Amos 9:4

Authorized King James Version

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And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

Original Language Analysis

וְאִם H518
וְאִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 16
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יֵלְכ֤וּ H1980
יֵלְכ֤וּ
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 2 of 16
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
בַשְּׁבִי֙ into captivity H7628
בַשְּׁבִי֙ into captivity
Strong's: H7628
Word #: 3 of 16
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
לִפְנֵ֣י before H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 4 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֹֽיבֵיהֶ֔ם their enemies H341
אֹֽיבֵיהֶ֔ם their enemies
Strong's: H341
Word #: 5 of 16
hating; an adversary
מִשָּׁ֛ם H8033
מִשָּׁ֛ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 6 of 16
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
אֲצַוֶּ֥ה thence will I command H6680
אֲצַוֶּ֥ה thence will I command
Strong's: H6680
Word #: 7 of 16
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 8 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַחֶ֖רֶב the sword H2719
הַחֶ֖רֶב the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 9 of 16
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
וַהֲרָגָ֑תַם and it shall slay H2026
וַהֲרָגָ֑תַם and it shall slay
Strong's: H2026
Word #: 10 of 16
to smite with deadly intent
וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י them and I will set H7760
וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י them and I will set
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 11 of 16
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עֵינִ֧י mine eyes H5869
עֵינִ֧י mine eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 12 of 16
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 13 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְרָעָ֖ה upon them for evil H7451
לְרָעָ֖ה upon them for evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 14 of 16
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וְלֹ֥א H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 15 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
לְטוֹבָֽה׃ and not for good H2896
לְטוֹבָֽה׃ and not for good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 16 of 16
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

Analysis & Commentary

Though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them (וְאִם־יֵלְכוּ בַשְּׁבִי לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיהֶם מִשָּׁם אֲצַוֶּה אֶת־הַחֶרֶב וַהֲרָגָתַם)—even exile, which might seem escape from covenant land under judgment, offers no safety. The cherev (חֶרֶב, sword) personified as God's agent will slay them sham (there), in foreign lands. This reverses Israel's expectation that foreign exile might spare them. I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good (וְשַׂמְתִּי עֵינִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְרָעָה וְלֹא לְטוֹבָה)—the Hebrew sam eini alehem le-ra'ah velo le-tovah describes intentional, focused divine attention for ra'ah (evil/calamity), not tovah (good/blessing).

This is the most theologically devastating statement in the series: God's watchful care, normally covenant blessing, becomes covenant curse. Deuteronomy 11:12 promised that Yahweh's eyes are "always upon" the land—for blessing. Now those same eyes ensure judgment. The verb sum (שׂוּם, "set/fix") implies deliberate, unrelenting focus. Jeremiah 21:10, 39:16, 44:11 use identical language: God sets His face for evil against the unrepentant. This doesn't contradict God's goodness—His just response to covenant violation is right and good, even when it involves judgment. The principle appears in Hebrews 10:31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Historical Context

When Assyria conquered Israel (722 BC), they deported survivors to Mesopotamia and Media (2 Kings 17:6), where many perished from hardship, warfare, and assimilation. Amos's prophecy proved accurate: exile didn't mean escape but extended judgment. Similarly, Judah's Babylonian exile (586 BC) involved continued suffering in foreign lands—Ezekiel and Daniel describe the hardships. The biblical pattern shows that God's judgment follows His people geographically—there's no escaping covenant accountability by changing location. This anticipates the New Covenant truth: genuine refuge isn't geographical but relational, found only in Christ.

Questions for Reflection