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King James Version

Amos 4:2

The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fish;   Fishhook;   Poor;   Rulers;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fishes;   Holiness of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Fish, Fisher;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom literature;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fish-Hooks;   Hook;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Fish;   Hook;   Shechem (1);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Ethics;   Fishhook;   Hook;   Poor, Orphan, Widow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Amos;   Hook;   Nets;   Thorns, Thistles, Etc;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Holiness;   Holiness Purity;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fishhooks;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Samaria;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   Fishhook;   Hook;   Thorns;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Angling;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Fish and Fishing;   Isaiah, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The Lord God has sworn by his holiness:
Hebrew Names Version
The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that behold, "The days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.
English Standard Version
The Lord God has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
New American Standard Bible
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness, "For behold, the days are coming upon you When they will take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.
New Century Version
The Lord God has promised this: "Just as surely as I am a holy God, the time will come when you will be taken away by hooks, and what is left of you with fishhooks.
Amplified Bible
The Lord GOD has sworn [an oath] by His holiness That, "Behold, the days are coming upon you When they shall take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The Lord God hath sworne by his holines, that loe, the dayes shal come vpon you, that hee wil take you away with thornes, & your posteritie with fish hookes.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness, "Behold, the days are coming upon you When they will take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.
Legacy Standard Bible
Lord Yahweh has sworn by His holiness that,"Behold, the days are coming upon you,And they will take you away with meat hooks,And the last of you with fish hooks.
Berean Standard Bible
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: "Behold, the days are coming when you will be taken away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
Contemporary English Version
I, the Lord God, have sworn by my own name that your time is coming. Not one of you will be left— you will be taken away by sharp hooks.
Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai Elohim has sworn by his holiness that your time is surely coming. "You will be dragged away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
Darby Translation
the Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness, that behold, days shall come upon you, when he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fish-hooks;
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord God made a promise. He promised by his holiness that troubles will come to you. People will use hooks and take you away as prisoners. They will use fishhooks to take away your children.
George Lamsa Translation
The LORD God has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you when they shall take you away with weapons and the last of you shall be devoured.
Good News Translation
As the Sovereign Lord is holy, he has promised, "The days will come when they will drag you away with hooks; every one of you will be like a fish on a hook.
Lexham English Bible
My Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness that, "Behold, the days are coming upon you when they will take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishing hooks.
Literal Translation
The Lord Jehovah has sworn by His holiness that the days are coming that He will lift you up with meat hooks, and the last of you with fishhooks.
American Standard Version
The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that they shall take you away with hooks, and your residue with fish-hooks.
Bible in Basic English
The Lord God has taken an oath by his holy name, that the days are coming when they will take you away with hooks, and the rest of you with fish-hooks.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The Lord GOD hath sworn by His holiness: Lo, surely the days shall come upon you, that ye shall be taken away with hooks, and your residue with fish-hooks.
King James Version (1611)
The Lord God hath sworne by his holinesse, that loe, the dayes shall come vpon you, that he will take you away with hookes, and your posteritie with fish-hookes.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The Lord God hath sworne by his holinesse, that lo, the dayes shal come vpon you, that he will take you away with thornes, and your posteritie with fishe hookes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The Lord swears by his holiness, that, behold, the days come upon you, when they shall take you with weapons, and fiery destroyers shall cast those with you into boiling caldrons.
English Revised Version
The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that they shall take you away with hooks, and your residue with fish hooks.
World English Bible
The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness that behold, "The days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord God swoor in his hooli, for lo! daies schulen come on you; and thei schulen reise you in schaftis, and youre remenauntis in buylynge pottis.
Update Bible Version
The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness, that, look, the days shall come on you, that they shall take you away with hooks, and your residue with fish-hooks.
Webster's Bible Translation
The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fish-hooks,
New English Translation
The sovereign Lord confirms this oath by his own holy character: "Certainly the time is approaching when you will be carried away in baskets, every last one of you in fishermen's pots.
New King James Version
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: "Behold, the days shall come upon you When He will take you away with fishhooks, And your posterity with fishhooks.
New Living Translation
The Sovereign Lord has sworn this by his holiness: "The time will come when you will be led away with hooks in your noses. Every last one of you will be dragged away like a fish on a hook!
New Life Bible
As the Lord God is holy, He has promised, "The days are coming when they will take you away with meat hooks. And the last of you will be taken with fish hooks.
New Revised Standard
The Lord God has sworn by his holiness: The time is surely coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Sworn hath My Lord, Yahweh, by his own holiness, That lo! days, are coming upon you, - when he will take you away with hooks, and your followers with fishhooks;
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that lo, the days shall come upon you, when they shall lift you up on pikes, and what shall remain of you in boiling pots.
Revised Standard Version
The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
Young's Literal Translation
Sworn hath the Lord Jehovah by His holiness, That lo, days are coming upon you, And he hath taken you away with hooks, And your posterity with fish-hooks.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore the LORDE hath sworne by his holynesse: The dayes shall come vpon you, that ye shalbe lift vp vpo speares, and youre posterite caried awaye in fyssher pannes.
THE MESSAGE
"This is serious—I, God , have sworn by my holiness! Be well warned: Judgment Day is coming! They're going to rope you up and haul you off, keep the stragglers in line with cattle prods. They'll drag you through the ruined city walls, forcing you out single file, And kick you to kingdom come." God 's Decree.

