Amos 8:9

Authorized King James Version

PDF

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֣ה׀ H1961
וְהָיָ֣ה׀
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּי֥וֹם And it shall come to pass in that day H3117
בְּי֥וֹם And it shall come to pass in that day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 2 of 13
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֗וּא H1931
הַה֗וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 3 of 13
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
נְאֻם֙ saith H5002
נְאֻם֙ saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 4 of 13
an oracle
אֲדֹנָ֣י the Lord H136
אֲדֹנָ֣י the Lord
Strong's: H136
Word #: 5 of 13
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
יְהוִ֔ה GOD H3069
יְהוִ֔ה GOD
Strong's: H3069
Word #: 6 of 13
god
וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י to go down H935
וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י to go down
Strong's: H935
Word #: 7 of 13
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ that I will cause the sun H8121
הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ that I will cause the sun
Strong's: H8121
Word #: 8 of 13
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement
בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם at noon H6672
בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם at noon
Strong's: H6672
Word #: 9 of 13
a light (i.e., window); dual double light, i.e., noon
וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֥י and I will darken H2821
וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֥י and I will darken
Strong's: H2821
Word #: 10 of 13
to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken
לָאָ֖רֶץ the earth H776
לָאָ֖רֶץ the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 11 of 13
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בְּי֥וֹם And it shall come to pass in that day H3117
בְּי֥וֹם And it shall come to pass in that day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 12 of 13
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֽוֹר׃ in the clear H216
אֽוֹר׃ in the clear
Strong's: H216
Word #: 13 of 13
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)

Cross References

Mark 15:33And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.Matthew 27:45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.Jeremiah 15:9She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.Luke 23:44And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.Matthew 24:29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:Amos 5:8Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:Micah 3:6Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.Isaiah 13:10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.Job 5:14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.Amos 4:13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

Analysis & Commentary

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day—God announces cosmic disruption accompanying judgment. The phrase in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayyom hahu) signals eschatological judgment, the "Day of the LORD" Amos described in 5:18-20 as "darkness, and not light." The sun to go down at noon (וְהֵבֵאתִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם, veheveti hashemesh batsahorayim)—the brightest hour becomes darkest, reversing natural order.

I will darken the earth in the clear day (וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּי לָאָרֶץ בְּיוֹם אוֹר, vehachashakhti la'arets beyom or)—the phrase "clear day" (yom or, literally "day of light") emphasizes the shock: when light should be strongest, darkness falls. This imagery evokes both literal phenomena (solar eclipse, volcanic ash, storm darkness) and metaphorical meaning—spiritual/political darkness overwhelming Israel's "bright" prosperity. The day they expected deliverance becomes the day of doom.

This prophecy connects to multiple biblical themes:

  1. Exodus plague of darkness (Exodus 10:21-23), now reversed against Israel
  2. Joel's prophecy: "the sun shall be turned into darkness... before the great and terrible day of the LORD" (Joel 2:31)
  3. Jesus's crucifixion when "there was darkness over all the land" from noon to 3 PM (Matthew 27:45)—God's judgment on sin literally darkened the earth when Christ bore our guilt
  4. Revelation's final judgments including darkening of sun, moon, and stars (Revelation 6:12, 8:12).

Darkness symbolizes divine judgment, removing light that sustains life and reveals truth. When God withdraws His presence, darkness consumes.

Historical Context

Solar eclipses were terrifying ancient phenomena, interpreted as divine omens. A total solar eclipse visible in Israel occurred on June 15, 763 BC—during Amos's ministry period. Ancient Assyrian records mention this eclipse (the "Bur-Sagale eclipse"), and it may have reinforced Amos's prophecy in hearers' minds. However, Amos likely uses eclipse imagery metaphorically for the comprehensive darkness accompanying judgment.

The historical fulfillment came through Assyrian conquest (722 BC)—the "sun going down at noon" metaphorically depicted Israel's sudden transition from prosperity (midday brightness) to destruction (darkness). Jeroboam II's reign was Israel's last period of power and wealth, making the subsequent collapse seem like noon suddenly becoming midnight. The prophecy's deeper fulfillment awaits the eschatological Day of the LORD when Christ returns in judgment (Matthew 24:29-30; 2 Peter 3:10).

Questions for Reflection