King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
Complete Jewish Bible:
When that time comes, young women and men will faint from thirst.
Berean Standard Bible:
In that day the lovely young women— the young men as well— will faint from thirst.
American Standard Version:
In that day shall the fair virgins and the young men faint for thirst.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
In that day{H3117} shall the fair{H3303} virgins{H1330} and young men{H970} faint{H5968} for thirst{H6772}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Hosea 2:3
- Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.
Lamentations 1:18
- The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
Lamentations 2:21
- The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain [them] in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, [and] not pitied.
Zechariah 9:17
- For how great [is] his goodness, and how great [is] his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
Isaiah 41:17
- [When] the poor and needy seek water, and [there is] none, [and] their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:20
- That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Lamentations 2:10
- ¶ The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, [and] keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.
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Commentary for Amos 8:13
Amos 8:13, "In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst," is a verse that speaks to the gravity of the judgment that the prophet Amos is foretelling. This verse is part of a larger prophecy concerning the downfall of Israel due to its unfaithfulness to God, particularly its neglect of justice and its exploitation of the poor.
The historical context of this verse is set during the prosperous reign of King Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, around the 8th century BCE. Despite the economic prosperity, there was significant social injustice and religious apostasy. The people of Israel had turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and failing to uphold the covenantal laws that called for fair treatment of all members of society.
In this verse, Amos uses vivid imagery to convey the severity of the impending judgment. The "fair virgins" and "young men" represent the vitality and future of the nation, yet they are depicted as fainting from thirst—a basic and urgent human need. This suggests a time of extreme hardship where even the most vigorous individuals will suffer dire consequences. The metaphor of thirst can be interpreted both literally, as a lack of water during a drought or siege, and figuratively, as a thirst for righteousness and justice that goes unquenched due to the corruption of the society.
The themes of Amos 8:13 include God's intolerance for injustice, the certainty of divine judgment, and the sobering reality that the consequences of sin will affect every level of society, including those who might seem insulated from the moral decay of the nation. Amos's message is a call to repentance, urging the people to return to God and to the ethical standards that He requires of His people. The verse serves as a stark reminder that spiritual and moral failure can lead to national calamity, and that God's justice ultimately prevails over human complacency and corruption.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); 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. - Strong's Number: H3303
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָפֶה
Transliteration: yâpheh
Pronunciation: yaw-feh'
Description: from יָפָה; beautiful (literally or figuratively); [phrase] beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), [phrase] goodly, pleasant, well. - Strong's Number: H1330
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּתוּלָה
Transliteration: bᵉthûwlâh
Pronunciation: beth-oo-law'
Description: feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to separate; a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state; maid, virgin. - Strong's Number: H970
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּחוּר
Transliteration: bâchûwr
Pronunciation: baw-khoor'
Description: or בָּחֻר; participle passive of בָּחַר; properly, selected, i.e. a youth (often collective); (choice) young (man), chosen, [idiom] hole. - Strong's Number: H5968
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלַף
Transliteration: ʻâlaph
Pronunciation: aw-laf'
Description: a primitive root; to veil or cover; figuratively, to be languid; faint, overlaid, wrap self. - Strong's Number: H6772
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָמָא
Transliteration: tsâmâʼ
Pronunciation: tsaw-maw'
Description: from צָמֵא; thirst (literally or figuratively); thirst(-y).