Amos 8:12
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Original Language Analysis
וְנָעוּ֙
And they shall wander
H5128
וְנָעוּ֙
And they shall wander
Strong's:
H5128
Word #:
1 of 14
to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined)
יָ֔ם
from sea
H3220
יָ֔ם
from sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
2 of 14
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
3 of 14
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
יָ֔ם
from sea
H3220
יָ֔ם
from sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
4 of 14
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וּמִצָּפ֖וֹן
and from the north
H6828
וּמִצָּפ֖וֹן
and from the north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
5 of 14
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
וְעַד
H5704
וְעַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
6 of 14
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
יְשֽׁוֹטְט֛וּ
they shall run to and fro
H7751
יְשֽׁוֹטְט֛וּ
they shall run to and fro
Strong's:
H7751
Word #:
8 of 14
properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e., (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
to seek
H1245
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
to seek
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
9 of 14
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דְּבַר
the word
H1697
דְּבַר
the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
11 of 14
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
After Samaria's fall and exile, prophetic voice ceased in the northern kingdom. No more prophets arose; God's Word fell silent. For generations, they'd rejected prophets like Amos—then when judgment came, no prophetic word offered hope or guidance. Hebrews 12:17 describes similar irreversible loss: Esau 'found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.'
Questions for Reflection
- How does rejecting God's Word when it's available lead to its removal when desperately needed?
- What warning does this give to churches or nations that increasingly silence or ignore Scripture?
- How should the possibility of irreversible spiritual famine motivate urgent response to God's Word now?
Analysis & Commentary
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it (וְנָעוּ מִיָּם עַד־יָם וּמִצָּפוֹן וְעַד־מִזְרָח יְשׁוֹטְטוּ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־דְּבַר־יְהוָה וְלֹא יִמְצָאוּ, v'na'u miyam ad-yam umitzafon v'ad-mizrach y'shot'tu l'vakeish et-d'var YHWH v'lo yimtza'u)—The verbs intensify desperate search: נוּעַ (nua, 'to wander'), שׁוֹטֵט (shotet, 'to run to and fro'), בָּקַשׁ (bakash, 'to seek earnestly'). Yet לֹא יִמְצָאוּ (lo yimtza'u, 'they will not find')—God's Word becomes unavailable.
This describes spiritual famine worse than physical starvation (Amos 8:11). Those who despised God's Word when available will desperately seek it when removed. This prefigures Jesus's warning: 'The night cometh, when no man can work' (John 9:4). Opportunity for repentance doesn't last forever—God's patience has limits. When judgment arrives, it's too late to seek what was previously rejected.