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Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Amos 4:7

Moreover also, I, have withholden from you the abundant rain, when yet there were only three mouths to the harvest, Or I might rain upon one city, and, on another city, might not rain, - One portion, would be rained upon, and, the portion whereupon it should not rain, would be dried up;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Blessing;   Famine;   Rain;   Thompson Chain Reference - Drought;   God's;   Judgments, God's;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions of the Wicked, the;   Famine;   Harvest, the;   Judgments;   Rain;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Farming;   God;   Water;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Harvest;   Providence of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Amos;   Palestine;   Uzziah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Famine and Drought;   Sorrow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Famine;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Thunder;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   Botany;   Harvest;   Joel (2);   Omnipotence;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Amos;   Joel, Book of;   Providence;   Rain;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
"I also stopped the rain, and it was three months before harvest time. So no crops grew. Then I let it rain on one city, but not on another city. Rain fell on one part of the country, but on the other part of the country, the land became very dry.
New American Standard Bible
"Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city, But on another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.
New Century Version
"I held back the rain from you three months before harvest time. Then I let it rain on one city but not on another. Rain fell on one field, but another field got none and dried up.
New English Translation
"I withheld rain from you three months before the harvest. I gave rain to one city, but not to another. One field would get rain, but the field that received no rain dried up.
Update Bible Version
And I also have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city: one piece was rained on, and the piece whereupon it did not rain withered.
Webster's Bible Translation
And also I have withheld the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece on which it rained not withered.
Amplified Bible
"Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you When there were still three months until the harvest. Then I would send rain on one city, And on another city I would not send rain; One piece of ground was rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.
English Standard Version
"I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither;
World English Bible
"I also have withheld the rain from you, When there were yet three months to the harvest; And I caused it to rain on one city, And caused it not to rain on another city. One place was rained on, And the piece where it didn't rain withered.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also Y forbeed reyn fro you, whanne thre monethis weren yit `to comyng, til to ripe corn; and Y reynede on o citee, and on another citee Y reynede not; o part was bireyned, and the part driede vp on which Y reynede not.
English Revised Version
And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
Berean Standard Bible
"I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain while one without rain withered.
Contemporary English Version
Three months before harvest, I kept back the rain. Sometimes I would let it fall on one town or field but not on another, and pastures dried up.
American Standard Version
And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
Bible in Basic English
And I have kept back the rain from you, when it was still three months before the grain-cutting: I sent rain on one town and kept it back from another: one part was rained on, and the part where there was no rain became a waste.
Complete Jewish Bible
"I withheld the rain from you three months before the harvest. I made it rain on one city and not on another — one field had rain, while another with no rain dried up;
Darby Translation
And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece [of land] was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city; one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
King James Version (1611)
And also I haue withholden the raine from you, when there were yet three moneths to the haruest, and I caused it to raine vpon one citie, and caused it not to raine vpon an other city: one piece was rained vpon, & the piece wherupon it rained not, withered.
New Living Translation
"I kept the rain from falling when your crops needed it the most. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away.
New Life Bible
"I kept the rain from you while there were still three months until gathering time. Then I would send rain on one city, but would send no rain on another city. One part would receive rain, while the part which did not receive rain would dry up.
New Revised Standard
And I also withheld the rain from you when there were still three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would be rained upon, and the field on which it did not rain withered;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And also I haue withholden the raine from you, when there were yet three moneths to the haruest, and I caused it to raine vpon one citie, & haue not caused it to raine vpo another citie: one piece was rained vpon, and the piece whereupon it rained not, withered.
George Lamsa Translation
And I also have withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city; one part was rained upon, and the other part on which it did not rain withered.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon on city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon: and the piece whereupon I rained not, withered.
Revised Standard Version
"And I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain upon one city, and send no rain upon another city; one field would be rained upon, and the field on which it did not rain withered;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And also I haue withholden the rayne from you when there were yet three monethes to the haruest, and I caused it to rayne vpon one citie, and haue not caused it to rayne vpon an other citie: one peece was raigned vpon, & the peece whervpon it rayned not, withered.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Also I withheld from you the rain three months before the harvest: and I will rain upon one city, and on another city I will not rain: one part shall be rained upon, and the part on which I shall not rain shall be dried up.
Good News Translation
I kept it from raining when your crops needed it most. I sent rain on one city, but not on another. Rain fell on one field, but another field dried up.
Christian Standard Bible®
I also withheld the rain from youwhile there were still three months until harvest.I sent rain on one citybut no rain on another.One field received rainwhile a field with no rain withered.
Hebrew Names Version
"I also have withheld the rain from you, When there were yet three months to the harvest; And I caused it to rain on one city, And caused it not to rain on another city. One place was rained on, And the piece where it didn't rain withered.
King James Version
And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
Lexham English Bible
"And I also withheld the rain from you when there were still three months to the harvest. And I would send rain on one city and send no rain on another city. One tract of land will be rained on, and the tract of land on which it does not rain will dry up.
Literal Translation
And I have also withheld the rain from you when it was yet three months to the harvest. And I caused rain to fall on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city. One piece was rainedon, and the piece where it did not rain wasdried up.
Young's Literal Translation
And I also -- I have withheld from you the rain. While yet three months to harvest, And I have sent rain on one city, And on another city I do not send rain, One portion is rained on, And the portion on which it raineth not withereth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whe there were but thre monethes vnto ye haruest, I withelde the rayne from you: yee I rayned vpo one cite, and not vpo another one pece off grounde was moystured with rayne, and the grounde that I rayned not vpon, was drye.
THE MESSAGE
"Yes, and I'm the One who stopped the rains three months short of harvest. I'd make it rain on one village but not on another. I'd make it rain on one field but not on another—and that one would dry up. People would stagger from village to village crazed for water and never quenching their thirst. But you never got thirsty for me. You ignored me." God 's Decree.
New King James Version
"I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.
Legacy Standard Bible
"And I also withheld the rain from youWhile there were still three months until harvest.Then I would send rain on one city,And on another city I would not send rain;One portion would be rained on,While the portion not rained on would dry up.

