Amos 3:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Can 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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →More questions: a bird is not trapped where no snare is set, and a trap does not spring shut with nothing caught.
What Does Amos 3:5 Mean?
The chain of reasoning continues with the image of a fowler's trap. A bird does not fall into a snare where none has been laid; a trap does not snap shut unless something has triggered it. Again, every result has its cause.
The prophet is teaching Israel to read their circumstances rightly. The calamities pressing upon them are not random misfortune but the working of God's hand in response to their sin. We are quick to call hardship bad luck and slow to ask whether God may be speaking through it. This verse invites the reader to a wiser reading of life, to ask not only what is happening but what the Lord may be saying, and to let trouble drive us back to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 3:5
What does Amos 3:5 mean?
More questions: a bird is not trapped where no snare is set, and a trap does not spring shut with nothing caught.