Visions and the Priest's Rebuke

Amos 7

Amos describes three visions from the Lord, locusts and fire, from which he relents at Amos's plea, and a wall built with an adamant, which fixes Israel's judgment as certain, and then recounts how the priest Amasias of Bethel ordered him to stop prophesying and leave, prompting Amos to declare his call from tending sheep and to pronounce judgment on Amasias and his household.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomsoni. i. (p) SO the Lord God pointed out to me, and lo! a n eastern swarm of locusts was coming and behold, a paliner worm, one Gog, was their king;

BrentonThus has the Lord God shewed me; and, behold, a swarm of locusts coming from the east; and, behold, one caterpillar, king Gog.

GreekΟὕτως ἔδειξέ μοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐπιγονὴ ἀκρίδων ἐρχομένη ἑωθινὴ, καὶ ἰδοὺ βροῦχος εἷς, Γὼγ ὁ βασιλεύς.

KJVThus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings.

JPSThus the Lord GOD showed me; and, behold, He formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings.

Thomsonand when they had completely devoured the grass of the land, I said, O Lord God, be appeased. Who shall raise up Jacob?

BrentonAnd it came to pass when he had finished devouring the grass of the land, that I said, Lord God, be merciful; who shall raise up Jacob? for he is small in number.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐὰν συντελέσῃ τοῦ καταφαγεῖν τὸν χόρτον τῆς γῆς, καὶ εἶπα, Κύριε Κύριε, ἵλεως γενοῦ· τίς ἀναστήσει τὸν Ἰακώβ; ὅτι ὀλιγοστός ἐστι.

KJVAnd it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

JPSAnd if it had come to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land—so I said: O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech Thee; How shall Jacob stand? for he is small.

ThomsonBecause he is very small relent, O Lord, a t this. This therefore shall not be, saith the Lord.

BrentonRepent, O Lord, for this. And this shall not be, saith the Lord.

GreekΜετανόησον Κύριε ἐπὶ τούτῳ. Καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔσται, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVThe LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

JPSThe LORD repented concerning this; ‘It shall not be’, saith the LORD. .

ThomsonSo the Lord pointed out to me, and lo! the Lord had called for the punishment by fire, and it was devouring the great abyss and consuming the portion of the Lord,

BrentonThus has the Lord shewed me; and, behold, the Lord called for judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and devoured the Lord's portion.

GreekΟὕτως ἔδειξέ μοι Κύριος· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐκάλεσε τὴν δίκην ἐν πυρὶ Κύριος, καὶ κατέφαγε τὴν ἄβυσσον τὴν πολλὴν, καὶ κατέφαγε τὴν μερίδα Κυρίου.

KJVThus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

JPSThus the Lord GOD showed me; and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire; and it devoured the great deep, and would have eaten up the land.

Thomsonwhereupon I said, Cease, O Lord, I beseech thee. Who shall raise up Jacob?

BrentonThen I said, O Lord, cease, I pray thee: who shall raise up Jacob? for he is small in number. Repent, O Lord, for this.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, Κύριε κόπασον δὴ, τίς ἀναστήσει τὸν Ἰακώβ; ὅτι ὀλιγοστός ἐστι.

KJVThen said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

JPSThen said I: O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech Thee; How shall Jacob stand? for he is small.

ThomsonBecause he is very small, relent, O Lord, at this. This, then, shall not be, saith the Lord.

BrentonThis also shall not be, saith the Lord.

GreekΜετανόησον Κύριε ἐπὶ τούτῳ. Καὶ τοῦτο οὐ μὴ γένηται, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVThe LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

JPSThe LORD repented concerning this; ‘This also shall not be’, saith the Lord GOD.

ThomsonSo the Lord pointed out to me; and lo! he was standing on a wall of adamant and in his hand was an adamant. And the Lord said to me, What dost thou see, Amos? And when I said, An adamant;

BrentonThus the Lord shewed me; and behold, he stood upon a wall of adamant, and in his hand was an adamant.

GreekΟὕτως ἔδειξέ μοι Κύριος· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἑστηκὼς ἐπὶ τείχους ἀδαμαντίνου, καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀδάμας.

KJVThus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

JPSThus He showed me; and, behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand.

Thomsonthe Lord said to me, Behold I interpose an adamant in the midst of My people Israel that I may no more permit them to transgress.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, What seest thou, Amos? And I said, An adamant. And the Lord said to me, Behold, I appoint an adamant in the midst of my people Israel: I will not pass by them any more.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, τί σὺ ὁρᾷς Ἀμώς; καὶ εἶπα, ἀδάμαντα· καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐντάσσω ἀδάμαντα ἐν μέσῳ λαοῦ μου Ἰσραὴλ, οὐκ ἔτι μὴ προσθῶ τοῦ παρελθεῖν αὐτόν.

KJVAnd the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

JPSAnd the LORD said unto me: ‘Amos, what seest thou?’ And I said: ‘A plumbline.’ Then said the Lord: Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel; I will not again pardon them any more;

ThomsonRidiculous altars shall indeed be utterly destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with a sword.

