Amos 9:3

Authorized King James Version

PDF

And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

Original Language Analysis

וְאִם H518
וְאִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 18
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ And though they hide H2244
יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ And though they hide
Strong's: H2244
Word #: 2 of 18
to secrete
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ themselves in the top H7218
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ themselves in the top
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 3 of 18
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל of Carmel H3760
הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל of Carmel
Strong's: H3760
Word #: 4 of 18
karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in palestine
מִשָּׁ֥ם H8033
מִשָּׁ֥ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 5 of 18
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ I will search H2664
אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ I will search
Strong's: H2664
Word #: 6 of 18
to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e., let be sought), or mask
וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים and take them out H3947
וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים and take them out
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 7 of 18
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וְאִם H518
וְאִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 8 of 18
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ thence and though they be hid H5641
יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ thence and though they be hid
Strong's: H5641
Word #: 9 of 18
to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively
מִנֶּ֤גֶד H5048
מִנֶּ֤גֶד
Strong's: H5048
Word #: 10 of 18
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
עֵינַי֙ from my sight H5869
עֵינַי֙ from my sight
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 11 of 18
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
בְּקַרְקַ֣ע in the bottom H7172
בְּקַרְקַ֣ע in the bottom
Strong's: H7172
Word #: 12 of 18
floor (as if a pavement of pieces or tesseroe), of a building or the sea
הַיָּ֔ם of the sea H3220
הַיָּ֔ם of the sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 13 of 18
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
מִשָּׁ֛ם H8033
מִשָּׁ֛ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 14 of 18
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
אֲצַוֶּ֥ה thence will I command H6680
אֲצַוֶּ֥ה thence will I command
Strong's: H6680
Word #: 15 of 18
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַנָּחָ֖שׁ the serpent H5175
הַנָּחָ֖שׁ the serpent
Strong's: H5175
Word #: 17 of 18
a snake (from its hiss)
וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃ and he shall bite H5391
וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃ and he shall bite
Strong's: H5391
Word #: 18 of 18
to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan

Analysis & Commentary

Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence (וְאִם־יֵחָבְאוּ בְּרֹאשׁ הַכַּרְמֶל מִשָּׁם אֲחַפֵּשׂ וּלְקַחְתִּים)—Mount Carmel, a densely forested mountain range, provided countless hiding places in caves and thickets. The verb chapes (חָפַשׂ, "search") describes thorough, determined seeking that will succeed. Though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them (וְאִם־יִסָּתְרוּ מִנֶּגֶד עֵינַי בְּקַרְקַע הַיָּם מִשָּׁם אֲצַוֶּה אֶת־הַנָּחָשׁ וּנְשָׁכָם)—even the sea's depths offer no refuge. The nachash (נָחָשׁ, serpent) likely refers to sea creatures (possibly sea serpents of ancient mythology, or literally dangerous sea animals), but symbolically evokes the serpent of Genesis 3—all creation, even that which represents chaos and danger, obeys God's command.

The progression is deliberate: vertical extremes (heaven/hell) in verse 2, then horizontal hiding places (Carmel's forests, sea's depths) in verse 3. Every conceivable refuge fails. The verb tsavah (צָוָה, "command") emphasizes that all creatures—even dangerous serpents—are God's instruments. This echoes Jonah's experience: he fled to the sea to escape God's command, but God commanded both storm (Jonah 1:4) and great fish (Jonah 1:17) to accomplish His purposes. Nature isn't neutral—it obeys its Creator, even when executing judgment.

Historical Context

Mount Carmel, located on Israel's Mediterranean coast, featured dense forests and numerous caves—ideal hiding places. Elijah confronted Baal's prophets there (1 Kings 18), making it symbolically significant for true versus false worship. The sea held mythological terror in ancient Israel—representing chaos and danger (cf. Leviathan in Job 41, Psalm 74:13-14, Isaiah 27:1). Amos declares that neither the most secure land refuge nor the most terrifying sea depth can shield from Yahweh's judgment. This would have been particularly striking to an agricultural people who feared the sea and viewed dense forests as dangerous.

Questions for Reflection