Contextual Overview

1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 2 The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. 3 And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the Lord . 4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: 5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God .

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Psalms 89:35

hath sworn: Amos 6:8

he will: Isaiah 37:29, Jeremiah 16:16, Ezekiel 39:4, Ezekiel 39:5, Habakkuk 1:15, Habakkuk 1:16

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 19:28 - I will put Psalms 60:6 - God Psalms 108:7 - spoken Ezekiel 29:4 - I will put Ezekiel 30:9 - lo Amos 4:12 - thus

Cross-References

Genesis 3:23
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Genesis 4:25
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord .
Genesis 9:20
And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
Genesis 37:13
And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Genesis 47:3
And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.
Exodus 3:1
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Psalms 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Amos 7:15
And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Luke 11:51
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness,.... That is, by himself, holiness being his nature, and an essential attribute of his; this is done to ascertain the truth of what is after said, and that men may be assured of the certain performance of it. Some render it, "by his holy place"; and interpret it of heaven; so Aben Ezra and Kimchi; which is not likely; see Matthew 5:34. The Targum is,

"the Lord God hath sworn by his word in his holiness;''

that, lo, the days shall come upon you; speedily, swiftly, and at an unawares:

that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fish hooks; the enemy, the king of Assyria, or God by him, would take them out of their own land, as fish out of water, out of their own element, and carry them captive into a strange land, both them and their posterity; and which should be as easily done as fish are taken with the hook, even though they were as the kine of Bashan. The word for fish hooks signifies "thorns" p, and is by some so rendered; these perhaps being used in angling, before iron hooks were invented. The Targum is,

"that people shall take you away on their shields, and your daughters in fishermen's q boats;''

see Jeremiah 16:16.

p בסירות "spinis", Mercerus, Liveleus, Drusius, Grotius. q So it is interpreted by R. Sol Urbin Ohel Moed, fol. 65. 2. likewise Elias says the word signifies a small ship, or a boat that is in a large ship, Tishbi, p. 59. So Vatablus interprets it, "scaphas piscatorias, [sive] cymbas"; and some in Munster.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Lord God hath sworn by His holiness - They had sinned to profane His “Holy Name” (see the note at Amos 2:7). God swears by that holiness which they had profaned in themselves on whom it was called, and which they had caused to be profaned by others. He pledges His own holiness, that He will avenge their unholiness. : “In swearing “by His holiness,” God sware by Himself. For He is the supreme uncreated justice and Holiness. This justice each, in his degree, should imitate and maintain on earth, and these had sacrilegiously violated and overthrown.”

Days shall come (literally, are among) upon you - God’s Day and eternity are ever coming. He reminds them of their continual approach. He says not only that they will certainly come, but they are ever coming. They are holding on their steady course. Each day which passes, they advance a day closer upon the sinner. People put out of their minds what “will come;” they “put far the evil day.” Therefore, God so often in His notices of woe to come, (1 Samuel 2:31; Isaiah 39:6; Jeremiah 7:32; Jeremiah 9:25; Jeremiah 17:14; Jeremiah 19:6; Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 23:7; Jeremiah 30:3; Jeremiah 31:27-31, Jeremiah 31:38; Jeremiah 33:14; Jeremiah 48:12; Jeremiah 49:2; Jeremiah 51:47, Jeremiah 51:52. (Ges.); Amos 8:11), brings to mind, that those “days are” ever “coming” ; they are not a thing which shall be only; in God’s purpose, they already “are;” and with one uniform steady noiseless tread “are coming upon” the sinner. Those “days shall come upon you,” heavily charged with the displeasure of God, crushing you, as ye have crushed the poor. They come doubtless, too, unexpectedly upon them, as our Lords says, “and so that day come upon you unwares.”

He (that is one) will take you away - In the midst of their security, they should on a sudden be taken away violently from the abode of their luxury, as the fish, when hooked, is lifted out of the water. The image pictures (see Habakkuk 1:15; Ezekiel 29:4-5,) their utter helplessness, the contempt in which they would be had, the ease with which they would be lifted out of the flood of pleasures in which they had immersed themselves. People can be reckless, at last, about themselves, so that their posterity escape, and they themselves survive in their offspring. Amos foretells, then, that these also should be swept away.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 4:2. He will take you away with hooks — Two modes of fishing are here alluded to:

1. Angling with rod, line, and baited hook.

2. That with the gaff, eel-spear, harpoon, or such like; the first used in catching small fish, by which the common people may be here represented; the second, for catching large fish, such as leave the sea, and come up the rivers to deposit their spawn; or such as are caught in the sea, as sharks, whales, dolphins, and even the hippopotamus, to which the more powerful and opulent inhabitants may be likened.

But as the words in the text are generally feminine, it has been supposed that the prophecy is against the proud, powerful, voluptuous women. I rather think that the prophet speaks catachrestically; and means men of effeminate manners and idle lives. They are not the bulls of Bashan, but the cows; having little of the manly character remaining. Some understand the latter word as meaning a sort of basket or wicker fish-nets.


 
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