King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
[Are] ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
Complete Jewish Bible:
"People of Isra'el, are you any different from the Ethiopians to me?" asks ADONAI. "True, I brought Isra'el up from Egypt, but I also brought the P'lishtim from Kaftor, and Aram from Kir.
Berean Standard Bible:
“Are you not like the Cushites to Me, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. “Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Arameans from Kir?
American Standard Version:
Are ye not as the children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith Jehovah. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Are ye not as children{H1121} of the Ethiopians{H3569} unto me, O children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}? saith{H5002} the LORD{H3068}. Have not I brought up{H5927} Israel{H3478} out of the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714}? and the Philistines{H6430} from Caphtor{H3731}, and the Syrians{H758} from Kir{H7024}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 47:4
- Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, [and] to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
2 Kings 16:9
- And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
Deuteronomy 2:23
- And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, [even] unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
Amos 1:5
- I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:25
- Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all [them which are] circumcised with the uncircumcised;
Jeremiah 9:26
- Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart.
Amos 2:10
- Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
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Commentary for Amos 9:7
Amos 9:7 is a verse that reflects the prophet Amos' message to the northern kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BCE. The historical context of this period is marked by a time of relative prosperity and peace for Israel, yet also significant social injustice and religious apostasy. Amos, a shepherd from Judah, was called by God to prophesy to the people of the northern kingdom, warning them of the consequences of their actions.
In this particular verse, God, through the prophet Amos, challenges the Israelites' sense of privilege and chosenness. The verse draws a parallel between the Israelites and other nations, such as the Ethiopians, Philistines, and Syrians, questioning why the Israelites consider themselves exceptional. The mention of Ethiopians, who were often associated with the extremities of the known world, serves to emphasize the Israelites' lack of uniqueness in God's eyes. The Lord reminds them that He has also cared for and brought other nations out of their homelands, just as He brought Israel out of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor (possibly Crete), and the Syrians from Kir (an uncertain location, possibly in Mesopotamia).
The central theme of Amos 9:7 is that God's sovereignty extends over all nations, not just Israel. It serves as a corrective to the Israelites' ethnocentric view that they held a special status that exempted them from divine judgment. The verse underscores God's impartiality and His expectation of righteous behavior from all people, including His chosen people. It is a call to repentance and a warning that God's covenant with Israel does not guarantee their safety if they fail to live according to His laws and precepts. This message is integral to the broader context of Amos' prophecies, which consistently highlight the need for justice and righteousness, and the dire consequences of their absence.
*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: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3569
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כּוּשִׁי
Transliteration: Kûwshîy
Pronunciation: koo-shee'
Description: patronymically from כּוּשׁ; a Cushite, or descendant of Cush; Cushi, Cushite, Ethiopian(-s). - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H5002
There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְאֻם
Transliteration: nᵉʼum
Pronunciation: neh-oom'
Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H4714
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
Transliteration: Mitsrayim
Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. - Strong's Number: H6430
There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine. - Strong's Number: H3731
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּפְתֹּר
Transliteration: Kaphtôr
Pronunciation: kaf-tore'
Description: or (Amos 9:7) כַּפְתּוֹר; apparently the same as כַּפְתֹּר; Caphtor (i.e. a wreath-shaped island), the original seat of the Philistines; Caphtor. - Strong's Number: H758
There are 561 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲרָם
Transliteration: ʼĂrâm
Pronunciation: arawm'
Description: from the same as אַרְמוֹן; the highland; Aram or Syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of Shem, a grandson of Nahor, and of an Israelite; Aram, Mesopotamia, Syria, Syrians. - Strong's Number: H7024
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִיר
Transliteration: Qîyr
Pronunciation: keer
Description: the same as קִיר; fortress; Kir, a place in Assyrian; also one in Moab; Kir. Compare קִיר חֶרֶשׂ.