Hebrew Word Reference — Amos 5:18
Hoy is an expression of sadness or pain, like saying oh or woe. It's used to show strong emotions, and is often translated as alas or woe in the KJV Bible. This word conveys a sense of lament or regret.
Definition: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: ah, alas, ho, O, woe. See also: 1 Kings 13:30; Jeremiah 22:18; Isaiah 1:4.
To desire means to strongly wish for something, and can be used to describe physical or emotional longings. This word is used in the Bible to describe feelings of coveting or lusting after something.
Definition: 1) desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer 1a) (Piel) to desire, crave (food and drink) 1b) (Hithpael) to desire, long for, lust after (of bodily appetites)
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after). See also: Numbers 11:4; Psalms 132:13; Psalms 45:12.
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Definition: 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus 1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus 1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side 1f6) on this account 1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Usage: Occurs in 1061 OT verses. KJV: he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare H2063 (זֹאת), H2090 (זֹה), H2097 (זוֹ), H2098 (זוּ). See also: Genesis 5:1; Exodus 10:17; Numbers 14:16.
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
This word refers to darkness, both physical and spiritual. It can also mean misery, destruction, or wickedness. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a state of being without light or hope.
Definition: 1) darkness, obscurity 1a) darkness 1b) secret place
Usage: Occurs in 77 OT verses. KJV: dark(-ness), night, obscurity. See also: Genesis 1:2; Psalms 35:6; Psalms 18:12.
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
Light, including natural light from the sun or stars, and also spiritual light from God. It can refer to happiness, prosperity, or understanding. In the Bible, God is often described as the source of light and life.
Definition: 1) light 1a) light of day 1b) light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars) 1c) day-break, dawn, morning light 1d) daylight 1e) lightning 1f) light of lamp 1g) light of life 1h) light of prosperity 1i) light of instruction 1j) light of face (fig.) 1k) Jehovah as Israel's light
Usage: Occurs in 110 OT verses. KJV: bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun. See also: Genesis 1:3; Psalms 78:14; Psalms 4:7.
Context — Woe to Rebellious Israel
16Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says: “There will be wailing in all the public squares and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets. The farmer will be summoned to mourn, and the mourners to wail.
17There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the LORD.
18Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.
19It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake.
20Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
Joel 1:15 |
Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. |
| 2 |
Joel 2:1–2 |
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. |
| 3 |
Joel 2:31 |
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. |
| 4 |
Jeremiah 30:7 |
How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it. |
| 5 |
Malachi 4:1 |
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.” |
| 6 |
Isaiah 24:11–12 |
In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land. The city is left in ruins; its gate is reduced to rubble. |
| 7 |
Zephaniah 1:14–15 |
The great Day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, |
| 8 |
Isaiah 5:19 |
to those who say, “Let Him hurry and hasten His work so that we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come so that we may know it!” |
| 9 |
Isaiah 5:30 |
In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds. |
| 10 |
Malachi 3:1–2 |
“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. |
Amos 5:18 Summary
The verse Amos 5:18 is a warning to people who think they are ready for the Day of the Lord, but are not. It says that instead of being a time of joy and celebration, the Day of the Lord will be a time of darkness and fear for those who are not truly seeking God. This is because God is a holy God who judges sin, as seen in Psalm 96:13. To be prepared for the Day of the Lord, we need to seek God with a humble heart and live a life that is pleasing to Him, as mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to long for the Day of the Lord?
Longing for the Day of the Lord means to eagerly await God's judgment and redemption, as seen in Isaiah 2:12 and Joel 2:31, but in Amos 5:18, it is a warning to those who think they are prepared for that day.
Why will the Day of the Lord be darkness and not light for some people?
The Day of the Lord will be darkness and not light for those who are not truly seeking God, as they will be judged for their sins, as mentioned in Romans 2:5 and 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.
Is the Day of the Lord only a time of judgment, or is it also a time of redemption?
While the Day of the Lord is a time of judgment, as seen in Amos 5:18, it is also a time of redemption for those who are faithful to God, as mentioned in Isaiah 60:1-2 and Revelation 20:6.
How can we prepare for the Day of the Lord?
We can prepare for the Day of the Lord by seeking God with a humble heart, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14, and by living a life that is pleasing to Him, as mentioned in Colossians 1:10 and 1 John 3:3.
Reflection Questions
- What are my true motives for wanting the Day of the Lord to come, and am I prepared to face God's judgment?
- How can I ensure that I am seeking God with a humble heart, and not just going through the motions of religiosity?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my faithfulness to God in my daily life, and how can I be a light in the darkness for those around me?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to repent and turn to God, so that I can be ready for the Day of the Lord?
Gill's Exposition on Amos 5:18
Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord,.... Either the day of Christ's coming in the flesh, as Cocceius interprets it; and which was desired by the people of Israel, not on account of spiritual
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Amos 5:18
Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord!
