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Amos 7:17

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Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; Thy wife {H802} shall be an harlot {H2181} in the city {H5892}, and thy sons {H1121} and thy daughters {H1323} shall fall {H5307} by the sword {H2719}, and thy land {H127} shall be divided {H2505} by line {H2256}; and thou shalt die {H4191} in {H5921} a polluted {H2931} land {H127}: and Israel {H3478} shall surely {H1540} go into captivity {H1540} forth of his land {H127}.

Therefore ADONAI says this: 'Your wife will become a whore in the city, your sons and daughters will die by the sword, your land will be parcelled out with a measuring line, you yourself will die in an unclean land, and Isra'el will certainly be exiled from their land.'"

Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”

therefore thus saith Jehovah: Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou thyself shalt die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.

Commentary

Amos 7:17 delivers a stark and severe prophecy of judgment against Amaziah, the idolatrous priest of Bethel, and by extension, against the nation of Israel. This verse is the climactic response from the prophet Amos to Amaziah's attempt to silence his prophetic message.

Context

The prophet Amos, a humble shepherd from Tekoa, was divinely called to deliver a message of impending judgment to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), specifically concerning their rampant idolatry, social injustice, and moral decay. In Amos 7:10-13, Amaziah, the priest of the king's sanctuary at Bethel (a center of calf worship), accuses Amos of conspiracy and orders him to leave Israel and prophesy elsewhere. Amos powerfully asserts his divine commission in Amos 7:14-15, declaring that he did not choose this path but was sent directly by the LORD. Verse 17 is God's direct, personal, and devastating pronouncement of judgment upon Amaziah for his impious opposition to God's prophet and His word.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: This verse underscores the certainty and severity of God's judgment against those who resist His truth and oppress His messengers. Amaziah's personal consequences are direct results of his challenge to God's authority.
  • Personal and National Consequences of Sin: The judgment begins with Amaziah's household – his wife becoming a harlot, his children falling by the sword – demonstrating the devastating ripple effect of spiritual rebellion. This personal tragedy then expands to the national fate: "Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land," a common prophetic theme for Israel's eventual exile, as seen later in 2 Kings 17:6.
  • Defilement and Loss of Inheritance: Amaziah's land being "divided by line" signifies the loss of ancestral property and its redistribution to foreign conquerors. His dying in a "polluted land" refers to a ritually unclean, pagan land of exile, contrasting sharply with the promised land of Israel.
  • Prophetic Authority Vindicated: Despite attempts to silence him, Amos's prophecy is confirmed as the true word of God, and those who oppose it face dire consequences.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "harlot" (Hebrew: zanah) here is not merely a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness (as often used for Israel's idolatry), but a literal and humiliating degradation for Amaziah's wife.
  • "Divided by line" refers to the act of surveying and apportioning conquered territory, indicating complete dispossession and foreign occupation.
  • "Polluted land" emphasizes the ritual impurity of non-Israelite lands in the ancient Near East, symbolizing banishment from God's presence and holy land.

Practical Application

Amos 7:17 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • Respect for God's Word: It highlights the seriousness of opposing God's spoken word and His chosen messengers. God holds those in positions of spiritual authority accountable for their actions and leadership.
  • Consequences of Unbelief and Rebellion: Whether personal or national, disobedience to God's commands and rejection of His truth inevitably lead to severe consequences.
  • God's Justice is Sure: Even when judgment seems delayed, God's justice will ultimately prevail, ensuring that His word is fulfilled and His authority upheld.

This verse reminds believers today of the importance of heeding spiritual warnings and aligning one's life with God's will, understanding that rebellion carries significant personal and communal repercussions.

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

  • Hosea 9:3 (7 votes)

    They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria.

  • 2 Kings 17:6 (6 votes)

    In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor [by] the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

  • Jeremiah 28:16 (4 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 4:13 (4 votes)

    And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.

  • Hosea 4:13 (4 votes)

    They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof [is] good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

  • Hosea 4:14 (4 votes)

    I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people [that] doth not understand shall fall.

  • Amos 7:11 (3 votes)

    For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.