Contextual Overview

6 Moreover also, I, have given you cleanness of teeth throughout all your cities, and want of bread throughout all your dwelling-places, - Yet have ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 7 Moreover also, I, have withholden from you the abundant rain, when yet there were only three mouths to the harvest, Or I might rain upon one city, and, on another city, might not rain, - One portion, would be rained upon, and, the portion whereupon it should not rain, would be dried up; 8 Then would two or three cities totter to one city to drink water, without being satisfied, - Yet have ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 9 I have smitten you with blight and with mildew, When your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees have increased, the creeping locust would devour them, - Yet have ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 10 I have sent among you pestilence, in the manner of Egypt, I have slain, with the sword, your young men, and therewith have been taken captive your horses, And I have caused to ascend - the stench of your camps, even into your own nostrils, Yet ye have not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 11 I have made an overthrew among you, like the divine overthrow of Sodom arid Gomorrah, and ye have become like a brand snatched out of the burning, - Yet hate ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 12 Therefore, thus, will I do unto thee, O Israel, - Because this thing I will do unto thee, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 13 For lo! He that fashioned the mountains, and created the wind, and who telleth the son of earth what is his thought, who turneth dawn into darkness, and marcheth upon the high places of the earth, Yahweh, God of hosts, is his name!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I have: Leviticus 26:18-21, Leviticus 26:23, Leviticus 26:24, Leviticus 26:27, Leviticus 26:28, Deuteronomy 28:23, Deuteronomy 28:24, 1 Kings 8:35, 1 Kings 8:36, 2 Chronicles 7:13, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 5:6, Jeremiah 3:3, Jeremiah 5:24, Jeremiah 5:25, Jeremiah 14:4, Jeremiah 14:22, Haggai 1:10, Haggai 1:11, Zechariah 14:17, James 5:17, Revelation 11:6

when: Joel 2:23, John 4:35

and I: Exodus 8:22, Exodus 9:4, Exodus 9:26, Exodus 10:23, Judges 6:37-40, 1 Corinthians 4:7

and the: Joel 1:10-18

Reciprocal: Genesis 7:4 - For Exodus 7:23 - neither Leviticus 26:4 - Then I Deuteronomy 11:17 - shut up 1 Kings 18:1 - I will send rain Job 5:10 - giveth Job 28:26 - he made Job 37:12 - it Job 38:28 - Hath the Psalms 107:33 - watersprings Isaiah 30:23 - shall he Joel 1:16 - the meat Amos 1:2 - the habitations Zechariah 10:1 - rain in John 19:13 - and sat

