Amos 8:9

KJV

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

KJV (with Strong's)

And it shall come to pass in that day {H3117}, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, that I will cause the sun {H8121} to go down {H935} at noon {H6672}, and I will darken {H2821} the earth {H776} in the clear {H216} day {H3117}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"When that time comes," says Adonai ELOHIM, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

Berean Standard Bible

And in that day, declares the Lord GOD, I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the daytime.

American Standard Version

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Amos 8:9 delivers a powerful prophetic declaration of God's impending, sudden, and unnatural judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel. Through the vivid imagery of the sun setting at noon and the earth darkening in broad daylight, the verse conveys a divine reversal of natural order, symbolizing an abrupt end to Israel's perceived prosperity and security, plunging them into a period of unprecedented national mourning, despair, and destruction as a direct consequence of their pervasive spiritual and social corruption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Amos 8:9 is situated within the latter half of the book of Amos, following a series of five visions that progressively reveal God's judgment upon Israel. Specifically, it immediately follows the fourth vision, that of "a basket of summer fruit" ([Amos 8:1-3](/amos/8-1-3 "Amos' Fourth Vision: The Basket of Summer Fruit")), which signified that Israel's time was ripe for judgment, and their end was near. The preceding verses detail the people's greed, their oppression of the poor, and their impatience for the Sabbath to end so they could resume their dishonest trading practices ([Amos 8:4-6](/amos/8-4-6 "Israel's Oppression and Dishonesty")). This verse, therefore, serves as a direct pronouncement of the catastrophic consequences of such widespread injustice and spiritual decay, setting the stage for the lamentation and famine of hearing God's word described in the subsequent verses ([Amos 8:11-12](/amos/8-11-12 "The Famine of God's Word")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Amos ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (c. 793-753 BC), a period characterized by remarkable economic prosperity and political stability. This era saw Israel expand its borders and enjoy a resurgence of power, yet beneath this veneer of success lay profound spiritual apostasy and rampant social injustice. The rich oppressed the poor, merchants used dishonest scales, and religious rituals were performed without genuine devotion. The people felt secure, believing their prosperity was a sign of God's favor, despite their moral decay. Amos, a shepherd and fig-dresser from Tekoa in Judah, was called by God to confront this complacency, prophesying against the very foundations of their perceived security. The imagery of the sun darkening at noon would have been particularly shocking in a culture deeply connected to agricultural cycles and the dependable rhythms of nature, underscoring the unnatural and divine nature of the impending calamity.
* **Key Themes:** Amos 8:9 powerfully contributes to several key themes woven throughout the book of Amos. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty**, emphasizing God's absolute control over creation and history, able to reverse natural order to execute His will. It also highlights the **Consequences of Injustice and Spiritual Decay**, demonstrating that outward prosperity cannot mask inward corruption from God's sight, and that persistent sin inevitably leads to severe divine retribution. The phrase "that day" directly points to the recurring prophetic theme of the **Day of the Lord**, which in Amos is consistently portrayed as a day of darkness and judgment for Israel, contrary to their expectation of it being a day of light and vindication ([Amos 5:18-20](/amos/5-18-20 "The Day of the Lord as Darkness")). Furthermore, the cosmic imagery underscores the **Holiness of God** and His intolerance for unrighteousness, revealing that sin has far-reaching implications, affecting even the fabric of creation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **day (Hebrew, _yôwm'_):** This word signifies a literal day (from sunrise to sunset or sunset to sunset) but can also denote a figurative "space of time defined by an associated term." In Amos 8:9, it refers to a specific, future "that day" of judgment, yet it also emphasizes the literal "clear day" that will be unnaturally darkened, highlighting the shocking abruptness of the event.
* **sun (Hebrew, _shemesh'_):** Refers to the celestial body, the source of light and warmth. Its going down at noon represents a complete reversal of the natural order, symbolizing the catastrophic and unnatural nature of God's intervention. The sun, often associated with life and prosperity, here becomes a symbol of abrupt loss.
* **darken (Hebrew, _châshak'_):** A primitive root meaning "to be dark (as withholding light)" or "to make dark." It implies a deliberate act of obscuring light, not a natural occurrence. The active voice ("I will darken") underscores God's direct agency in bringing about this profound, unnatural darkness, which signifies mourning, despair, and the withdrawal of divine favor.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD":** This opening clause serves as a solemn, authoritative pronouncement, typical of prophetic oracle. "That day" points to a specific, divinely appointed future moment of intervention, often associated with judgment. The phrase "saith the Lord GOD" (Adonai YHWH) emphasizes the absolute authority and certainty of the declaration, leaving no doubt that this is a divine decree from the sovereign God of Israel.
* **"that I will cause the sun to go down at noon":** This is the central, striking image of the verse. "Noon" (tsôhar) represents the brightest, clearest, and most active part of the day. For the sun to "go down" (bôwʼ) at this zenith signifies an unnatural, miraculous, and catastrophic event. It is a reversal of cosmic order, symbolizing an abrupt end to Israel's perceived prosperity, security, and light, plunging them into unexpected darkness and despair. This is not a natural eclipse but a direct act of God.
* **"and I will darken the earth in the clear day":** This parallel phrase reinforces and intensifies the preceding image. "Clear day" (ʼôwr yôwm) emphasizes the brightness and clarity that should characterize the day. For the earth to be "darkened" (châshak) at such a time underscores the totality and unnaturalness of the judgment. It signifies a widespread, inescapable gloom that affects all aspects of life, symbolizing national mourning, the loss of hope, and the pervasive despair that will accompany God's judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Amos 8:9 is rich in **Symbolism**, where the sun and light represent prosperity, security, and divine favor, while darkness symbolizes judgment, despair, and mourning. The "sun going down at noon" is a powerful **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used to emphasize the shocking, unnatural, and devastating nature of the impending judgment. It is not meant to be taken literally as a permanent astronomical event but as a vivid metaphor for an abrupt and catastrophic reversal of fortune. The verse also employs **Parallelism** through the two clauses: "I will cause the sun to go down at noon" and "I will darken the earth in the clear day." These phrases echo and reinforce each other, intensifying the message of sudden, pervasive darkness and judgment. Furthermore, there is an element of **Irony**, as the "clear day" – a time of expected light and activity – becomes the very setting for profound darkness, highlighting the unexpected and severe nature of God's intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Amos 8:9 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His unwavering commitment to justice. The deliberate reversal of the natural order—the sun setting at noon—is a dramatic demonstration that God is not bound by the laws He established; He can suspend or alter them to execute His righteous judgments. This cosmic disruption underscores the gravity of Israel's sin and the depth of God's indignation against their social injustice and spiritual apostasy. It serves as a stark reminder that prosperity, when built upon a foundation of unrighteousness, is ultimately fragile and subject to divine dismantling. The "darkness" is not merely physical but spiritual and national, signifying a period of deep lamentation, the withdrawal of God's presence, and the loss of His guiding word, which is explicitly mentioned in the subsequent verses as a "famine of hearing the words of the Lord" ([Amos 8:11](/amos/8-11 "The Famine of Hearing God's Word")).

