבְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙
and thy daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
9 of 24
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
10 of 24
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
יִפֹּ֔לוּ
shall fall
H5307
יִפֹּ֔לוּ
shall fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
11 of 24
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
מֵעַ֥ל
in
H5921
מֵעַ֥ל
in
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
תָּמ֔וּת
and thou shalt die
H4191
תָּמ֔וּת
and thou shalt die
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
19 of 24
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל
and Israel
H3478
וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל
and Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
20 of 24
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יִגְלֶ֖ה
go into captivity
H1540
יִגְלֶ֖ה
go into captivity
Strong's:
H1540
Word #:
21 of 24
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
יִגְלֶ֖ה
go into captivity
H1540
יִגְלֶ֖ה
go into captivity
Strong's:
H1540
Word #:
22 of 24
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
Cross References
Hosea 9:3They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.2 Kings 17:6In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.Jeremiah 28:16Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.Ezekiel 4:13And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.Jeremiah 29:21Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;Amos 7:11For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
Historical Context
No record exists of Amaziah's fate, but this prophecy's specificity suggests it was remembered and likely fulfilled during Assyria's conquest. The principle holds: those who silence prophetic truth to preserve institutions face greater judgment than those they sought to protect from conviction.
Questions for Reflection
- How does resisting prophetic truth bring judgment rather than protection from uncomfortable conviction?
- What does it mean for religious leaders to die 'in a polluted land'—separated from God's presence and promises?
- How should this warning shape how church leaders respond to biblical critique of their practices?
Analysis & Commentary
Therefore thus saith the LORD—Amos pronounces specific judgment on Amaziah personally. Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city (אִשְׁתְּךָ בָעִיר תִּזְנֶה, ish't'cha va'ir tizneh)—likely raped by conquering soldiers, a common siege warfare atrocity (Isaiah 13:16; Zechariah 14:2). And thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword—his children will be killed. And thy land shall be divided by line (וְאַדְמָתְךָ בַחֶבֶל תְּחֻלָּק, v'admat'cha bachevel techulak)—his property will be parceled out to foreign settlers. And thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land (וְאַתָּה עַל־אֲדָמָה טְמֵאָה תָמוּת וְיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּלֹה יִגְלֶה מֵעַל אַדְמָתוֹ, v'atah al-adamah t'me'ah tamut v'Yisrael galoh yigleh me'al admato)—Amaziah will die in exile on unclean (טְמֵאָה, t'me'ah) foreign soil.
This is the prophet's authority to pronounce judgment (Matthew 18:18; John 20:23). Amaziah resisted God's word, so God's word judges him specifically. The progression—wife, children, land, death in exile—encompasses total loss. Resisting God's prophetic word brings not safety but heightened judgment.