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman, he said, I will, increase, thy pain of pregnancy, In pain, shalt thou year children, - Yet, unto thy husband, shall be thy hinging, Though, he, rule over thee.
Genesis 4:6
So then Yahweh said unto Cain, - Wherefore hath it angered thee, and wherefore hath thy countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:8
And Cain said unto Abel his brother Let us go into the field And it came to pass when they were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 4:9
Then said Yahweh unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said know not, the keeper of my brother, am, I?
Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? With a voice, the shed-blood of thy brother is crying out to me from the ground,
Genesis 4:11
Now therefore, accursed, art thou, - from the ground which hath opened her mouth, to receive the shed-blood of thy brother at thy hand.
Genesis 4:12
Though thou till the ground, it shall not go on to give its vigour to thee. A wanderer and a fugitive, shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said unto Yahweh - Greater is my punishment than I can bear.
Genesis 19:21
And he said unto him, Behold! I have lifted up thy countenance, even as to this thing, - so that I will not overthrow the city, of which thou hast spoken.
Numbers 32:23
But, if ye shall not do this, lo! ye will have sinned against Yahweh, - and take note of your sin, that it will find you out.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And also I have withholden the rain from you,.... As he did for the space of three years successively in the days of Ahab, as predicted by Elijah, 1 Kings 17:1; the consequences of which are very bad to men and beast, and bring on a scarcity of food for both, and a famine if long withheld:

when [there were] yet three months to the harvest; that is, three months before the harvest, as Jarchi; when, as Kimchi observes, there was need of rain: this was the latter rain which was usually given and expected about this time, and on which the goodness of the crop, and so of the harvest, greatly depended; these three months before barley harvest were December, January, and February, that being in March; and before the wheat harvest, February, March, and April, that being in May usually:

and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city; so that it might appear to be not by the course of nature, or through the influence of the planets, or by chance; but was according to the direction of divine Providence, the hand of God was manifestly in it: yea,

one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered; one piece of ground or field had a plentiful shower on it, whereby it became fruitful; and another field or close on the other side of the hedge or partition had none, whereby what did spring up withered away and came to nothing: or "one inheritance" u, or farm, as some render it; one man's estate was well watered with rain from heaven, and brought forth much fruit; and another man's estate, for want of it, was barren, and brought forth nothing: thus God was pleased to do in his providence, to show his sovereignty, and to chastise men for their sins; and in such a manner as that they might, if not blind easily perceive his hand in it.

u חלקה "fundus", Mercerus, Vatablus; "hereditas", Targum.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I, I too have withholden the rain - Jerome, dwelling in Palestine, says, that “this rain, when “three months yet remained until harvest,” was the “latter rain,” of the very greatest necessity for the fields of Palestine and the thirsty ground, lest, when the blade is swelling into the crop, and gendering the wheat, it should dry up through lack of moisture. The time intended is the spring, at the end of April, whence, to the wheat-harvest, there remain three months, May, June, July.” “God withheld the rain that they might endure, not only lack of bread, but burning thirst and penury of drink also. For in these places, where we now live, all the water, except small fountains, is of cisterns; and if the wrath of God should withhold the rain, there is greater peril of thirst than of hunger, such its Scripture relates to have endured for three years and six months in the days of the prophet Elijah. And lest they should think that this had befallen their cities and people, by a law of nature, or the influence of the stars, or the variety of the seasons, He says, that He rained upon one city and its fields, and from another withheld the rain.”

This was a second visitation of God. First, a general famine, “in all their cities;” secondly, a discriminating visitation. “Nature” possesses no discrimination or power over her supplies. Seeming waste is one of the mysteries of God in nature, “to cause it to rain on the earth” Job 38:26 where “no man” is; on “the wilderness wherein” there, “is no man.” Ordinarily too, God “maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” Matthew 5:45. But God does not enslave Himself, (as people would have it) to His own laws. Amos appeals to them, that God had dealt with them, not according to His ordinary laws; that not only God had given to one city the rain which he had withheld from another, but that He had made the same difference as to smaller “pieces” of ground, the inherited “portions” of individuals . Some such variations have been observed in Palestine now. But this would have been no indication of God’s Providence, had not the consciences of people responded to the prophet’s appeal, and recognized that the rain had been given or withheld according to the penitence or impenitence, the deeper or more mitigated idolatry, the greater or less sinfulness of the people. We have. then, in these few words a law of God’s dealing with Israel. God, in His word, reveals to us the meaning of His daily variations in the workings of nature; yet, hardly even in such instances, as people can scarcely elude, do they think of God the Creator, rather than of nature, His creation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 4:7. When there were yet three months to the harvest — St. Jerome says, from the end of April, when the latter rain falls, until harvest, there are three months, May, June, and July, in which no rain falls in Judea. The rain, therefore, that God had withheld from them, was that which was usual in the spring months, particularly in April.

I caused it to rain upon one city — To prove to them that this rain did not come fortuitously or of necessity, God was pleased to make these most evident distinctions. One city had rain, and could fill all its tanks or cisterns, while a neighbouring city had none. One farm or field was well watered, and abundant in its crops, while one contiguous to it had not a shower. In these instances a particular providence was most evident. "And yet, they did not return to the Lord."


 
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