¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Behold, the days {H3117} come {H935}, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, that I will send {H7971} a famine {H7458} in the land {H776}, not a famine {H7458} of bread {H3899}, nor a thirst {H6772} for water {H4325}, but of hearing {H8085} the words {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}:
"The time is coming," says Adonai ELOHIM, "when I will send famine over the land, not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of ADONAI.
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah.
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1 Samuel 3:1
¶ And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision. -
Psalms 74:9
We see not our signs: [there is] no more any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knoweth how long. -
2 Chronicles 15:3
Now for a long season Israel [hath been] without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. -
1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. -
Ezekiel 7:26
Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. -
Isaiah 30:20
And [though] the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: -
Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Amos 8:11 delivers a powerful and sobering prophecy from the Lord God, warning of a unique and devastating judgment upon Israel. While famines of food and water were common and feared in the ancient Near East, this verse speaks of a far more profound and spiritual deprivation: a "famine of hearing the words of the LORD."
Context
The prophet Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver messages of judgment to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of outward prosperity but deep moral decay. Chapters 7 and 8 detail the various visions and pronouncements of impending doom due to Israel's rampant social injustice, oppression of the poor, dishonest trade practices, and religious hypocrisy. The people had become deaf to God's warnings and despised His prophets. This verse, therefore, represents the ultimate consequence of their persistent rebellion: God would withdraw His direct communication, leaving them in spiritual darkness. It highlights the severe penalty for rejecting God's messengers and His truth.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "famine" is ra'av (רָעָב), typically referring to a lack of food. By applying this term to "hearing the words of the LORD" (divrei Yahweh), Amos uses a powerful metaphor. It signifies that the absence of divine communication will be as agonizing and life-threatening to the spirit as a lack of food and water is to the body. This unique phrasing emphasizes the profound spiritual emptiness that would accompany God's withdrawal.
Practical Application
For believers today, Amos 8:11 serves as a potent warning and an encouragement:
This prophecy from Amos highlights that the greatest tragedy is not physical deprivation, but a spiritual one—a world or a life without the guiding, life-giving voice of the Lord.