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Amos 5:18
That desire, scoffingly, or not believing any such day would come: the prophets had long threatened such a day, but these scoffers thought no such thing could overtake them, and if it did they would know the worst of it; alter their course they will not, whatever comes on it, and they are confident the prophets fright them with bugbears: but woe to such scoffers! The day of the Lord: see 2:1 . To what end is it for you? what do you think to get by it? what good can you expect when darkest calamities overwhelm you? The day of the Lord is darkness; all adversity, most black and doleful, therefore called in the abstract darkness. And not light; no joy, hope, or comfort in it.
Trapp's Commentary on Amos 5:18
Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end [is] it for you? the day of the LORD [is] darkness, and not light.Ver. 18. Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord] The day of his visitation when he will go through us, as you prophets would make believe. Where is the promise of his coming? Let him make speed and hasten his work, that we may see it, Isaiah 5:19 Jeremiah 17:15. Let him increase his army and come down, Judges 9:29. Such jeering and daring spirits there are still abroad. But do they provoke the Lord to anger? are they stronger than he? The great and terrible day of the Lord will come time enough to their cost; they need not accelerate it. Can they stand to his trial? or abide the thunder of his power? Job 26:14.
To what end is it for you] When God shall answer you, as he did a far better man, out of the whirlwind, and say, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man," Job 38:2-3. Where, then, shall the ungodly and the wicked appear? 1 Peter 4:18; what hills will they call upon to fall on them, when the elements shall fall upon them like scalding lead or burning bell metal; and yet all this be but the beginning of their sorrows! "Now therefore be not ye mockers, lest your bands be made strong," Isaiah 28:22. God can easily hamper you if he once take you in hand. The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light] No interchange of light; "an evil, an only evil," without mixture of mercy, Ezekiel 7:5, a black and dismal day of one mischief upon another, in a continued series. "Affliction shall not rise up the second time," Nahum 1:9, but ye shall totally and finally be destroyed; wrath shall come upon you to the utmost, 1 Thessalonians 2:16. This is illustrated in the next verse by an apt similitude.
Ellicott's Commentary on Amos 5:18
(18) Desire the day of the Lord.—Expecting that day to bring you deliverance and judgments upon your enemies. It shall bring the reverse! There is a dark side to the pillar of fire.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Amos 5:18
Verse 18. Wo unto you that desire the day of the Lord] The prophet had often denounced the coming of God's day, that is, of a time of judgment; and the unbelievers had said, "Let his day come, that we may see it." Now the prophet tells them that that day would be to them darkness-calamity, and not light-not prosperity.
Cambridge Bible on Amos 5:18
18–20. Those who desire the “Day of Jehovah,” as though it could be anything but an interposition in their favour, will find to their surprise that it is a day fraught with peril and disaster.
Barnes' Notes on Amos 5:18
Woe unto you that desire - for yourselves. The Day of the Lord - There were “mockers in those days” 2 Peter 3:3-4; Jude 1:18, as there are now, and as there shall be in the last.
Whedon's Commentary on Amos 5:18
18-20. The day of Jehovah a day of calamity and ruin. Woe — Introduces frequently announcements of judgment (Isaiah 5:8 ff; Isaiah 10:1, etc.).
Sermons on Amos 5:18
| Sermon | Description |
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Dvd 02 - Jewish Unbelief
by Art Katz
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This sermon emphasizes the importance of boldly sharing the gospel with the Jewish community, highlighting the need for believers to be willing to endure rejection, insults, and su |
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Country Preacher Who Came to Town
by J. Vernon McGee
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In this sermon, the preacher discusses the days of Jeroboam and the prosperity that came to the land. The people were living in luxury, lying on beds of ivory and eating the finest |
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Bristol Conference 1962 - Part 6
by William MacDonald
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In this sermon, the preacher highlights the issue of luxury, complacency, and ease in today's society, particularly within the church. He references 1 Corinthians chapter 4, where |
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The Blowing of the Great Trumpet
by J.C. Philpot
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J.C. Philpot preaches on the significance of 'The day of the Lord' as a time when God's power is prominently displayed, bringing both trouble and deliverance. The blowing of the gr |
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The Poor of the Land and the Pride of Jacob
by John Piper
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John Piper preaches on the message of Amos, a shepherd turned prophet, who delivered a warning of coming judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite Amos' faithful procla |
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The Day That Will Right All Wrongs.
by Horatius Bonar
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Horatius Bonar emphasizes the hope of a future day when God will right all wrongs, drawing parallels between the desolation of Jerusalem and the current state of the world filled w |
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The Decree of Judgment
by Aaron Dunlop
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In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the concept of judgment and the decree of judgment as prescribed by the Lord. The sermon explores the idea that what we sow, we will reap, a |