Amos 5:2

KJV

The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up.

KJV (with Strong's)

The virgin {H1330} of Israel {H3478} is fallen {H5307}; she shall no more {H3254} rise {H6965}: she is forsaken {H5203} upon her land {H127}; there is none to raise her up {H6965}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The virgin of Isra'el has fallen; she will not rise again. She lies abandoned on her own soil with no one to lift her up.

Berean Standard Bible

“Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again. She lies abandoned on her land, with no one to raise her up.”

American Standard Version

The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is cast down upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Amos 5:2 is a profound prophetic lament that declares the catastrophic and seemingly irreversible downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Using the poignant imagery of a "virgin" who has fallen, the verse underscores the completeness of their ruin, emphasizing that the nation, once pure and cherished, is now utterly forsaken and without any hope of self-recovery or external aid from human hands, a direct consequence of their persistent rebellion and spiritual apostasy against God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Amos 5:2 is situated within a series of prophetic pronouncements by Amos concerning the impending judgment upon Israel. Chapter 5 begins with a funeral dirge (vv. 1-3), a lament over a nation already considered "fallen" even before the actual event, highlighting the certainty and severity of God's judgment. This dirge is immediately followed by a call to repentance (vv. 4-6), demonstrating that while judgment is certain, God still offers a path to life. The lament of verse 2 serves as the core of this dirge, setting the tone for the subsequent woes and indictments against Israel's social injustice and religious hypocrisy that permeate the rest of the chapter and book. It contrasts sharply with the false sense of security and prosperity that Israel enjoyed under Jeroboam II.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Amos ministered during the mid-8th century BC, a period of significant economic prosperity and political stability for the Northern Kingdom of Israel under King Jeroboam II (793-753 BC). This era was characterized by a superficial peace and material abundance, yet it masked deep-seated spiritual decay, widespread idolatry (particularly the calf worship at Bethel and Dan), and rampant social injustice, where the wealthy oppressed the poor and the legal system was corrupted. Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah, was uniquely called by God to prophesy against this moral and spiritual decline, warning that their outward success was a deceptive facade that would soon crumble under divine judgment. The "fall" prophesied in Amos 5:2 would ultimately be fulfilled by the Assyrian conquest and exile of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC, marking the end of their national sovereignty.
* **Key Themes:** Amos 5:2 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Amos. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment**, emphasizing God's unwavering justice against sin and His covenant faithfulness, which demands accountability from His people (see [Amos 3:2](/amos/3-2 "Amos 3:2 - Israel's Unique Accountability")). The verse also highlights the **Consequences of Apostasy**, illustrating how Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and rejection of God's covenant lead to national ruin and abandonment. The imagery of the "virgin of Israel" underscores the theme of **Lost Purity and Privilege**, as the nation, once uniquely set apart by God, has become defiled. Furthermore, the declaration that "she shall no more rise" speaks to the immediate and devastating **Irreversibility of Judgment** for the nation in its present form, a stark contrast to later prophecies of future restoration for a remnant (e.g., [Amos 9:11-15](/amos/9-11-15 "Amos 9:11-15 - Restoration of David's Fallen Booth")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Virgin (Hebrew, _bᵉthûwlâh'_):** From H1330, this term typically denotes purity, innocence, or an undefiled entity, often referring to an unmarried woman. Figuratively, it can represent a city or state, as seen here with "the virgin of Israel." Its use in this context is deeply ironic and poignant; it highlights Israel's original cherished status as God's chosen people, set apart and pure, making her subsequent "fall" all the more tragic and emphasizing the depth of her moral and spiritual corruption.
* **Fallen (Hebrew, _nâphal'_):** From H5307, this primitive root signifies a definitive collapse, ruin, or overthrow. It is a strong verb indicating a complete and irreversible descent, not merely a stumble or temporary setback. In Amos 5:2, it underscores the certainty and totality of Israel's impending national destruction, implying a loss of status, power, and security.
* **Rise (Hebrew, _qûwm'_):** From H6965, this root means "to rise," "stand up," or "be established." It can refer to physical rising, but also to restoration, revival, or recovery. In the phrase "she shall no more rise" and "none to raise her up," it emphasizes the utter lack of internal capacity or external assistance for Israel to recover from her fallen state, highlighting the finality of God's judgment in this specific context.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The virgin of Israel is fallen;":** This clause introduces the central lament, personifying the Northern Kingdom of Israel as a "virgin." This imagery evokes a sense of tragic loss, as a virgin symbolizes purity, honor, and potential. Her "fall" signifies a complete collapse, a loss of her esteemed status, and a profound national degradation due to her spiritual unfaithfulness and social injustice.
* **"she shall no more rise:":** This declaration emphasizes the finality and severity of the judgment. It signifies that, from a human perspective and in the immediate context of this judgment, Israel's national and political existence is irrevocably doomed. There is no inherent power or external human aid that can reverse this divine decree.
* **"she is forsaken upon her land;":** This phrase paints a picture of utter desolation and abandonment. "Forsaken" implies being left alone, unprotected, and without help. The nation is left vulnerable and exposed on its own territory, stripped of divine protection and human alliances, a direct consequence of having forsaken God.
* **"[there is] none to raise her up.":** This final clause reiterates and reinforces the previous declaration of irreversible ruin. It underscores the complete lack of any rescuer or restorer, whether from within Israel or from any external nation. It highlights the profound isolation and despair that results from persistent rebellion against God, leaving the nation utterly helpless in the face of divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Amos 5:2 is rich in **Personification**, where the nation of Israel is depicted as a "virgin" who has "fallen" and is "forsaken." This device makes the abstract concept of national judgment more visceral and relatable, evoking a sense of tragedy and loss. The phrase "she shall no more rise" employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize the perceived finality and severity of the immediate judgment, though later prophecies in Amos (e.g., [Amos 9:11](/amos/9-11 "Amos 9:11 - Restoration of David's Tabernacle")) offer a long-term hope of restoration for a remnant. The entire verse functions as a **Dirge** or funeral lament, a form of mournful poetry typically recited over the dead. By presenting this lament as if Israel were already dead, Amos underscores the certainty and inevitability of the impending destruction, setting a somber tone for the subsequent warnings and calls to repentance. The repetition of the idea of not being able to "rise" creates a sense of **Emphasis** on the utter helplessness of the nation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Amos 5:2 serves as a profound theological statement on God's unwavering justice and the dire consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals that God's patience, while vast, is not infinite, and persistent rebellion against His righteous standards will inevitably lead to severe judgment. The "fall" of Israel, once uniquely chosen and set apart, underscores the principle that privilege brings greater accountability. This verse powerfully illustrates that true security and flourishing come not from material prosperity or military might, but from a right relationship with God and adherence to His covenant. When a people or individual forsakes the Lord, they ultimately lose His protective favor and find themselves utterly helpless and forsaken.

* [Hosea 4:6](/hosea/4-6 "Hosea 4:6 - Israel Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge")
* [Jeremiah 19:11](/jeremiah/19-11 "Jeremiah 19:11 - Broken Beyond Repair")
* [Lamentations 1:1](/lamentations/1-1 "Lamentations 1:1 - Jerusalem's Desolation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Amos 5:2 stands as a timeless and sobering warning against spiritual complacency, social injustice, and idolatry, even in times of apparent prosperity. It reminds us that outward success can mask deep spiritual decay, and that God's holiness demands justice and righteousness from His people. For individuals and communities today, this verse calls for a sober reflection on our own spiritual state: Are we living in a way that honors God's covenant, or are we pursuing material gain and worldly comforts while neglecting justice, compassion, and true worship? It underscores the critical importance of genuine repentance and a return to the Lord, for only in Him do we find true security and the power to be raised up from our fallenness. To ignore God's warnings is to risk finding ourselves forsaken and without help in our time of greatest need.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my own life or community be experiencing "prosperity" while simultaneously neglecting spiritual health or social justice?**
* **What idols (e.g., wealth, comfort, reputation) might I be pursuing that could lead to a "forsaken" state in my relationship with God?**
* **How does the seemingly irreversible nature of Israel's fall in this verse highlight the seriousness of unrepentant sin, and what hope does it offer for those who do repent?**

### FAQ
**Does Amos 5:2 mean that God's people can never be restored after a fall?**

Answer: While Amos 5:2 declares a severe and seemingly irreversible fall for the Northern Kingdom of Israel in its immediate historical context ("she shall no more rise"), it's crucial to understand this within the broader prophetic narrative. This specific prophecy emphasizes the totality of the *national and political* judgment due to their persistent apostasy, leading to their destruction and exile by Assyria. However, the Bible's overarching message includes God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, which ultimately entails a future restoration for a remnant of Israel. Later in Amos, the prophet himself speaks of God raising up the "booth of David that is fallen" ([Amos 9:11](/amos/9-11 "Amos 9:11 - Restoration of David's Tabernacle")), pointing to a future spiritual and national restoration under a Davidic king. Thus, while the judgment in Amos 5:2 was absolute for that specific era and national entity, it does not negate God's long-term redemptive plan for His people, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Amos 5:2, with its mournful declaration of Israel's fall and inability to rise, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Humanity, like the "virgin of Israel," has fallen from its created state of purity and communion with God due to sin, becoming utterly "forsaken" and incapable of raising itself up from spiritual death (see [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned") and [Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in Trespasses")). The prophetic lament of Amos foreshadows the desperate need for a divine intervention, a "raiser-up" from outside of humanity's fallen state. Jesus Christ is that ultimate "raiser-up." He is the one who, through His atoning death and glorious resurrection, conquered sin and death, providing the only means by which fallen humanity can "rise" to new life (as declared in [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Raised to New Life")). Where Israel was forsaken and had "none to raise her up," Christ became forsaken on the cross ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?")) so that those who believe in Him would never be truly forsaken but would be raised with Him to eternal life ([Colossians 2:12](/colossians/2-12 "Colossians 2:12 - Buried and Raised with Christ")). He fulfills the promise of restoration, not merely for a nation, but for all who are spiritually dead, offering a new covenant where the fallen are indeed raised and given an everlasting hope.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 14:17

¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Jeremiah 18:13

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.

Isaiah 43:17

Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

Jeremiah 51:64

And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far [are] the words of Jeremiah.

Isaiah 51:17

¶ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them] out.

Isaiah 51:18

[There is] none to guide her among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth; neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up.

Isaiah 24:20

The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.