Amos 3

1 Hear [listen attentively, obey] this word [message, declaration] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has spoken [communicated, proclaimed] against you, O children [sons, descendants] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], against the whole [entire, all-inclusive] family [clan, tribe, nation] that I brought up [ascended, led out] out of the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] [in order to say, to declare]: word study 2 “Only you [alone, uniquely] have I known [chosen, intimately understood] from all [every single one of] the families [nations, tribes] of the earth [land, world]; therefore [as a result, thus] I will punish [visit, reckon with] you for all [every one of] your iniquities [sins, moral evils].” word study 3 Can two [a pair, a duo] walk [to move, to journey] together [united, in harmony] without [except, unless] agreeing [to appoint, to make a plan] where [at what place, to what destination] to go [to proceed, to travel]? word study 4 Does a lion roar [to give a loud, fierce cry] in the forest [a thicket or a copse of bushes] when he has no prey [nothing to tear apart, no food]? Does a young lion [a lion’s whelp] growl [to give out its voice, cry out] in his den [habitation, a place of rest] if he has caught [seized, taken] nothing [no animal, no flesh to eat]? word study 5 Does a bird [little sparrow, fowl] land in a snare [trap, net] where no bait [gin, lure] has been set? Does a trap [snare] spring from the ground [land, earth] when it has nothing [no prey, no catch] to catch? word study 6 If a ram’s horn [trumpet] sounds in a city [town, settlement], do the people [nation, community] not tremble [be afraid, fear]? If calamity [evil, disaster] comes to a city [town, place of dwelling], has not the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] caused [done, brought about] it? word study 7 Surely the Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] does nothing [will not act] without revealing [uncovering, making known] His plan [counsel, secret] to His servants [faithful attendants] the prophets [those who speak for God]. word study 8 The lion has roared [with a mighty voice, to roar like a conqueror]— who [what person, anyone] will not fear [be afraid, revere, or stand in awe]? The Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] has spoken [to communicate, to command]— who [what person, anyone] will not prophesy [to speak under divine influence, to foretell]? word study 9 Proclaim [declare, announce] to the citadels [strongholds, fortresses] of Ashdod and to the citadels [palaces, high places] of Egypt: “Assemble [gather, come together] on the mountains [hills, heights] of Samaria; see [behold, observe] the great unrest [tumult, turmoil] in the city and the acts of oppression [injustice, cruelty] in her midst [center, heart].” word study 10 “For they know [are aware, understand] not [indicating absence] how to do [practice, perform] right [upright, just],” declares [utterance, from God] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. “They store up [treasure, accumulate] violence [cruelty, injustice] and destruction [ruin, devastation] in their citadels [strongholds, fortresses].” word study 11 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the Lord [Adonay, God of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] says: “An enemy [adversary, opponent] will surround [encircle, shut in] the land [earth, territory]; he will pull down [bring down, overthrow] your strongholds [strength, fortresses] and plunder [spoil, violently take] your citadels [palaces, high places].” word study 12 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “As the shepherd [one who cares for and tends to] snatches from the mouth [lip, edge] of the lion two legs [from the knee to the ankle] or a piece [a severed part] of an ear [the body part or ability to hear], so the Israelites [descendants of Jacob] dwelling [sitting, remaining] in Samaria [the watch mountain, a region in northern Palestine] will be rescued [snatched away, delivered from danger] having just the corner [side, edge] of a bed [a place for sleeping or eating] or the cushion [a soft padding, possibly made of silk] of a couch [a sofa, a place for rest]. word study 13 Hear [listen and obey] and testify [uphold and affirm] against the house [family and descendants] of Jacob [Israel, the chosen people], declares the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] of Hosts [armies and heavenly powers]. word study 14 On the day [of reckoning, when I shall visit] I punish [hold accountable, judge] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] for their transgressions [rebellion, revolt against God], I will visit [oversee, bring judgment upon] destruction [devastation, desolation] on the altars [places of sacrifice, worship] of Bethel [house of God, a significant location]; the horns [corners] of the altar will be cut off [destroyed, broken], and they will fall [collapse, be overthrown] to the ground [land, earth]. word study 15 I will tear down [smite, destroy] the winter house [dwelling place for the cold season] along with the summer house [residence for the harvest season]; the houses of ivory [ornate, luxurious abodes] will also perish [be destroyed, lost], and the great houses [grand, many residences] will come to an end [cease, be no more],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study