Amos 9:2

Authorized King James Version

PDF

Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

Original Language Analysis

אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 11
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יַחְתְּר֣וּ Though they dig H2864
יַחְתְּר֣וּ Though they dig
Strong's: H2864
Word #: 2 of 11
to force a passage, as by burglary; figuratively, with oars
בִשְׁא֔וֹל into hell H7585
בִשְׁא֔וֹל into hell
Strong's: H7585
Word #: 3 of 11
hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
מִשָּׁ֖ם H8033
מִשָּׁ֖ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 4 of 11
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
יָדִ֣י thence shall mine hand H3027
יָדִ֣י thence shall mine hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 5 of 11
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
תִקָּחֵ֑ם take H3947
תִקָּחֵ֑ם take
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 6 of 11
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וְאִֽם H518
וְאִֽם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 7 of 11
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יַעֲלוּ֙ them though they climb up H5927
יַעֲלוּ֙ them though they climb up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 8 of 11
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם to heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם to heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 9 of 11
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
מִשָּׁ֖ם H8033
מִשָּׁ֖ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 10 of 11
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
אוֹרִידֵֽם׃ thence will I bring them down H3381
אוֹרִידֵֽם׃ thence will I bring them down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 11 of 11
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

Analysis & Commentary

Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down (אִם־יַחְתְּרוּ בִשְׁאוֹל מִשָּׁם יָדִי תִקָּחֵם וְאִם־יַעֲלוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם מִשָּׁם אוֹרִידֵם)—this verse articulates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation. Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), the realm of the dead, represents the deepest conceivable depth, while shamayim (שָׁמַיִם, heaven) represents the highest height. The verb chatar (חָתַר, "dig/break through") suggests desperate escape attempts, while alah (עָלָה, "climb/ascend") implies striving for unreachable heights. Neither strategy works—God's yad (יָד, hand) reaches everywhere.

This passage profoundly influenced Psalm 139:7-12, which uses nearly identical language but transforms terror into comfort for the righteous: "Whither shall I flee from thy presence?" For covenant-breakers, God's omnipresence means inescapable judgment; for believers, it means unfailing protection. The theological principle is universal divine sovereignty—no spatial location, no cosmic realm, no dimension of reality lies outside God's governance. Paul echoes this in Romans 8:38-39, declaring nothing in all creation can separate believers from God's love in Christ—the same omnipresence that terrifies rebels comforts saints.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern religions typically assigned different gods to different realms—sky gods, underworld gods, sea gods. Israel's neighbors believed one could escape a deity's power by entering another god's domain. Amos demolishes this polytheistic worldview: Yahweh alone is God, sovereign over every realm. This anticipates monotheistic affirmations throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:39; Isaiah 45:5-7; Jeremiah 23:23-24). The historical fulfillment came when Assyria scattered Israel across its empire (722 BC)—no geographical distance from the promised land prevented God's judgment from finding covenant-violators.

Questions for Reflection