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Amos 5:20

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[Shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Shall not the day {H3117} of the LORD {H3068} be darkness {H2822}, and not light {H216}? even very dark {H651}, and no brightness {H5051} in it?

Won't the Day of ADONAI be darkness, not light, completely dark, with no brightness at all?

Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Commentary

Amos 5:20 delivers a stark warning from the prophet Amos, challenging the complacent and hypocritical people of Israel regarding their misunderstanding of the highly anticipated "day of the LORD."

Context

The prophet Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, delivered his stern prophecies to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of outward prosperity but profound spiritual and moral decline. In Amos 5, he confronts Israel's false sense of security and their distorted understanding of the "day of the LORD." Many in Israel eagerly anticipated this day, believing it would be a time of national vindication and triumph over their enemies. However, Amos shatters this illusion, declaring that for a people steeped in injustice, idolatry, and religious hypocrisy, it would be a day of reckoning, not celebration. This verse immediately follows a warning against those who "desire the day of the LORD" (Amos 5:18), likening it to fleeing a lion only to meet a bear, or finding no safety even at home (Amos 5:19).

Key Themes

Amos 5:20 powerfully conveys several critical themes:

  • The True Nature of the Day of the LORD: Contrary to popular expectation, Amos reveals this anticipated day would not bring light, blessing, and victory for rebellious Israel, but rather profound darkness and calamity. It is a day of divine judgment against sin and unrighteousness, demonstrating God's unwavering justice. This concept is echoed in other prophetic books, such as when Zephaniah describes it as a "day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness."
  • Divine Judgment and Accountability: The verse underscores God's commitment to justice. He does not overlook sin, even among His covenant people. Their ritualistic worship was meaningless without genuine righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24).
  • Symbolism of Darkness: "Darkness" here is not merely the absence of light but a powerful metaphor for deep distress, calamity, despair, and the withdrawal of God's favor and blessing from those who have rejected Him. It signifies a complete lack of hope or brightness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "day of the LORD" is a crucial theological concept in the Old Testament, rendered in Hebrew as yom Yahweh. While it can refer to God's intervention for salvation, in the prophetic books, it frequently denotes a time of divine judgment and reckoning, particularly against God's enemies or His disobedient people. The Hebrew word for "darkness," choshek, carries a strong connotation of gloom, misery, and destruction, reinforcing the severity of the impending judgment, contrasting sharply with the expected "light" or brightness (nogah).

Practical Application

Amos 5:20 serves as a timeless warning:

  • Beware of Presumption: It cautions against presuming upon God's grace or expecting His favor while living in disobedience and hypocrisy. True relationship with God involves genuine righteousness and justice, not just outward religious observance.
  • God's Justice is Real: The verse reminds us that God is a righteous judge who will hold all accountable for their actions. His patience is not an endorsement of sin.
  • Understanding Future Judgment: While Amos's prophecy had immediate implications for Israel (culminating in the Assyrian exile), the "day of the LORD" also points to ultimate eschatological judgments, including the final judgment described in the New Testament (see 2 Peter 3:10). This verse encourages self-examination and living in a manner pleasing to God.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Isaiah 13:10 (6 votes)

    For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

  • Zephaniah 1:15 (5 votes)

    That day [is] a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

  • Ezekiel 34:12 (5 votes)

    As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

  • Job 10:21 (3 votes)

    Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

  • Job 10:22 (3 votes)

    A land of darkness, as darkness [itself; and] of the shadow of death, without any order, and [where] the light [is] as darkness.

  • Nahum 1:8 (2 votes)

    But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

  • Matthew 22:13 (2 votes)

    Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.