Amos 9:6

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Who buildeth, in the heavens, his upper rooms, and, as for his vault, upon the earth, hath he founded it, - who calleth to the waters of the sea, and poureth them out over the face of the land, Yahweh, is his name.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He builds his upper chambersin the heavensand lays the foundation of his vaulton the earth.He summons the water of the seaand pours it out over the surface of the earth.The Lord is his name.

Hebrew Names Version
It is he who builds his chambers in the heavens, and has founded his vault on the eretz; he who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the eretz; the LORD is his name.

King James Version (1611)
It is he that buildeth his stories in the heauen, and hath founded his troupe in the earth, he that calleth for the waters of the Sea, and powreth them out vpon the face of the earth: the Lord is his name.

King James Version
It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name.

English Standard Version
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the Lord is his name.

New American Standard Bible
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name.

New Century Version
The Lord builds his upper rooms above the skies; he sets their foundations on the earth. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the land. The Lord is his name.

Amplified Bible
It is He who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has established His vaulted dome (the firmament of heaven) over the earth, He who calls to the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth— The LORD is His name.

Geneva Bible (1587)
He buildeth his spheres in the heauen, and hath layde the foundation of his globe of elementes in the earth: hee calleth the waters of the sea, and powreth them out vpon the open earth: the Lorde is his Name.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name.

Legacy Standard Bible
The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavensAnd has founded His vaulted dome over the earth;The One who calls for the waters of the seaAnd pours them out on the face of the earth;Yahweh is His name.

Berean Standard Bible
He builds His upper rooms in the heavens and founds His vault upon the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth. The LORD is His name.

Contemporary English Version
He built his palace in the heavens and let its foundations rest on the earth. He scoops up the ocean and empties it on the earth. His name is the Lord .

Complete Jewish Bible
He builds his upper rooms in heaven and establishes his sky-vault over the earth. He summons the waters of the sea and pours them out over the earth. Adonai is his name.

Darby Translation
It is he that buildeth his upper chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: Jehovah is his name.

Easy-to-Read Version
He built his upper rooms above the skies. He put his skies over the earth. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out as rain on the land. Yahweh is his name.

George Lamsa Translation
It is he who has built his stories in heaven, and has made his possessions in the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Good News Translation
The Lord builds his home in the heavens, and over the earth he puts the dome of the sky. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth. His name is the Lord !

Lexham English Bible
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and lays the foundation of his vault on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them on the surface of the earth—Yahweh is his name.

Literal Translation
It is He who builds His staircase in the heavens, and His firmament He has founded, binding the heavens over the earth; He who calls for the seawaters and pours them out on the face of the earth, Jehovah is His name.

American Standard Version
it is he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name.

Bible in Basic English
It is he who makes his rooms in the heaven, basing his arch on the earth; whose voice goes out to the waters of the sea, and sends them flowing over the face of the earth; the Lord is his name.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is He that buildeth His upper chambers in the heaven, and hath founded His vault upon the earth; He that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; The LORD is His name.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He buyldeth his spheres in the heauen, & hath layde the foundation of his globe of elementes on the earth: he calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out vpon the open earth, the Lorde is his name.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
It is he that builds his ascent up to the sky, and establishes his promise on the earth; who calls the water of the sea, and pours it out on the face of the earth; the Lord Almighty is his name.

English Revised Version
it is he that buildeth his chambers in the heaven, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; the LORD is his name.

World English Bible
It is he who builds his chambers in the heavens, and has founded his vault on the earth; he who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth; Yahweh is his name.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that bildith his stiyng vp in heuene, schal do these thingis, and foundide his birthun on erthe; which clepith watris of the see, and heldith out hem on the face of erthe; the Lord is name of hym.

Update Bible Version
[it is] he that builds his staircase in the heavens, and has founded his vault on the earth; he that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth; Yahweh is his name.

Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: the LORD [is] his name.

New English Translation
He builds the upper rooms of his palace in heaven and sets its foundation supports on the earth. He summons the water of the sea and pours it out on the earth's surface. The Lord is his name.

New King James Version
He who builds His layers in the sky, And has founded His strata in the earth; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the face of the earth-- The LORD is His name.

New Living Translation
The Lord 's home reaches up to the heavens, while its foundation is on the earth. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The Lord is his name!

New Life Bible
The Lord builds His upper rooms in the heavens and sets His sky over the earth. He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth. The Lord is His name.

New Revised Standard
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens, and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the Lord is his name.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that buildeth his ascension in heaven, and hath founded his bundle upon the earth: who calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth, the Lord is his name.