* [Isaiah 13:10](/isaiah/13-10 "Prophecy of Cosmic Darkness")
* [Joel 2:31](/joel/2-31 "The Sun Turned to Darkness")
* [Matthew 24:29](/matthew/24-29 "Cosmic Signs of the End Times")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Amos 8:9 stands as a timeless warning that divine judgment is real, inevitable for persistent sin, and often comes unexpectedly, even in seasons of apparent prosperity. For believers today, this verse calls for a profound self-examination, urging us to consider whether our lives, individually and corporately, truly reflect God's justice and righteousness, or if we, like ancient Israel, are complacent in our comfort while neglecting the cries of the marginalized or compromising our spiritual integrity. The suddenness of the "sun going down at noon" should instill a sense of urgency for genuine repentance and a renewed commitment to living in accordance with God's word. It reminds us that external blessings do not equate to divine approval if our hearts are far from Him. Ultimately, it compels us to live with an awareness of God's ultimate accountability, fostering a humble and vigilant walk of faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or our community might we be experiencing "noon-day prosperity" while neglecting underlying spiritual or social injustices?**
* **How does the imagery of sudden darkness challenge my assumptions about security and stability in life?**
* **What specific actions can I take today to align my life more fully with God's standards of justice and righteousness, rather than waiting for a "day of darkness"?**
* **How does the certainty of God's judgment (as depicted here) deepen my appreciation for His grace and mercy in Christ?**

### FAQ
**Was Amos 8:9 a prophecy about a literal solar eclipse?**

Answer: While the imagery of the sun going down at noon and the earth darkening in the clear day might superficially resemble a solar eclipse, the prophetic context and language strongly suggest it is not a prediction of a natural astronomical event. The phrase "I will cause" emphasizes God's direct, supernatural intervention, not a predictable natural phenomenon. Furthermore, the purpose of the prophecy is to convey a sudden, devastating, and unnatural judgment, symbolizing the abrupt end of Israel's prosperity and the onset of national mourning and despair. It's a hyperbole and a symbol of divine wrath, not a scientific forecast. The darkening of the sun is a common biblical motif for divine judgment and cosmic upheaval, seen in passages like [Isaiah 13:10](/isaiah/13-10 "The Stars and Constellations Will Not Give Their Light") and [Joel 2:31](/joel/2-31 "The Sun Shall Be Turned into Darkness").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Amos 8:9, with its foreboding imagery of cosmic darkness, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a literal astronomical event, but in the profound spiritual and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "sun going down at noon" foreshadows the darkness that covered the earth during Christ's crucifixion ([Matthew 27:45](/matthew/27-45 "Darkness Over the Land at the Crucifixion")), a literal, supernatural darkness that occurred at midday, signifying the cosmic impact of sin and the immense suffering of the Son of God as He bore the judgment due to humanity. While Amos prophesied a darkness of judgment for Israel's sin, Christ's death transformed that darkness into the means of salvation, absorbing the divine wrath so that those who believe might walk in light. Jesus declared Himself to be the "Light of the World" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "Jesus, the Light of the World")), dispelling the spiritual darkness of sin and ignorance. Through His atoning sacrifice, the ultimate "Day of the Lord" for believers is no longer a day of dreadful darkness but a day of salvation and eternal light, as we are delivered from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Delivered from the Domain of Darkness")). Thus, the judgment foreshadowed in Amos is fully satisfied in Christ, offering hope and illumination where only despair and darkness once loomed.

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

Mark 15:33

¶ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Matthew 27:45

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Luke 23:44

¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

Jeremiah 15:9

She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 59:9

¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] we walk in darkness.

Isaiah 59:10

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men].

Micah 3:6

Therefore night [shall be] unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.