The big picture
Amos 4 opens in verse 1 with “Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the…”, and closes in verse 13 with “For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, returned, city, Israel, rain. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Amos · King James Version · 13Amos 4:1-7
1–7: Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria…
Amos 4:1–7 opens with “Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor…” and reaches “And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Wealthy oppressors at Samaria contrasted with drought, blight, and repeated refusal to return, with particular weight carried by LORD, rain, caused.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Amos 4:1-7
King James Version1Hear 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.
2The 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.
3And 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 .
4Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
5And 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 .
6And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD .
7And 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.
Amos 4:8-13
8–13: So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they…
Amos 4:8–13 opens with “So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet…” and reaches “For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Wealthy oppressors at Samaria contrasted with drought, blight, and repeated refusal to return, with particular weight carried by LORD, returned, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive…” The line’s distinctive content terms include trees, blasting, devoured. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
“I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Amos 4:8-13
King James Version8So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD .
9I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD .
10I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD .
11I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD .
12Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD , The God of hosts, is his name.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Amos 4:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Amos 4:12 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”
The final note
Amos 4:13 leaves the reader with “For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, returned, city, Israel, rain, caused help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- 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.