Revised Standard Version
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens, and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the surface of the earth--the LORD is his name.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is building in the heavens His upper chambers; As to His troop, Upon earth He hath founded it, Who is calling for the waters of the sea, And poureth them out on the face of the land, Jehovah [is] His name.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that hath his dwellinge in heauen, ad groundeth his tabernacle in the earth: He that calleth the waters of the see, and poureth them out vpon the playne grounde: his name is the LORDE.

Contextual Overview

¹ I saw My Lord stationed by the altar, and he said - Smite the capital - that the sills, may tremble, Yea break them off on the head of them all, and, the last of them, with the sword, will I slay, - He that fleeth of them, shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them, shall not make good his escape. ² Though they break through into hades, from thence, shall my hand fetch them, - and, though they ascend the heavens, from thence, will I bring them down; ³ And, though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, from thence, will I search for them and take them, - and, though they conceal themselves from before mine eyes at the bottom of the sea, from thence, will I command the serpent and he shall bite them; ⁴ And, though they go into captivity before their enemies, from thence, will I command the sword, and it shall slay them, - So will I set mine eyes upon them for calamity, and not for blessing. ⁵ Now, My Lord, Yahweh of hosts, is he - -who toucheth the earth, and it melteth, and all that dwell therein, mourn; and it cometh up like the Nile, all of it, and subsideth like the river of Egypt: ⁶ Who buildeth, in the heavens, his upper rooms, and, as for his vault, upon the earth, hath he founded it, - who calleth to the waters of the sea, and poureth them out over the face of the land, Yahweh, is his name. ⁷ Like the sons of the Ethiopians, are not ye, unto me, O sons of Israel? Demandeth Yahweh: Was it not, Israel, I brought up out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines out of Caphtor, and the Syrians out of Kir? ⁸ Lo! the eyes of My Lord, Yahweh, are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the ground, - save only that I will not, utterly destroy, the house of Jacob, Declareth Yahweh. ⁹ For lo! I am giving command, and will sift, throughout all the nations, the house of Israel, - as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet shall there not fall a kernel, to the earth. ¹⁰ By the sword, shall die all the sinners of my people, - who say, The calamity, shall not overtake and close in before us.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

buildeth: Psalms 104:3, Psalms 104:13

stories: or, spheres, Heb. ascensions, Maaloth "upper chambers," which in eastern houses are the principal apartments. Perhaps there is a reference here to the various systems which God has created in illimitable space, transcending each other as the planets do in our system.

troop: or, bundle, Genesis 2:1, Aguddah probably is the same as the Arabic ijad "an arch, vault," and may here denote the vault of heaven, or atmosphere, which God "hath founded, or established, upon, or over, al the earth," and into which "he calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth."

calleth: Amos 5:8, Genesis 7:11-19, Jeremiah 5:22

The Lord: Amos 4:13, Exodus 3:14, Exodus 3:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:17 - bring Job 37:6 - great Psalms 135:6 - Whatsoever Psalms 148:5 - for he Isaiah 42:5 - he that created Isaiah 51:15 - that divided Jeremiah 33:2 - the Lord Jeremiah 47:2 - waters Nahum 1:8 - with Haggai 1:11 - I called

Cross-References

Genesis 4:14
Lo! thou has driven me out, this day, from off the face of the ground And from thy face, shall I be hid, So shall I become a wanderer and a fugitive in the earth. And it shall come to pass, whosoever findeth me, will slay me.

Genesis 5:1
This, is the record of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, In the likeness of God, made he him:

Genesis 9:2
and let the fear of you and the dread of you be upon every living creature of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens, - over everything that moveth along on the ground, and over all the fishes of the sea, - into your hand, have they been given.

Genesis 9:3
As for every moving thing that hath life, yours, shall it be, for food, - Like the green herb, have I given you all things.

Genesis 9:5
And surely your blood, of your lives, will I require, From the hand of every living creature, will I require it, - and from the hand of man From the hand of each ones brother, will I require the life of man:

Genesis 9:6
He that sheddeth man's blood, by man, shall his blood be shed, - For, in the image of God, made he man.

Genesis 9:12
And God said, This, is the sign of the covenant which I am granting betwixt me and you, and every living soul that is with you, - to age-abiding generations: -

Genesis 9:14
and it shall be when I draw a veil of cloud over the earth, - and the bow in the cloud appeareth,

Genesis 9:26
And he said, Blessed be Yahweh, God of Shem, - And let Cantata he their servant:

Genesis 9:27
God give extension to Japheth, But make his habitation in the tents of Shem, And let Canaan be their servant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[It is] he that buildeth his stories in the heaven,.... The three elements, according to Aben Ezra, fire, air, and water; the orbs, as Kimchi, one above another; a word near akin to this is rendered "his chambers", which are the clouds, Psalms 104:3; perhaps the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, which are three stories high, may be meant; we read of the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2; and particularly the throne of God is in the highest heaven; and the "ascents" y to it, as it may be rendered. The Targum is,

"who causeth to dwell in a high fortress the Shechinah of his glory:''

and hath founded his troop in the earth; this Kimchi interprets of the three above elements. So the words are translated in the Bishops' Bible in Queen Elizabeth's time,

"he buildeth his spheres in the heaven, and hath laid the foundation of his globe of elements in the earth.''

