Amos 7:7

Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall [made] by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

Thus he shewed {H7200} me: and, behold, the Lord {H136} stood {H5324} upon a wall {H2346} made by a plumbline {H594}, with a plumbline {H594} in his hand {H3027}.

Then he showed me this: Adonai was standing by a wall made with a plumbline, and he had a plumbline in his hand.

This is what He showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand.

Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand.

Commentary

Amos 7:7 (KJV) presents the third of five symbolic visions given to the prophet Amos, revealing God's impending judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This particular vision introduces a powerful and precise metaphor for divine measurement and accountability.

Context of Amos 7:7

The book of Amos primarily delivers a message of judgment against Israel for its social injustice, idolatry, and moral corruption. Chapters 7-9 describe a series of five visions that Amos receives, each illustrating a different aspect of God's coming wrath. The first two visions (locusts and fire, Amos 7:1-3 and Amos 7:4-6) were averted by Amos's intercession. However, the vision of the plumbline signals a shift, indicating that Israel's deviation from God's standards has reached a point where judgment is inevitable. Historically, Israel had strayed far from the covenant established at Sinai, engaging in practices that violated God's law and oppressed the poor.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Standard and Judgment: The central image is the "plumbline" (Hebrew: אֲנָך, 'anakh), a tool used by builders to ensure a wall is perfectly vertical and true. God is depicted standing on a wall, holding this very tool, signifying that He is inspecting Israel against His perfect standard of righteousness. The wall, though built correctly, is now being re-evaluated.
  • Inescapable Accountability: Unlike the previous visions, there is no mention of Amos interceding to avert this judgment. This suggests that Israel's moral crookedness has become so severe that it can no longer be tolerated; they have failed the divine test. God's patience has run out, and His justice will be executed.
  • God as the Ultimate Builder and Judge: By holding the plumbline Himself, God asserts His authority as the one who established the moral and spiritual foundations for His people and is now the one who will measure their adherence to it. This foreshadows the direct intervention of God in their affairs.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "plumbline," 'anakh (אֲנָך), literally means "tin" or "lead," referring to the heavy bob at the end of the line. This simple tool represents an absolute, unyielding standard of straightness and integrity. Its appearance here underscores the precision and impartiality of God's assessment. The imagery is also reflected in other prophetic books, such as Isaiah 28:17, where righteousness and justice are described as God's measuring line and plummet.

Practical Application

Amos 7:7 serves as a timeless reminder that God has a standard for His people, rooted in His character of holiness and justice. For believers today, this verse encourages self-examination against God's Word, which is our spiritual plumbline. It challenges us to live lives of integrity, righteousness, and compassion, aligning our actions with God's perfect will. Just as Israel was held accountable, so too are individuals and nations today called to live according to divine truth, understanding that God's patience, though vast, is not without limit. We are to build our lives and communities on the sure foundation of Christ, ensuring our spiritual "walls" are straight and true.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 21:13

    And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as [a man] wipeth a dish, wiping [it], and turning [it] upside down.

  • Revelation 21:15

    And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

  • Isaiah 28:17

    Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

  • 2 Samuel 8:2

    And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so] the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.

  • Revelation 11:1

    ¶ And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

  • Isaiah 34:11

    But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

  • Zechariah 2:1

    ¶ I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
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