BrentonAnd the joyful altars shall be abolished, and the sacrifices of Israel shall be set aside; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

GreekΚαὶ ἀφανισθήσονται βωμοὶ τοῦ γέλωτος, καὶ αἱ τελεταὶ τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἐρημωθήσονται, καὶ ἀναστήσομαι ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ.

KJVAnd the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

JPSAnd the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

ThomsonThen Amasias the priest of Baithel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos is raising insurrections against thee in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.

BrentonThen Amasias the priest of Bæthel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos is forming conspiracies against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land will be utterly unable to bear all his words.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν Ἀμασίας ὁ ἱερεὺς Βαιθὴλ πρὸς Ἱεροβοὰμ βασιλέα Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων, συστροφὰς ποιεῖται κατὰ σοῦ Ἀμὼς ἐν μέσῳ οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ, οὐ μὴ δύνηται ἡ γῆ ὑπενεγκεῖν πάντας τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ.

KJVThen Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

JPSThen Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying: ‘Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.

ThomsonFor thus Amos saith: Jeroboam shall die by the sword; and Israel shall be carried away captive from his land.

BrentonFor thus says Amos, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall be led away captive from his land.

GreekΔιότι τάδε λέγει Ἀμὼς, ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ τελευτήσει Ἱεροβοὰμ, ὁ δὲ Ἰσραὴλ αἰχμάλωτος ἀχθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ.

KJVFor thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

JPSFor thus Amos saith: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, And Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.’

ThomsonMoreover Amasias said to Amos, Begone, seer. Get thee to the land of Juda and dwell there,

BrentonAnd Amasias said to Amos, Go, seer, remove thou into the land of Juda, and live there, and thou shalt prophesy there:

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἀμασίας πρὸς Ἀμὼς ὁ ὁρῶν βάδιζε, ἐκχῶρησον σὺ εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐκεῖ καταβίου, καὶ ἐκεῖ προφητεύσεις,

KJVAlso Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

JPSAlso Amaziah said unto Amos: ‘O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there;

Thomsonand prophesy there: but against Baithel thou shalt not continue to prophesy; for it is the sanctuary of the king. It is the king’s house.

Brentonbut thou shalt no longer prophesy at Bæthel: for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is the royal house.

Greekεἰς δὲ Βαιθὴλ οὐκ ἔτι προσθήσεις τοῦ προφητεῦσαι, ὅτι ἁγίασμα βασιλέως ἐστὶ, καὶ οἶκος βασιλείας ἐστί.

KJV—

JPSbut prophesy not again any more at Beth-el, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house.’

ThomsonWhereupon Amos answered and said to Amasias, I was not a prophet, nor a son of a prophet. I was only a herdsman and a gatherer of dates;

BrentonAnd Amos answered, and said to Amasias, I was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet; but I was a herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruits.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ἀμὼς καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ἀμασίαν, οὐκ ἤμην προφήτης ἐγὼ, οὐδὲ υἱὸς προφήτου, ἀλλʼ ἢ αἰπόλος ἤμην, καὶ κνίζων συκάμινα·

KJVThen answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

JPSThen answered Amos, and said to Amaziah: ‘I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdman, and a dresser of sycamore-trees;

Thomsonand the Lord took me from the flocks and the Lord said to me, Go and prophesy against My people Israel.

BrentonAnd the Lord took me from the sheep, and the Lord said to me, Go, and prophesy to my people Israel.

Greekκαὶ ἀνέλαβέ με Κύριος ἐκ τῶν προβάτων, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, βάδιζε, καὶ προφήτευσον ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν μου Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

JPSand the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said unto me: Go, prophesy unto My people Israel.

ThomsonNow therefore hear a word of the Lord. Thou sayst, Prophesy not against Israel, and Thou shalt not give any disturbance to Israel.

BrentonAnd now hear the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not to Israel, and raise not a tumult against the house of Jacob.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἄκουε λόγον Κυρίου· σὺ λέγεις, μὴ προφήτευε ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὀχλαγωγήσῃς ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακώβ.

KJVNow therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

JPSNow therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest: Prophesy not against Israel, And preach not against the house of Isaac;

ThomsonTherefore thus saith the Lord: Thy wife shall be a prostitute in the city; and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword; and thy land shall be measured out with a line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land; and Israel shall be carried captive from his land.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be measured with the line; and thou shalt die in an unclean land; and Israel shall be led captive out of his land. Thus has the Lord God shewed me.

GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἡ γυνή σου ἐν τῇ πόλει πορνεύσει, καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ πεσοῦνται, καὶ ἡ γῆ σου ἐν σχοινίῳ καταμετρηθήσεται, καὶ σὺ ἐν γῇ ἀκαθάρτῳ τελευτήσεις, ὁ δὲ Ἰσραὴλ αἰχμάλωτος ἀχθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ· οὕτως ἔδειξέ μοι Κύριος Κύριος.

KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD: Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, And thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, And thy land shall be divided by line; And thou thyself shalt die in an unclean land, And Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.’