Aben Ezra interprets it of animals; it may take in the whole compass of created beings on earth; so Jarchi explains it of the collection of his creatures; though he takes notice of another sense given, a collection of the righteous, which are the foundation of the earth, and for whose sake all things stand. Abarbinel interprets it of the whole of the tribe of Israel; and so the Targum paraphrases it of his congregation or church on earth: he beautifies his elect, which are "his bundle" z, as it may be rendered; who are bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord their God, and are closely knit and united, as to God and Christ, so to one another; and perhaps is the best sense of the words a:

he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth, the Lord [is] his name; either to drown it, as at the general deluge; or to water and refresh it, as he does by exhaling water from the sea, and then letting it down in plentiful showers upon the earth; 2 Corinthians 12:2- :; now all these things are observed to show the power of God, and that therefore there can be no hope of escaping out of his hands.

y מעלותיו "ascensiones suus", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Tigurine version, "gradus suo", Vatablus, Drusius, Cocceius. z אגדתו "fasciculum suum", Montanus, Munster, Mercerus, Vatablus, Drusius, Burkius. a Schultens in Observ. ad Genesin, p. 197, 198, observes, that

"agad", with the Arabs, signifies primarily to "bind", and is by them transferred to a building firmly bound, and compact together; and so may intend here in Amos the Lord's building, the church, which he hath founded in the earth; and so with Golius and Castellus is a building firmly compacted together.

אגדת is used for a bunch of hyssop, Exod. xii. 27. and in the Misnic language for a handful or bundle of anything; see Buxtorf. Lex. Talmud. rad. אגד.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He that buildeth His stories - The word commonly means “steps,” nor is there any reason to alter it. We read of “the third heavens 2 Corinthians 12:2, the heavens of heavens Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalms 148:4; that is, heavens to which this heaven is as earth. They are different ways of expressing the vast unseen space which God has created, divided, as we know, through the distance of the fixed stars, into countless portions, of which the lower, or further removed, are but as “steps” to the presence of the Great King, where, “above all heavens” Ephesians 4:10, Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God. It comes to the same, if we suppose the word to mean “upper chambers.” The metaphor would still signify heavens above our heavens.

And hath founded His troop - (literally, band in the earth Probably, “founded His arch upon the earth,” that is, His visible heaven, which seems, like an arch, to span the earth. The whole then describes” all things visible and invisible;” all of this our solar system, and all beyond it, the many gradations to the Throne of God. : “He daily “buildeth His stories in the heavens,” when He raiseth up His saints from things below to heavenly places, presiding over them, ascending in them. In devout wayfarers too, whose “conversation is in heaven Philippians 3:20, He ascendeth, sublimely and mercifully indwelling their hearts. In those who have the fruition of Himself in those heavens, He ascendeth by the glory of beatitude and the loftiest contemplation, as He walketh in those who walk, and resteth in those who rest in Him.”

To this description of His power, Amos, as before Amos 5:8, adds that signal instance of its exercise on the ungodly, the flood, the pattern and type of judgments which no sinner escapes. God then hath the power to do this. Why should He not?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 9:6. Buildeth his stories in the heaven — There is here an allusion to large houses, where there are cellars, or places dug in the ground as repositories for corn; middle apartments, or stories, for the families to live in; and the house-top for persons to take the air upon. There may be here a reference to the various systems which God has formed in illimitable space, transcending each other, as the planets do in our solar system: and thus we find Solomon speaking when addressing the Most High: "The heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, השמים ושמי השמים hashshamayim ushemey hashshamayim, 1 Kings 8:27. SIX heavens are necessarily implied in these three words. According to the points, the first and third are in the dual number, and the second is the contracted form of the plural. But how many more spheres may be intended who can tell? There may be millions of millions of stellar systems in unlimited space; and then what are all these to the VAST IMMENSITY of God!

Hath founded his troop in the earth — אגדיו aguddatho, from אגד agad, to bind or gather together, possibly meaning the seas and other collections of waters which he has gathered together and bound by his perpetual decree, that they cannot pass; yet when he calleth for these very waters, as in the general deluge, he "poureth them out upon the face of the earth."

The Lord is his name. — This points out his infinite essence. But what is that essence? and what is his nature? and what his immensity and eternity? What archangel can tell?