The big picture
Amos 3 opens in verse 1 with “Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 8 with “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”, and closes in verse 15 with “And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, lion, palaces, earth, house. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Amos · King James Version · 15Amos 3:1-8
1–8: Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of…
Amos 3:1–8 opens with “Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole…” and reaches “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A trumpet alarming the city and luxurious winter and summer houses standing over injustice, with particular weight carried by LORD, earth, lion.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 5 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought…” Naming Egypt and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Amos 3:1-8
King James Version1Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
Amos 3:9-15
9–15: Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of…
Amos 3:9–15 opens with “Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble…” and reaches “And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A trumpet alarming the city and luxurious winter and summer houses standing over injustice, with particular weight carried by LORD, palaces, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the…” Naming Ashdod and Assemble keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For they know not to do right, saith the LORD , who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Amos 3:9-15
King James Version9Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD , who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
11Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
12Thus saith the LORD ; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD , the God of hosts,
14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Amos 3:1 begins with “Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Amos 3:8 forms a natural hinge: “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
The final note
Amos 3:15 leaves the reader with “And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, lion, palaces, earth, house, Israel help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.