Amos 9:6

Authorized King James Version

It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הַבּוֹנֶ֤ה
It is he that buildeth
to build (literally and figuratively)
#2
בַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
in the heaven
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
#3
מַעֲלוֹתָ֔ו
his stories
elevation, i.e., the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step o
#4
וַאֲגֻדָּת֖וֹ
H92
his troop
a band, bundle, knot, or arch
#5
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#6
הָאָ֖רֶץ
in the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#7
יְסָדָ֑הּ
and hath founded
to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e., settle, consult
#8
הַקֹּרֵ֣א
he that calleth
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
#9
לְמֵֽי
for the waters
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#10
הַיָּ֗ם
of the sea
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
#11
וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם
and poureth them out
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
#12
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#13
פְּנֵ֥י
upon the face
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#14
הָאָ֖רֶץ
in the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#15
יְהוָ֥ה
The LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#16
שְׁמֽוֹ׃
is his name
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine sovereignty. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection